Training camps around the NFL have wrapped up. Roster cuts brought about another wave of notable developments with the countdown to Week 1 nearly over. In case you missed any of this week’s top stories, here is a quick recap:
Donald Officially Back With Rams: The long-running question of whether or not Aaron Donald would return for 2026 was answered shortly before the cutdown deadline. The future Hall of Famer will indeed play for the Rams this season after two years in retirement. Los Angeles agreed to a one-year deal worth $20MM in base value. Donald can earn up to $30MM this season based on incentives and the team’s level of playoff success. The 35-year-old spent the offseason working on his conditioning and discussing a potential Rams reunion with HC Sean McVay and Co. Donald will indeed play this season and offer a boost to a team which was already receiving plenty of Super Bowl buzz prior to his return.
Wilson Signs Cardinals Extension: Throughout the past several months, Michael Wilson and the Cardinals discussed an extension. Progress seemed to stall for a period, but a late push resulted in a deal being struck. Instead of spending 2026 as a pending free agent, Wilson will enter the year attached to a three-year, $75MM extension. The fourth-year wideout produced a 1,000-yard campaign in 2025, and he will be counted on to remain an important figure on offense for years to come. Arizona made a big-money investment last offseason in tight end Trey McBride, and another lucrative commitment has now been made to another member of the team’s skill-position group. Wilson, 26, is on the books through 2029.
Smith To Play 15th Vikings Season: Retirement will wait for at least one more year in the case of Harrison Smith. The lifelong member of the Vikings has agreed to a one-year Minnesota pact worth up to $16.25MM. 2026 will be Smith’s 15th NFL campaign, all of them spent with the same team. After a release in March, the six-time Pro Bowler’s future was unclear but he continued to discuss a return to Minnesota. The top of the team’s safety depth chart already featured plenty of continuity, although Smith will no doubt reprise his role as a key figure. After logging a snap share of 85% in 2025, it will be interesting to see how large of a workload the 37-year-old handles upon returning to the fold just before the start of the campaign.
Bears Send Dexter To Falcons: A swap involving two defenders entering the final year of their rookie contracts took place shortly before the deadline for roster cuts. The Bears agreed to send defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to the Falcons in exchange for cornerback Clark Phillips and a fifth-round pick in 2027. Dexter’s name was floated in trade rumors this offseason, and he will get a fresh start ahead of potential first trip into free agency next spring. Phillips will likewise look to find a role on his new team as the Bears sort out their cornerback depth chart. In Dexter’s case, this deal will see him reunite with Ian Cunningham, who prior to becoming Atlanta’s general manager worked in Chicago’s front office.
Cowboys Acquire Jones From Steelers: One of the weekend’s other significant trades saw Broderick Jones get dealt. The former first-rounder was sent from the Steelers to the Cowboys along with a 2027 fourth-round pick in exchange for third- and sixth-rounders in next year’s draft. Jones’ time in Pittsburgh fell short of expectations, and his level of play at both tackle spots pointed to a lack of development at the NFL level. The 25-year-old faced an uncertain future with the Steelers given their other recent draft investments up front, but upon arriving in Dallas Jones could have the opportunity to see playing time at right tackle. At a minimum, a role as the Cowboys’ swing tackle should be feasible with Dallas having traded away Nathan Thomas in a separate move.