Chairshot NFL News Report (8/3/2026): Polk Retires, Garrett Sits and Beckham Flashes

Ja’Lynn Polk retires at 24, Myles Garrett remains sidelined, Odell Beckham Jr. flashes vintage form and Sunday’s NFL transactions reshape camp rosters.

Ja’Lynn Polk has abruptly retired at 24, ending the career of a former second-round selection before he could play a game for New Orleans.

The Rams continue managing Myles Garrett’s workload, while Odell Beckham Jr. produced one of the most memorable moments from the Giants’ weekend practice.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for August 3, 2026!

Ja’Lynn Polk Retires at 24

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk has retired from the NFL and will be placed on the reserve/retired list.

New England selected Polk in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He caught 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns during his rookie season before missing all of 2025 following shoulder surgery.

The Patriots traded Polk to New Orleans through an exchange of late-round draft picks while he remained on injured reserve. The Saints hoped he could recover and become another option for their passing game, but his retirement ends that possibility before the preseason.

Polk’s first NFL touchdown came against Seattle in September 2024. He recorded career highs of three receptions and 30 yards two weeks later against San Francisco.

Polk’s retirement removes another receiver from a Saints offense already undergoing significant change. It also ends the career of a player who never received a healthy second season to demonstrate whether his difficult rookie year was an accurate reflection of his ability.

New Orleans can fill the roster opening, but replacing the potential attached to a former second-round selection is more difficult than replacing his statistical production.

Rams Continue Managing Myles Garrett’s Workload

Myles Garrett is expected to miss his fourth consecutive Los Angeles Rams practice because of soreness in his lower body.

Head coach Sean McVay described the issue as relatively minor, and Garrett is expected to return during the Rams’ next block of practices. Los Angeles is taking a cautious approach rather than forcing its major offseason acquisition through unnecessary August repetitions.

The Rams are also managing the early workloads of Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams and Byron Young.

Los Angeles traded for Garrett to change meaningful games in September, January and potentially February. Missing several training-camp practices is a reasonable price if the reduced workload prevents a minor issue from becoming a legitimate injury.

The concern will increase only if Garrett remains unavailable when the Rams begin preparing for preseason competition and joint practices.

Odell Beckham Jr. Shows Vintage Form at Giants Camp

Odell Beckham Jr. produced one of the highlights of Giants training camp by catching a touchdown from Jameis Winston near the back of the end zone and completing the play with a toe-tap finish.

Jaxson Dart experienced a more difficult session. The young quarterback threw two interceptions and mishandled a snap before responding by completing eight of nine passes during a late pressure period.

Malik Nabers also continued his recovery by participating in individual drills. Beckham, Cam Skattebo and Isaiah Likely received limited work because of minor physical issues but returned to action.

One impressive catch does not prove Beckham can sustain his old level of production across an entire season. It does demonstrate that the body control and awareness responsible for many of his best plays have not completely disappeared.

Dart’s uneven day is equally unsurprising. Training camp is where a developing quarterback should test throws, make mistakes and demonstrate whether he can recover before those decisions count in the standings.

Andrus Peat Announces Retirement

Three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Andrus Peat has announced his retirement after 11 NFL seasons.

New Orleans selected Peat with the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He started 108 of his 117 appearances for the Saints, including playoff games, and earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2018 through 2020.

Peat later spent the 2024 season with the Las Vegas Raiders before finishing his career with Pittsburgh in 2025. He appeared in six games and made three starts during his final season.

The 32-year-old Arizona native said he gave the league everything he had and will carry the lessons football taught him into retirement.

Peat’s career will be remembered primarily for his time in New Orleans, where his ability to play guard and tackle gave the Saints flexibility across the offensive line.

His retirement also continues a summer of change for New Orleans. The Saints have now said goodbye to several recognizable veterans while attempting to establish a younger roster around a new competitive window.

Chiefs Receive Encouraging Cyrus Allen Update

Kansas City Chiefs rookie receiver Cyrus Allen is considered day-to-day after tests revealed a shin bruise rather than a serious knee injury.

Allen was carted from practice following a collision during a punt drill, creating immediate concern after he had emerged as one of Kansas City’s early camp standouts.

The fifth-round selection had been building trust with Patrick Mahomes and competing for the fourth receiver position behind the Chiefs’ established options.

The diagnosis gives Allen an opportunity to return without losing the majority of the preseason. That matters for a young receiver whose clearest route onto the roster may require contributions on offense and special teams.

Kansas City can afford to remain cautious, but every missed practice reduces the number of opportunities Allen has to separate himself from the other receivers competing for limited roster positions.

NFL Transactions — August 2, 2026

• Jacksonville Jaguars – Released linebacker Ben Patterson
• Jacksonville Jaguars – Signed linebacker Jared Bartlett
• Minnesota Vikings – Released running back Kejon Owens
• Philadelphia Eagles – Released defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham

Philadelphia’s decision creates another opening on a defensive line already dealing with Jonathan Greenard’s pectoral injury. Graham had experience playing both inside and on the edge, but his role had diminished before the move.

Jacksonville exchanged one linebacker for another, while Minnesota reduced a crowded backfield competition by moving on from Owens.

Sunday produced fewer transactions than a normal weekday, but roster movement will accelerate as teams return to practice and receive additional information about their injured players.

Polk’s retirement is the most surprising development because it closes a career before the former second-round pick had a healthy opportunity to recover from his rookie struggles.

Garrett and Allen received more encouraging news. Neither team appears to be dealing with a major injury, allowing the Rams and Chiefs to prioritize long-term health over immediate practice availability.

Beckham’s performance offers the Giants a different kind of optimism. New York does not need him to reproduce his first stint with the franchise. The Giants need him to provide experience, occasional explosive plays and another dependable target while Nabers continues working back from injury.