NFL Catchup: Simpson Stars, Mendoza Struggles, Seahawks Extend Star & Gabriel Shows Out

The final week of the NFL preseason is underway, and some quarterbacks are making some strong final impressions before the regular season gets started. Both Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson and Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel had standout showings, while Las Vegas Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza didn’t have as great a night. Beyond the gridiron, there were multiple deals done on Thursday in the NFC West as the Rams and the Seattle Seahawks prepare for the year ahead. Here are the headlines you need to know from Thursday around the NFL. After plenty of speculation and criticism surrounding his selection at No. 13 overall, quarterback Ty Simpson continued his strong preseason on Thursday. Simpson led the Rams to three scoring drives against the Los Angeles Chargers, completing 18 of 23 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown while adding 11 yards on the ground. Head coach Sean McVay still hasn’t officially named a backup quarterback behind MVP Matthew Stafford. Stetson Bennett has been in the system for a few years, but with Simpson continuing to impress, he’s certainly made a case for himself to be considered for the job. The Las Vegas Raiders played their starters against the San Francisco 49ers, and veteran Kirk Cousins once again looked every bit the part. However, the story was completely different for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. For the second consecutive week, the former Indiana star and Heisman Trophy winner struggled on the field, throwing another interception. Mendoza took over late in the first quarter and played into the third. He completed just 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards and a pick. Head coach Klint Kubiak has been on record all offseason favoring a redshirt year for Mendoza to learn behind Kirk Cousins. So, Thursday’s performance might not mean much for Mendoza in the long run. The Cleveland Browns named veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson their Week 1 starter earlier this week, with Shedeur Sanders winning the backup job. With the top two spots solidified, former third-round pick Dillon Gabriel had a clear runway to show he’s worthy of being Cleveland’s third-string quarterback. Gabriel completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns against the New England Patriots on Thursday night. It’s unclear if head coach Todd Monken plans to carry three quarterbacks this season, leaving both Gabriel’s roster spot and the future of Arkansas rookie Taylen Green up in the air. If Gabriel wanted to establish himself as a viable option at some point this season, he certainly proved it. If he’s not in the long-term plans for the Browns, he might have put enough on film to show the other 31 teams in the league that he’s worth a serious look ahead of final roster cuts. The Seattle Seahawks agreed to a three-year, $90 million contract extension with defensive lineman Leonard Williams on Thursday. The deal carries an average annual value of $30 million, tying Williams with Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea for fifth-highest among interior defensive linemen. Williams was entering the final year of a three-year, $64.5 million contract. The 32-year-old earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025 after recording seven sacks, 62 combined tackles, and 58 quarterback pressures. Originally selected sixth overall by the New York Jets in the 2015 NFL Draft, Williams was acquired by Seattle from the New York Giants during the 2023 season. The extension follows major offseason deals by Seattle for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The Miami Dolphins agreed to trade wide receiver Tutu Atwell back to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for running back Jarquez Hunter on Thursday. The move reunites Atwell with the Rams five months after he departed Los Angeles in free agency to sign a one-year contract with Miami in March. Atwell was originally selected by the Rams in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and appeared in 64 games over four seasons with the franchise. He rejoins head coach Sean McVay’s offense to complement a receiving room featuring Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round pick out of Auburn who appeared in five games as a rookie, joins Miami to provide depth in the backfield. The Rams open their regular season against San Francisco on Sept. 10, while Miami opens against Las Vegas on Sept. 13. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are both navigating contract standoffs with their young star cornerbacks ahead of the regular season, according to ESPN. The Patriots and cornerback Christian Gonzalez remain far apart in negotiations despite early optimism, ESPN reported Thursday. Patriots owner Robert Kraft previously said the team offered a deal to make Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in team history, but Devon Witherspoon’s four-year, $132 million contract extension with Seattle raised the market benchmark. Gonzalez admitted this week that the process has been “frustrating.” He has two years remaining on his rookie deal. Meanwhile, the Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter do not appear close to a contract extension either, according to ESPN. Porter remains on Pittsburgh’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a back injury as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.