The NFL regular season is just a couple of weeks away, yet the offseason continued to produce plenty of headlines on July 11.
On July 10, J.J. Watt revealed he seriously considered coming out of retirement to play for the Cincinnati Bengals, while Derek Carr confirmed that multiple teams contacted him about a possible return. Aaron Donald also fueled comeback speculation after working out at the Los Angeles Rams‘ facility.
Elsewhere, the Chicago Bears completed the signing of their rookie class, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones shared an encouraging injury update, ESPN ranked Travis Kelce 10th among NFL tight ends, and Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley urged NBA legend LeBron James to bring an NBA championship to Philadelphia.
Now, let’s take a deep dive into the news one by one.
J.J. Watt says he was ‘1000% serious’ about joining the Bengals if viral Burnley bet came true
Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt revealed he genuinely considered returning to the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals after a viral wager with Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford nearly came true. Watt had jokingly promised to join the Bengals for the 2025 season if Trafford finished the remaining campaign without conceding a goal.
As Trafford’s clean sheet streak grew, Watt admitted, “I was 1000% serious… I would have put on the stripes.” The dream ended when Cardiff City’s Yousef Salech scored against Burnley in March 2025. Reflecting on his connection with Cincinnati, Watt said, “The Bengals, the city of Cincinnati, and myself have kind of been intertwined my whole career.”
The retired defensive end also praised the city’s passionate fanbase, TQL Stadium, and local favorites like Graeter’s Ice Cream and Montgomery Inn BBQ, showing his affection for Cincinnati extended well beyond the viral bet.
Former Lions CB Terrion Arnold visits Texans after release as legal case continues
Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold reportedly took a physical with the Houston Texans on Thursday, according to ESPN. This indicates that there is a potential path back to the NFL.
The Lions released Arnold on June 29 after he was arrested on eight felony charges related to an alleged robbery and kidnapping in Tampa, Florida, that reportedly occurred in February. Despite the ongoing legal case, a judge ruled Friday that Arnold will not be required to wear a GPS tracker as a condition of his release.
The Texans have not announced a signing, but the physical suggests the team is evaluating the former defensive back while legal proceedings continue. Arnold’s NFL future remains uncertain as he faces serious charges off the field.
Chicago Bears sign third-round pick Sam Roush, completing another rookie deal
The Chicago Bears have officially signed third-round draft pick tight end Sam Roush, the team announced. Roush’s four-year rookie contract is worth $7.35 million. The No. 69 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, Roush became the final member of the Bears’ rookie class to sign.
Roush enters the NFL with an impressive resume built on both production and athleticism. At Stanford, he earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2025 after emerging as one of the nation’s top tight ends.
His 49 catches and 545 receiving yards ranked fifth among FBS tight ends, and his 83.9 PFN Tight End Impact Score ranked fifth nationally, highlighting his overall effectiveness as a receiver. Roush also stood out during the pre-draft process. He has posted a 9.94 Relative Athletic Score, the highest among all tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Derek Carr says multiple NFL teams called, but a comeback would require a ‘special situation’
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who retired last NFL season, revealed that several NFL teams contacted him this offseason about a potential return. However, he stressed he is not actively planning a comeback.
Appearing on Good Morning Football, Carr said, “I’ll never say never. It would take a special situation.” He added, “There were multiple teams that reached out to me this offseason… They were good, solid football teams.”
Carr reiterated that any return would have to come with a legitimate Super Bowl contender, saying, “I think I’m just at the point where I just want to win.”
While he continues to stay in shape, the former Raiders and Saints quarterback believes his playing days are likely over. “I’m having too much fun hanging out with my wife, hanging out with my kids and trying to get good at golf,” Carr said, adding, “I’ll probably be just coaching my kids, that’s for sure.”
Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce falls to 10th in ESPN’s latest tight end rankings
ESPN ranked Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce 10th in its 2026 NFL tight end rankings, citing age despite his elite route running and instincts.
Eagles star Saquon Barkley urges LeBron James to join 76ers: ‘You’d be remembered forever’
Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley made his pitch for NBA legend LeBron James to join the Philadelphia 76ers amid speculation surrounding the four-time champion’s next destination. Speaking at his youth football camp,
Barkley called Philadelphia “one of the greatest sports towns in the world” and encouraged James to chase another title there. “If you want to go out with a bang, I feel like a great spot would be in Philly,” Barkley said. “Bringing a championship to Philadelphia, you’d be remembered forever.”
James recently announced he will not return to the Los Angeles Lakers, with the 76ers reportedly among the teams linked to the 41-year-old superstar. Barkley knows the impact of a successful first season in Philadelphia after helping lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl title in 2024.
Aaron Donald fuels comeback speculation with workout at Rams facility
Retired Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald added to speculation about a possible NFL comeback after reportedly working out at the team’s practice facility on Friday.
According to TMZ’s Michael J. Babcock, Donald spent about an hour on the field, performing ladder drills, medicine ball throws, and agility exercises. An eyewitness said the former All-Pro was “pushing himself to the limit until he was clearly gassed.”
Rumors of a return intensified after Donald recently hinted at the possibility on social media and following the Rams’ trade for star pass rusher Myles Garrett. While no comeback has been announced, Donald’s appearance at the facility is likely to keep retirement speculation alive as the 2026 season approaches.
Colts QB Daniel Jones says he’s fully cleared ahead of training camp
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones says he has been fully cleared following the Achilles injury that ended his 2025 season. “I’m doing everything. Cleared to do everything,” Jones said, adding that his focus is now on “getting more explosive, getting stronger.”
The veteran quarterback ruptured his right Achilles in December and underwent surgery two days later, but said he has made significant progress through rehab. “I’m feeling really good and feel like I’m in a good spot,” Jones said.
While he admitted he still thinks about the injury mentally, he expects that concern to fade once games begin. Jones will continue preparing with teammates ahead of training camp after throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 13 games before last season’s injury. Let’s see if he is ready to play in Week 1 of the regular season or not.
Well, from the retirement buzz surrounding J.J. Watt, Derek Carr, and Aaron Donald to key roster moves and player updates across the league, the NFL offseason continues to generate headlines as training camps draw closer.
Stay tuned to Touchdown Daily for the latest breaking news, roster moves, injury updates, and analysis throughout the 2026 NFL season.
Read More:
- NFL news, July 11, 2026: Aaron Donald sparks return rumors, Bears add key tight end, Derek Carr addresses comeback talks
- No Cowboys tight end makes ESPN’s top 10 NFL rankings as Jake Ferguson misses the cut
- Chiefs’ Travis Kelce takes hit in ESPN’s 2026 NFL tight end rankings amid retirement rumors
- NFL news, July 10, 2026: Cowboys coaching revelation, Raiders’ grass-field decision, and landmark NFL health study findings
- Head coach Brian Schottenheimer planned to leave Cowboys before surprise promotion, insider says