NFL 2026: Deebo Samuel Returns, Tony Romo Put on Leave, and Tucker Kraft Clears Major Injury Hurdle

The final day of July delivered three very different NFL stories with major consequences for the 2026 season. Deebo Samuel is reportedly returning to the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year, $7 million deal, CBS has placed Tony Romo on indefinite leave following an OWI arrest, and Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft has been activated from the physically unable to perform list eight months after tearing his ACL.

NFL training camp rarely follows one clean storyline.

One team can reunite with a familiar offensive weapon because injuries have disrupted its plans. A television network can lose its lead analyst weeks before the regular season. Elsewhere, a recovering player can take one carefully controlled step toward returning from a major knee injury.

That combination defined a dramatic July 31 across the league.

The San Francisco 49ers reportedly agreed to bring Deebo Samuel back on a one-year contract worth up to $7 million, only one season after trading him to the Washington Commanders. Samuel’s return gives Kyle Shanahan a proven and unusually versatile option as injuries create fresh uncertainty across the 49ers’ receiving corps.

CBS Sports, meanwhile, placed former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on leave until further notice following his arrest on suspicion of operating while intoxicated in Wisconsin. J.J. Watt is expected to move into the network’s leading NFL broadcast team alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.

On the field, the Green Bay Packers activated Tucker Kraft from the PUP list after his recovery from surgery to repair a torn right ACL. Kraft will initially participate in individual work and walk-through periods while Green Bay waits for the scientifically important nine-month recovery point before considering full 11-on-11 drills.

The three stories involve different teams, jobs and circumstances. Together, they show how quickly an NFL season can change before a meaningful snap has been played.

Readers can follow roster decisions, injuries, contracts and team developments through The Sports Encounter’s wider NFL news and analysis coverage.

NFL July 31 News at a Glance

Story	Key Development	Immediate Impact
Deebo Samuel	Reportedly agrees to return to San Francisco on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million	Provides experienced depth for an injury-hit 49ers offense
Tony Romo	Placed on indefinite leave by CBS Sports after an OWI arrest	J.J. Watt expected to join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on CBS’ lead NFL crew
Tucker Kraft	Activated from Green Bay’s PUP list following ACL surgery	Can resume individual work and walk-throughs but will not immediately join team drills
Samuel’s reported contract	One year, up to $7 million	Low-risk reunion for San Francisco
Romo’s next court date	September 21	His broadcasting absence could extend into the regular season
Kraft’s recovery stage	Approximately eight and a half months after surgery	Packers will wait before clearing him for full-contact football

Deebo Samuel’s 49ers Return Solves an Immediate Problem

Deebo Samuel’s first departure from San Francisco looked like the end of a complicated but important relationship.

The 49ers selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and turned him into one of the league’s most distinctive offensive players. Samuel lined up outside, worked from the slot, carried the ball out of the backfield and became the “wide back” capable of changing a game through power after the catch.

He spent six seasons in Kyle Shanahan’s offense before San Francisco traded him to Washington ahead of the 2025 campaign.

His reported return one year later says as much about the 49ers’ present problems as it does about their shared history.

San Francisco entered training camp with significant questions around its pass catchers. Projected starter Ricky Pearsall has been dealing with swelling in a knee affected by a previous PCL injury. Free-agent addition Christian Kirk is managing a calf problem. Tight end George Kittle is recovering from an Achilles injury and is unlikely to be available for the opener.

Those concerns pushed the 49ers toward a player who already understands Shanahan’s terminology, route concepts, blocking expectations and motion-heavy system.

Samuel should require less adjustment time than an outside receiver learning one of the NFL’s most detailed offenses from the beginning.

San Francisco also added veteran receiver Trenton Irwin and tight end Josiah Deguara on one-year contracts, further evidence that the club is trying to build protection against a growing injury list.

The moves fit a broader pattern examined in The Sports Encounter’s feature on the most underrated NFL offseason signings of 2026. Training camp regularly turns inexpensive depth acquisitions into vital roster decisions when injuries expose weaknesses that appeared manageable during the spring.

Why the Deal Works for Both Deebo Samuel and San Francisco

The reported one-year, $7 million structure limits the long-term risk for the 49ers.

Samuel is 30 and no longer carries the same explosive reputation that followed his 2021 All-Pro season. His body has absorbed years of physical usage as a receiver, runner and blocker. San Francisco does not need to treat him as the centerpiece of the offense.

The team needs a dependable veteran who can line up in several positions, understand the playbook and give quarterback Brock Purdy options while the receiving group recovers.

Samuel also needs San Francisco.

His free-agent market remained quiet deep into the summer despite his versatility and playoff experience. Returning to Shanahan places him inside the system that best understood how to use his unusual combination of balance, strength and open-field aggression.

