NFL
Carolina Panthers
NFL training camp live updates for August 3: Highlights, injuries, news and more
Joe RiveraUSA TODAY
Aug. 3, 2026, 6:00 a.m. ET
The NFL has gone camping
All 32 teams and their players are back to work as the chase for the Lombardi Trophy begins anew. On Thursday, Aug. 6, the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals get the preseason party started when they take the field for the 2026 Hall of Fame Game
And even before a snap of football is played, there have been a number of stories and injuries that may shape the face of the league this year
In Tampa, quarterback Baker Mayfield seeks a new contract, and he’s none-too-pleased with the way business has been conducted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ front office. Vita Vea, his teammate, is also seeking some big bucks from the Bucs, as he recently requested a trade amidst a standoff with the team
Jahmyr Gibbs has been notably absent from Detroit Lions camp. While he’s been in the building, Gibbs has been nursing a back injury – something Dan Campbell doesn’t consider to be serious. The electric running back is also seeking a new contract, which may feed into his attendance
Injuries have already cut short the seasons of several others: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, Carolina Panthers rookie Chris Brazzell, Panthers’ second-year rusher Nic Scourton and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee will all be shelved for the 2026 season after suffering injuries
Others have more positive prognoses for the upcoming season. Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is back on the practice field, as is New York Giants wideout Malik Nabers
All that, and more, in just over a week’s worth of NFL training camp. Here’s the latest as the league marches towards the HOF game:
11:45 am ET
Bears’ Coby Bryant carted off practice field
The Chicago Bears may be without one of their key offseason free agent additions when the season begins
Safety Coby Bryant sustained an apparent leg injury during the Bears’ training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 3, according to multiple reporters present. Bryant reportedly grabbed at his knee after a one-on-one rep in practice and had to be carted off of the field
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported that Bryant did not return from inside the Bears’ training facility when the team period began at practice. Defensive back Cam Lewis, who also came to Chicago as a free agent this offseason, replaced Bryant at safety during the period, Cronin wrote
11:04 am ET
Raiders to take it slow with Fernando
Joe Rivera
A No. 1 overall quarterback typically sees the field sooner rather than later, but the Raiders are in no hurry to start him
USA TODAY’s Jarrett Bell weighs in on the QB-non-competition unfolding in Las Vegas training camp:
10:41 am ET
Jets absent a trio of a players at practice
Joe Rivera
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters on Monday that he doesn’t expect offseason acquisitions T’Vondre Sweat and Joseph Ossai, as well as second-round pick D’Angelo Ponds to practice this week as they work through injuries
All three players are expected to play a big hand into the Jets defense this year, and all three aren’t expected to lose much time beyond this week
10:04 am ET
Aaron Rodgers to play preseason games
Joe Rivera
Aaron Rodgers isn’t doesn’t customarily play in preseason games, but that may change this year
In his final season, Rodgers will potentially suit up for several series in the Steelers’ first two preseason games, vs. two of his former teams, the Packers and the Jets
“He [wants me out there for] 30 or 40 plays,” Rodgers said to The Athletic’s Mike Silver. “I said, ‘Mike, if you want me to play, I’ll play.’ I’m not saying I want to do it. But if he wants me to, I will.”
9:26 am ET
C.J. Gardner-Johnson injury update: Bills S avoids major issue
Joe Rivera
Bills head coach Joe Brady told reporters Monday that the key offseason acquisition avoided a major injury
“We’re fortunate,” Brady told reporters. “Any time you see a lower body extremity injury in the manner in which some of those happen, there’s always a bad possibility with it. We got good news. We’ll see how his body recovers.”
The veteran exited practice on Saturday with a lower-leg injury, which some feared was an Achilles injury. Gardner-Johnson was seen walking under his own power later that day, and in the locker room with teammates
9:09 am ET
John Mara spotted at Giants camp
Joe Rivera
The Giants owner, who announced in September 2025 that he is battling cancer, made the trek to see his squad practice last week
The Giants are currently renovating their facility in East Rutherford, so practices are taking place in White Sulfer Springs, West Virginia
8:10 am ET
Packers offensive lineman changing last name
Joe Rivera
Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Zach Tom has been one of the better linemen in the NFL since entering the league in 2022. While fans and opponents have gotten familiar with his name, they’ll have to learn a new one, quickly
On Sunday, Aug. 2, Tom let it be known that he is in the process of changing his last name to mirror that of his grandparents more closely, with his new nameplate reading Bako-Bewele
Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press Gazette (part of the USA TODAY Network) added that Tom is in the process of changing his last name
“I want to have a name – especially when I start having kids and stuff – I want to have a name that I can pass down, where it represents where they came from, where I came from,” the future Bako-Bewele told reporters on Sunday. “I just feels like that name – people will see that name and have a good understanding of who I am and where I come from.”
7:30 am ET
NFL Preseason Week 1 schedule
Joe Rivera
Here’s how the entirety of Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason shapes up:
2026 NFL preseason schedule
Hall of Fame Game
Thursday, Aug. 6
- Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals, 8 p.m. ET, NBC
Preseason Week 1
Thursday, Aug. 13
- Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions, 7 p.m. ET
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers, 7 p.m. ET
- New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 8 p.m. ET
Friday, Aug. 14
- Atlanta Falcons vs. Denver Broncos, 7 p.m. ET
- New York Jets vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7 p.m. ET
- Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, Aug. 15
- Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
- New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4 p.m. ET
- New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4 p.m. ET
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 7 p.m. ET
- Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8 p.m. ET
7:01 am ET
When does the NFL season start?
Joe Rivera
Hump Day blues no more: The 2026 NFL regular season gets underway on Wednesday, Sept. 9 with a Super Bowl 60 rematch: the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at 8:20 p.m. ET
6:30 am ET
When does the NFL preseason start?
Joe Rivera
The 2026 NFL preseason starts with the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, but the Preseason Week 1 schedule gets under way in earnest the following weekend
6:06 am ET
When is the Hall of Fame Game?
Joe Rivera
- Date:Thursday, Aug. 2
- Start time:8 p.m. ET
The 2026 Hall of Fame Game, played in honor of Pro Football hall of Fame inductees past and present, is set for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 6. The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers meet in the first game of the NFL preseason
