The two sides worked diligently to get a deal done before the start of the regular season but will now pause discussions until after the year. Stroud was reportedly offered a substantial deal earlier in the offseason but turned it down, now forced to “bet on himself” as he plays out the final year of his rookie deal, minus the fifth-year option. Stroud has been unable to rekindle his rookie year magic while playing under two different offensive coordinators, something he’s looking to remedy in his second season under Nick Caley.

Rush, the team’s third quarterback that is set to start in relief of both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr, reportedly experienced discomfort in his back on Saturday, with Schefter adding that he is still expected to start against the Steelers. We don’t know what kind of voodoo is working against the Falcons at present, but the team enters Week 1 with all kinds of uncertainty under center. Penix is presumed to be the starter once healthy, with no telling when that could be as he works his way back from a torn ACL.

This wouldn’t be news under normal circumstances but takes on additional meaning with Rome Odunze listed questionable for Week 1. It is of particular note that the Bears already have five wide receivers on the active roster and still chose to elevate another. While recent reports seemed to indicate a sense of optimism regarding Odunze’s potential availability, he could be on the wrong side of questionable given the recent transaction. Fantasy managers will want to confirm his status when the team released its inactives 90-minutes prior to first kick. Luther Burden and Colston Loveland would be in line to benefit greatly should Odunze be unable to go.

The deal was first reported by NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Mayer’s deal includes $30 million guaranteed and his $15 million average annual value is third among tight ends. The Raiders selected Mayer in the second-round (35th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He had 300 yards as a rookie and the Raiders drafted Brock Bowers 13th overall the following year. Mayer is firmly on the fantasy radar for Week 1 against the Dolphins with Bowers (knee) sidelined, but his value is unstable as the Raiders’ second tight end.

The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Kraft’s deal, which runs through the 2030 season, has a maximum value of $92 million and includes a $26.5 million signing bonus. He’s now the NFL’s highest-paid tight end. Kraft had 32 receptions, 489 yards and six touchdowns before tearing his ACL in Week 9 last year. Not on the injury report for Week 1, Kraft is a surefire TE1 even in a tough matchup against the Vikings defense.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal includes $27.5M guaranteed. Swift’s 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns last year were both career highs. Swift is locked in as the Bears’ starting running back again this season, playing in an expectedly high-scoring offense. He is a high-end RB2 with a favorable matchup against the Panthers in Week 1.

Odzune was limited in all three practices this week. He appears to be on the right side of the questionable designation, but fantasy managers will still want to check on his status 90 minutes before kickoff. If he does miss Week 1, the Bears’ passing attack will run almost entirely through Colston Loveland and Luther Burden. Burden would be a top-24 wideout without Odunze. Loveland is likely penciled in as the TE2 for the week already.

The Shanahan victory lap continues after his well-slept squad easily toppled Sean McVay’s jet-lagged Rams in Australia last night. Per Pelissero, he was previously signed through 2027. Coaching contracts are not made public, so we don’t know exactly when his new deal is up. Still, it’s safe to assume he will remain in San Francisco for a very long time. One game into his 10th season as the 49ers’ head coach, Shanahan’s record stands at 83-67. He has two Super Bowl appearances to his name, though he’s still looking for his first win.

The oblique injury Tua suffered on Thursday will be enough to sideline him for the season opener. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tagovailoa will be week-to-week with the injury, so his status will be one to monitor when next week’s injury report is released. An up-and-down offseason for the 28-year-old quarterback that started with a back injury and an underwhelming training camp has now snowballed into him missing Week 1 after he was handed the start in large because Michael Penix (knee) wasn’t deemed ready to go just yet. Given the circumstances that led to him being named the starter, it’s safe to say Tua was already on a short leash entering the season. If Penix is able to go in Week 2 against the Panthers, it’s possible Tua’s 2026 debut will be further delayed regardless of his health.

This doesn’t come as much of a surprise after it was reported on Thursday that Brown could miss at least the next four games. Now that he finds himself on injured reserve, the star receiver won’t be able to return until at least Week 6 when the Patriots play host to the Jets. Brown caught just three passes for 26 yards in his debut with the Patriots before exiting the game. After running just four routes in the first half of Wednesday’s game, Mack Hollins ran 22 routes in the second half and should see an increase in snaps in the coming weeks. Brown’s absence should also pave the way for Romeo Doubs to see more looks in the passing game after he saw just three targets in Week 1.