Washington gave Samuel a difficult season in 2025. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels moved in and out of the lineup because of injuries, limiting the consistency of the Commanders’ offense.

Samuel still recorded 72 receptions for 727 yards and five receiving touchdowns. He remained productive enough to contribute, but the season did not restore his value to its previous level.

A strong year with the 49ers could help him prove that his decline has been overstated. It may also position him for another contract in 2027.

Samuel Is Returning to a Different 49ers Offense

Familiarity should help, but Samuel will not return to the exact offense he left.

Mike Evans has joined San Francisco after 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran enters the season with 866 career receptions, 13,052 receiving yards and 108 touchdown catches.

Evans gives Shanahan a traditional outside target with size, contested-catch ability and end-zone production. Samuel offers movement, yards after the catch and backfield flexibility.

If both remain healthy, their skills should complement one another.

Pearsall’s condition will influence the final structure. A healthy Pearsall would give San Francisco another route runner capable of creating separation. A long absence would increase Samuel’s snap count and responsibility immediately.

Brandon Aiyuk’s relationship with the organization presents another complication. His future has remained uncertain, leaving the 49ers unable to build their receiving plan around him with complete confidence.

Kittle’s recovery affects every part of the passing game. He stretches defenses, blocks in the running game and gives Purdy a trusted target over the middle. His likely absence from the opener increases the value of Samuel’s ability to work inside.

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What Deebo Samuel Can Still Give Kyle Shanahan

Samuel’s value has never rested only on conventional receiving numbers.

Defenses must identify where he lines up before the snap. He can run jet motion, take a handoff, catch a screen, block on the edge or attack a linebacker from the slot.

That flexibility can simplify football for Purdy.

Shanahan can use Samuel’s motion to reveal defensive coverage. A defender following him across the formation may indicate man coverage. A defense passing the responsibility between players may suggest zone.

Samuel also creates useful opportunities on early downs. Short throws can function like extended handoffs, allowing San Francisco to gain yards without asking an offensive line to hold protection for long-developing routes.

The 49ers should avoid overusing him as a running back. That role helped produce his most famous season, but repeated collisions have contributed to his physical wear.

A controlled package would preserve his versatility without turning every creative touch into another heavy hit.

The Larger Question Behind San Francisco’s Reunion

Samuel’s return improves the roster. It also confirms that San Francisco’s original receiving plan has already come under pressure.

Contending teams cannot eliminate injuries, but they can build enough depth to survive them. The 49ers have repeatedly entered seasons with championship expectations before losing important players across the offense.

The club’s first game arrives against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, adding travel and preparation demands to an already unsettled camp.

San Francisco’s season will depend on how quickly its injured players return and whether the replacements can keep the offense functional until then.

The Samuel reunion offers a practical answer. It does not remove the underlying risk.

CBS Places Tony Romo on Indefinite Leave

The NFL’s second major story unfolded away from training camp.

CBS Sports announced that Tony Romo had been placed on leave until further notice following his arrest on suspicion of operating while intoxicated.

Romo was stopped on July 23 while driving southbound on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee. He had traveled to Wisconsin for a golf tournament.

According to the police report cited in multiple reports, Romo performed poorly during standardized field sobriety tests. Officers also found an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage on the passenger side during an inventory of his vehicle.

He was arrested, booked and released later that evening.

Romo faces a September 21 court date. A first OWI offense in Wisconsin is generally handled as a civil rather than criminal matter, although the case can still carry fines, driving restrictions and significant professional consequences.

The allegation remains unresolved. Romo is entitled to contest the citation and should not be described as having been convicted.

CBS did not announce a fixed timeline for his return. Its brief statement left open the possibility that the leave could extend through the early weeks of the regular season.

Why Romo’s Absence Matters to CBS and the NFL

Romo has worked as CBS’ lead football analyst since 2017, when he moved directly from the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback room into broadcasting.

His immediate success changed expectations for former players entering television.

Romo became known for recognizing formations, anticipating plays before the snap and explaining quarterback decisions in language viewers could understand. His early broadcasts felt energetic and spontaneous, giving CBS a fresh voice alongside Jim Nantz.

The network later signed him to a 10-year contract reportedly worth $180 million through the 2030 season.

That investment made Romo one of the most highly paid sports analysts in American television.

His leave creates an operational problem weeks before CBS begins another NFL schedule. The lead crew handles the network’s most valuable regular-season games and major postseason assignments.

The Sports Encounter has followed how media, commercial value and major-event presentation shape American sport, including its coverage of the record U.S. audience for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Romo’s case affects a different sport, but the principle remains similar. Networks build major broadcasts around recognizable voices, and sudden personnel changes can alter the product watched by millions.

J.J. Watt Moves Into CBS’ Leading Broadcast Team

J.J. Watt is expected to replace Romo alongside Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.

