Chairshot NFL News Report (9/6/2026): Hitman Returns, Henderson Still Out & Seattle Adds Insurance

Harrison Smith returns to Minnesota, TreVeyon Henderson remains sidelined and Seattle adds safety depth before the NFL season opener.

Minnesota decided it was not quite ready to move on from one of the most recognizable defensive players in franchise history.

Harrison Smith is back for a 15th season, New England continues practicing without TreVeyon Henderson and Seattle added another safety days before the Seahawks and Patriots finally kick off the 2026 NFL season.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for September 6, 2026!

Harrison Smith Returns to Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings agreed to a one-year deal with safety Harrison Smith on Saturday, bringing the six-time Pro Bowler back for his 15th NFL season. The contract is worth $12.25 million and can reach $16.25 million through playoff incentives.

Minnesota technically released Smith earlier in the offseason, but the possibility of a return never completely disappeared.

At 37 years old, he is no longer being asked to become the future of the secondary. The Vikings are bringing back somebody who already understands Brian Flores’ defense and has spent his entire career in Minnesota. That familiarity matters when the deal is happening eight days before the opener.

Smith has 39 career interceptions and 21.5 sacks, putting him among the rare defensive backs who have produced at both levels for more than a decade. Whatever remains of his playing career now gets at least one more season in the only uniform he has ever worn.

TreVeyon Henderson Still Not Practicing

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson remained out of practice Saturday because of the ankle injury he suffered August 24. Henderson has not practiced since the injury, leaving his availability uncertain for Wednesday night’s season opener against Seattle.

The calendar has become the problem. A preseason injury can initially feel manageable because Week 1 is still somewhere in the distance. New England now has only a few practices remaining before playing the first game of the NFL season.

Henderson led the Patriots with 911 rushing yards and nine touchdowns last season, so this is not simply a depth-chart issue.

Rhamondre Stevenson would move into the primary role if Henderson cannot play, while recently acquired Corey Kiner could immediately become part of the rotation.

Seattle Adds D’Anthony Bell Before the Opener

Seattle added veteran safety D’Anthony Bell to its practice squad Saturday and released rookie outside linebacker Marvin Jones Jr. to create the spot. The move comes while starting safety Nick Emmanwori continues working back from ankle surgery.

Bell spent significant time between Seattle’s active roster and practice squad last season, so the Seahawks know exactly what they are adding.

His ability to contribute on special teams and play closer to the line of scrimmage also makes him a reasonable emergency option if Emmanwori cannot play Wednesday.

Practice-squad moves often look insignificant until the player being added directly resembles somebody whose availability is uncertain. That makes this one worth watching as Seattle approaches its first official injury report.

Jadarian Price Is Preparing for His NFL Debut

Seattle rookie running back Jadarian Price is expected to have a significant role against New England after sitting out the preseason. The Seahawks selected Price with the final pick of the first round in April, and he could enter Week 1 as the primary runner while Zach Charbonnet continues recovering from the ACL injury he suffered last postseason.

That makes Wednesday’s opener particularly unusual for Price. Most rookie running backs receive at least a handful of preseason carries before their first real game. Price may go directly from training-camp repetitions into an opening-night role against the defending AFC champion Patriots.

Seattle clearly believes protecting him during August was more valuable than giving him exhibition snaps. The decision looks much smarter if he arrives healthy and immediately handles a legitimate workload.

Hall of Fame Changes Its Voting Process

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has approved significant changes to its selection process, including reducing its primary voting panel from 50 members to 28 and eliminating the separate seniors category. Players will now remain in one broader candidate pool regardless of how long they have been retired.

Any Hall of Fame voting change will create arguments because somebody inevitably becomes harder to elect. Eliminating the seniors category may simplify the system, but it also forces overlooked players from earlier generations to compete directly with newly eligible stars whose careers remain much fresher in voters’ minds.

Reducing the voting panel is an equally significant change. Fewer voters theoretically creates more accountability, although it also means fewer perspectives are represented in a process that already produces enormous debate every year. The immediate test will come with the 2027 class.

Malik Nabers Is Trending Toward Week 1

Giants head coach John Harbaugh said it is reasonable to assume Malik Nabers is trending toward being available for Week 1 against Dallas. Nabers has progressed to practicing without the red non-contact jersey as he completes his recovery from last season’s ACL tear.

That is still short of an official declaration, but the direction is considerably more encouraging than it was earlier in camp.

New York built a receiving group that includes Odell Beckham Jr., Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney, giving the Giants better protection against rushing Nabers simply because the season is beginning.

If Nabers does play, the more interesting question becomes workload. Returning from an ACL tear is not the same thing as immediately returning to the volume he handled before the injury.

San Francisco Makes Another Roster Adjustment in Australia

The 49ers promoted long snapper Jon Weeks from the practice squad Saturday and waived tight end Brayden Willis to create room on the active roster. San Francisco is already in Australia preparing for its opener against the Rams.

It is an unforgiving piece of roster timing for Willis, who made the initial 53-man group only to lose his position after the team had already traveled internationally. The move also illustrates how temporary the phrase “final roster” really is.

San Francisco has been forced to make several adjustments along the edges of the roster before playing a single regular-season snap. The Australia trip only makes those decisions more complicated because replacement options are not sitting a short flight away.

Saturday’s NFL Transactions

The NFL transaction wire remained relatively quiet Saturday as teams moved from roster construction toward final Week 1 preparation.

• Kansas City Chiefs – Added TE Thomas Odukoya to practice squad through the International Player Pathway Program
• Los Angeles Rams – Released CB Zech McPhearson
• Minnesota Vikings – Signed S Harrison Smith
• San Francisco 49ers – Promoted LS Jon Weeks to active roster
• San Francisco 49ers – Waived TE Brayden Willis
• Seattle Seahawks – Signed S D’Anthony Bell to practice squad
• Seattle Seahawks – Released LB Marvin Jones Jr. from practice squad

New England may enter opening night without its leading rusher from last season, while Seattle could give a rookie first-round running back his first NFL carry in one of the most visible games of the year.

Minnesota made a different kind of Week 1 decision. Rather than asking its defense to completely move forward without Harrison Smith, the Vikings decided there was still value in one more season with the player who has anchored their secondary for more than a decade.

August was about constructing rosters. September is about discovering whether those rosters actually work.

This report includes information from: NFL.com, NBCSports.com, Seahawks.com, Giants.com, 49ers.com, CBSSports.com, and Reuters.com.