Chairshot NFL News Report (8/12/2026): Murray Wins QB1, Stiggers Home and Bryant Faces Long Recovery

Kyler Murray wins Minnesota’s QB1 job, Qwan’tez Stiggers returns home and Coby Bryant faces months of recovery after knee surgery.

Minnesota has officially ended its quarterback competition, handing the offense to Kyler Murray over J.J. McCarthy.

Elsewhere, the Jets received encouraging news after a frightening scene involving Qwan’tez Stiggers, while Chicago received a much more difficult prognosis on Coby Bryant.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for August 12, 2026!

Vikings Name Kyler Murray Starting Quarterback

The Minnesota Vikings have named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2026 season.

Murray signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal with Minnesota after being released by Arizona and beat out J.J. McCarthy for the job. He will become the Vikings’ fourth different Week 1 starting quarterback in four seasons, following Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold and McCarthy.

The decision gives Minnesota something it has lacked for several seasons: clarity before Week 1.

Murray offers experience and mobility in an offense built around Justin Jefferson, while McCarthy can continue developing without every mistake immediately becoming a referendum on whether he deserves to remain the starter.

The larger question is what this means for McCarthy’s future. Minnesota invested the No. 10 pick in him only two years ago, and losing the job creates pressure for him to demonstrate meaningful growth whenever preseason opportunities arrive.

Qwan’tez Stiggers Released From Hospital After Practice Scare

New York Jets cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers was released from the hospital Tuesday after collapsing during a joint practice with Tampa Bay.

Practice stopped for approximately 10 minutes while medical personnel treated Stiggers before transporting him by ambulance. Head coach Aaron Glenn said Stiggers was conscious and communicating shortly after the incident, and later reports indicated he was able to return home.

The football implications are secondary.

A player leaving practice in an ambulance immediately changes the atmosphere around an entire team, particularly when teammates do not initially know exactly what happened.

The encouraging news is that Stiggers was able to return home. New York can worry about his eventual football timetable after determining that he is healthy.

Nate Wiggins Avoids Major Structural Damage

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins was carted away from Tuesday’s practice because of a leg injury, but initial testing showed no structural damage.

Baltimore also welcomed Zay Flowers back to practice, while Lamar Jackson is not expected to play in Thursday’s preseason game against Philadelphia.

For Baltimore, avoiding a major Wiggins injury may be one of the best developments the team receives all week.

Training-camp injuries can look frightening before testing provides a clearer picture. The Ravens can now afford to be conservative rather than attempting to get an important defensive back immediately back onto the field.

August repetitions matter. Having Wiggins available when the regular season begins matters considerably more.

Bears Lose Coby Bryant for Four to Six Months

Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss four to six months.

Bryant originally suffered a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture during an August 3 practice. Chicago initially hoped surgery could be avoided, but head coach Ben Johnson now says a late-season or playoff return represents the optimistic end of the timetable.

That turns Bryant’s injury from an early-season inconvenience into a significant roster problem.

Chicago signed him to a three-year, $40 million contract this offseason with the expectation that he would become an important part of its redesigned secondary.

The Bears now have to build the defense as though Bryant will not be available during the regular season. If he returns late, that becomes a bonus rather than part of the plan.

Josh Jacobs Remains Sidelined in Green Bay

Packers running back Josh Jacobs remains sidelined by a groin injury and is not expected to return to full practice participation this week.

Jacobs has continued working separately while Green Bay evaluates its other running backs. The Packers have no reason to force their veteran starter back into August work before the injury is completely settled.

That missed time becomes more valuable for everyone behind Jacobs than it is damaging to him.

Green Bay already knows exactly what Jacobs can provide. The preseason is considerably more important for the players trying to establish the depth chart behind him.

If Jacobs is healthy in September, nobody will care how many August practices he missed.

NFL Transactions — August 11, 2026

Tuesday’s transaction wire included several signings, waiver moves and injured-list changes as teams continued adjusting their preseason rosters.

• Seattle Seahawks – Reinstated S Nick Emmanwori from the Active/PUP list
• Seattle Seahawks – Signed LB Aaron Smith
• Seattle Seahawks – Placed FB Robbie Ouzts on injured reserve
• Washington Commanders – Signed DT Byron Cowart
• Washington Commanders – Signed LB Curtis Jacobs
• Washington Commanders – Released G Sala Aumavae-Laulu
• Washington Commanders – Released S Rob McDaniel
• Jacksonville Jaguars – Signed LB Amari Burney
• Jacksonville Jaguars – Waived CB Keni-H Lovely

Tuesday’s biggest NFL developments came with very different consequences.

Minnesota made a deliberate decision about its future by choosing Murray. Baltimore and New York spent portions of practice fearing something much worse before receiving encouraging medical updates. Chicago was not as fortunate.

For readers following camp, this is when depth charts begin becoming real. Quarterback competitions end, injuries create unexpected openings and preseason games begin determining who is prepared to take advantage.

September remains several weeks away, but the roster that reaches Week 1 is already taking shape.