NFL camp clock starts with Seahawks rookies and quarterback watch
CBS Sports lists 2026 NFL camp arrivals, joint practices and the battles that could shape August.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to get the 2026 NFL camp rush started, with rookies due July 17, according to CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles. San Francisco rookies follow July 18, and every team’s veterans are scheduled to be in by July 28.
Pereles reported that most veteran groups arrive July 28, though a handful get in earlier: Arizona and Carolina veterans are listed for July 22, New England and Seattle for July 24, and the Rams and 49ers for July 25. Several clubs have rookies and veterans reporting the same day, including the Cardinals on July 22, the Rams on July 25, and the Cowboys, Saints, Eagles and Steelers on July 28.
Joint practices pack the August calendar
CBS Sports’ schedule shows joint work beginning Aug. 11, with the Cowboys visiting the Rams, the Colts visiting the Patriots, the Titans visiting the 49ers and the Buccaneers opening a two-day stay with the Jets.
The run continues with Dolphins-Commanders on Aug. 12 and Jaguars-Saints on Aug. 13. On Aug. 18, the 49ers visit the Chargers, the Raiders visit the Texans and the Saints visit the Cowboys.
The busiest stretch lands Aug. 19-20. CBS Sports lists Falcons-Colts, Ravens-Vikings and Eagles-Patriots as two-day sessions, with Panthers-Jaguars on Aug. 19 and Bills-Browns, Bears-Bengals, Saints-Rams and Giants-Dolphins on Aug. 20.
Late-August work includes Seahawks-Titans on Aug. 21, Buccaneers-Jaguars on Aug. 25-26, and three Aug. 26 practices: Cardinals-Packers, Texans-Panthers and Commanders-Ravens. Bears-Titans is listed for Aug. 27.
Quarterbacks sit at the center of camp
Pereles identified several quarterback situations as key camp watches. In Cleveland, he framed the Browns’ competition as Shedeur Sanders against Deshaun Watson, with Sanders younger and Watson carrying more experience in systems similar to new coach Todd Monken’s.
In Indianapolis, Daniel Jones’ health is the focus after a torn Achilles. CBS Sports reported that Jones had reached 7-on-7 work during the offseason, had not yet taken part in 11-on-11, and has said he is on track for Week 1.
Denver’s Bo Nix is another medical watch after a second ankle surgery earlier this year, with CBS Sports reporting he is expected to be ready for camp. In Kansas City, Pereles wrote that Patrick Mahomes is also expected for camp, while questions remain about how much practice work he will handle after what CBS Sports described as his first major injury.
In Las Vegas, Fernando Mendoza’s camp workload is the headline, with Kirk Cousins also in the picture. Tennessee’s Cam Ward enters camp after an uneven rookie season, and CBS Sports pointed to cutting down negative plays as a priority.
New targets, new schemes, new pressure
Buffalo’s passing game gets DJ Moore, whom CBS Sports described as the Bills’ clear No. 1 wide receiver after career lows in catches and yards. New England has A.J. Brown paired with Drake Maye, with Brown’s health listed as worth tracking.
Pereles also highlighted offensive changes for several contenders. Lamar Jackson has a new coordinator in Baltimore, Declan Doyle, and CBS Sports said the Ravens plan to use more under-center looks while Jackson’s contract situation sits in the background. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts is working with another new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, and Washington’s Jayden Daniels is expected to handle more under-center, play-action work under first-time coordinator David Blough.
Other camp plotlines include Cincinnati trying to mesh a remade defense, Houston testing an upgraded line and run game around C.J. Stroud, Jacksonville working out Travis Hunter’s two-way role, Dallas sorting through a defense heavy on new pieces, and Chicago looking for Caleb Williams’ next step after last season under Ben Johnson.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.