Chairshot NFL News Report (8/11/2026): Quinnen Gets Paid, Mays Goes Down and Richardson Waits

Quinnen Williams lands a massive Cowboys extension, Cade Mays will miss 8–10 weeks and Anthony Richardson remains unsure about his trade request.

Dallas made its commitment to Quinnen Williams official Monday, giving the defensive tackle one of the richest contracts at his position.

Detroit received much worse news along its rebuilt offensive line, while Anthony Richardson enters the preseason without clarity about whether his future remains in Indianapolis.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for August 11, 2026!

Cowboys Give Quinnen Williams $105.9 Million Extension

The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a three-year, $105.9 million contract extension with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

The deal includes $101 million in total guarantees, with $63.55 million guaranteed at signing and a $31.85 million signing bonus. Williams’ $35.3 million annual average ranks second among NFL defensive tackles behind Philadelphia’s Jalen Carter.

Dallas acquired Williams from the New York Jets last season after giving up Mazi Smith, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round selection. The four-time Pro Bowler has 41.5 sacks and 343 tackles over seven NFL seasons.

The Cowboys paid an enormous acquisition price for Williams, so allowing him to become a short-term rental never made much sense.

This contract completes the investment. Dallas now has one of football’s best interior defenders secured through the remainder of his prime and has removed another major contract question before the regular season begins.

The expectations are equally large. When a team spends premium draft capital and then guarantees more than $100 million, Williams is no longer simply being asked to improve the defensive line. He is being paid to become one of the players the entire defense is built around.

Lions Lose Cade Mays for 8–10 Weeks

Detroit Lions starting center Cade Mays is expected to miss approximately eight to 10 weeks after fracturing a small bone in his wrist.

Detroit signed Mays to a three-year, $25 million contract during the offseason to take over at center. His absence creates another problem for an offensive line the Lions spent the offseason rebuilding following a disappointing 2025 season.

Juice Scruggs is one option to replace Mays, although he is currently managing a soft-tissue injury. Seth McLaughlin has also received first-team repetitions.

This is the type of August injury that can affect far more than one position.

Centers handle protection calls, quarterback exchanges and communication across the offensive line. Detroit was already trying to establish chemistry among several new pieces, and now that process changes again.

Eight to ten weeks also pushes Mays’ return well into the regular season. The Lions cannot simply treat his replacement as a preseason placeholder; whoever wins the job must be capable of keeping the offense functional when games start counting.

Anthony Richardson Still Unsure Where Trade Request Stands

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson said he is not sure where his offseason trade request currently stands.

Richardson requested a trade in February after losing his starting role and received permission from Indianapolis to explore potential destinations. He said over the weekend that he has not recently discussed the situation with his agent or the Colts.

Richardson is currently competing with Riley Leonard for the backup job behind Daniel Jones. Both quarterbacks are expected to receive work during Thursday’s preseason opener, while Richardson has experienced an inconsistent training camp that has included problems handling shotgun snaps.

Richardson’s situation has reached an unusual point.

A former No. 4 overall pick who once represented Indianapolis’ future is now fighting to become the backup quarterback while an unresolved trade request hangs over the roster.

The preseason could determine whether anything changes. A strong showing may remind another team why Richardson was once viewed as one of football’s most physically gifted quarterback prospects. Continued inconsistency may leave Indianapolis without much incentive to move him unless another team suffers an injury and becomes desperate.

Patriots Extend Hunter Henry, Trade Caedan Wallace to Miami

The New England Patriots agreed to a two-year extension with tight end Hunter Henry worth up to $20 million.

New England also traded offensive tackle Caedan Wallace and a 2029 seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round selection, pending a physical.

Miami made the move while continuing to adjust its offensive line during camp, while Henry’s extension keeps one of New England’s veteran offensive targets under contract beyond this season.

The two moves demonstrate different stages of roster construction.

Henry gives New England continuity and a dependable veteran presence. Wallace, meanwhile, became expendable enough for the Patriots to move him inside the division for future draft value.

For Miami, the trade is another reminder that August depth matters. Offensive-line problems can destroy an otherwise talented offense quickly, and acquiring a player with NFL experience before preseason games begin gives the Dolphins another option rather than waiting until roster cuts create a scramble.

NFL Transactions — August 10, 2026

• Atlanta Falcons – Signed RB Trey Sermon and DE Cameron Sample
• Atlanta Falcons – Waived OL Jack Nelson with an injury designation and LS Philip Florenzo
• Carolina Panthers – Signed G Joshua Gray
• Carolina Panthers – Released TE Chamon Metayer
• Chicago Bears – Signed WR Ray-Ray McCloud
• Dallas Cowboys – Signed DT Quinnen Williams to a three-year, $105.9 million extension
• Houston Texans – Signed WR Juwann Winfree
• Los Angeles Chargers – Signed LB Andre Carter II
• Los Angeles Chargers – Waived WR Mante Morrow
• Los Angeles Rams – Signed CB Zech McPhearson
• Los Angeles Rams – Released CB Drey Norwood
• Miami Dolphins – Acquired OT Caedan Wallace and a 2029 seventh-round pick from New England for a 2028 sixth-round pick
• Miami Dolphins – Signed CB Nick McCloud
• New England Patriots – Signed TE Hunter Henry to a two-year extension worth up to $20 million
• New England Patriots – Re-signed LS Niko Lalos
• Philadelphia Eagles – Signed RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, DT David Blay Jr. and LB Tarron Jackson
• Pittsburgh Steelers – Signed WR Cornell Powell and WR Isaiah Winstead.

The largest contracts always draw attention, but Monday showed that August is also defined by what happens deeper on the roster.

Dallas removed uncertainty by locking Williams into place as a defensive cornerstone. Detroit now has to solve an unexpected problem at the center of its offensive line, while Richardson has only preseason opportunities left to change the perception of his situation in Indianapolis.

For NFL fans, the next few weeks will increasingly separate offseason plans from actual roster realities. Teams know who they want to build around; preseason football determines how well prepared they are when those plans inevitably change.