Watt brings one of the strongest résumés available to CBS. The former Houston Texans defensive end won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award three times and built his reputation through relentless preparation, physical dominance and detailed understanding of offensive protection schemes.

His promotion gives the CBS booth a different tactical perspective.

Romo naturally analyzes the game through the quarterback’s eyes. Watt can explain how defenses disguise pressure, attack blocking weaknesses, manage run fits and force offenses away from preferred concepts.

The transition may make the broadcast less centered on predicting offensive plays and more balanced between the two sides of the ball.

Watt has already gained broadcasting experience since retiring. Working with Nantz on the lead team will still carry a different level of visibility and pressure.

He must learn when to simplify technical information, when to let a replay breathe and how to build rhythm with one of American sports television’s most experienced play-by-play voices.

CBS Faces a Legal and Reputational Balance

Placing Romo on leave allows CBS to protect its broadcast while the legal process continues.

The network has not announced that it terminated his contract or reached a final judgment about the incident. The leave creates distance without treating an allegation as a completed case.

That distinction matters.

Driving under the influence presents a serious public-safety issue. A network that employs a high-profile analyst cannot ignore an arrest involving that allegation.

CBS must also respect due process. Police reports and citations provide grounds for concern, but the court will determine the legal outcome.

Romo’s professional future may depend on that outcome, his response to the incident and the length of CBS’ internal review.

Even if he returns, the arrest may affect how audiences and advertisers view one of the network’s most visible personalities.

Green Bay Activates Tucker Kraft From the PUP List

Tucker Kraft’s news carries a more encouraging tone.

The Packers activated the 25-year-old tight end from the physically unable to perform list as he continues recovering from surgery to repair a torn right ACL.

Kraft suffered the injury in November 2025. His activation comes approximately eight and a half months after the operation.

Returning from the PUP list allows him to take part in individual drills and walk-through periods. Green Bay does not intend to place him into full team work immediately.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said Kraft would spend the early stage getting reintegrated into the offensive process. That includes hearing the calls, lining up correctly and rebuilding the routine of moving through practice.

General manager Brian Gutekunst said Kraft may look physically ready, but Green Bay will respect the scientific guidance behind waiting approximately nine months before exposing an ACL patient to full 11-on-11 football.

That cautious approach matters more than a fast return in July.

Why Kraft Is So Important to Green Bay’s Offense

Kraft had become one of the Packers’ most productive offensive players before the injury.

He caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in only eight games during the 2025 season.

Those numbers placed him on pace for the strongest year of his young career.

Across 42 career games, including 33 starts, Kraft has recorded 113 receptions, 1,551 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.

His value extends beyond receiving production.

Kraft can line up next to an offensive tackle, move into the slot, block in the running game and create yards after contact. His strength allows Green Bay to use the same personnel group for running and passing concepts without making its intentions obvious.

A healthy Kraft gives the Packers another reliable middle-of-the-field target and creates favorable matchups against linebackers or smaller defensive backs.

Green Bay also has to consider his contract situation. The 2023 second-round selection is entering the final year of his rookie deal and has expressed interest in reaching a long-term agreement quickly.

The combination of injury recovery and contract talks creates a delicate situation.

Should the Packers Extend Kraft Before He Fully Returns?

Both sides can make a reasonable case for acting now.

Kraft may prefer security before returning to full contact. A long-term contract would protect him against the financial consequences of another setback and reward the progress he made before the ACL tear.

Green Bay could potentially secure a key offensive player before his value rises further.

The club also has reasons to wait.

An ACL recovery cannot be judged only by how a player looks during individual drills. Kraft must prove that he can cut, block, accelerate, absorb contact and maintain confidence in the repaired knee.

A delayed deal would give the Packers more medical information but could make the contract more expensive if Kraft returns to his previous level.

The decision reflects a wider NFL contract issue. Teams constantly weigh future value against injury uncertainty, as seen across the league when productive players enter camp seeking new agreements.

For a broader look at how American teams manage stars, contracts and championship windows, readers can explore The Sports Encounter’s American sports coverage.

Why Green Bay Will Respect the Nine-Month Mark

ACL rehabilitation has advanced dramatically, but the calendar still matters.

A player may regain strength and straight-line speed before the repaired ligament and surrounding structures are ready for unpredictable football movement.

Team drills introduce reactions that individual workouts cannot reproduce. A tight end may plant suddenly after contact, twist while blocking, redirect toward a quarterback or absorb a hit while the foot remains fixed in the turf.

Green Bay gains little by forcing Kraft into those situations before the medical staff is satisfied.

The Packers need him healthy in September and beyond. Winning a few extra training-camp repetitions in July would not justify increasing the risk of a setback.

Three Stories, One Training Camp Reality

Deebo Samuel, Tony Romo and Tucker Kraft occupy different parts of the NFL ecosystem.

Samuel is a veteran trying to revive his career with the coach who used him best. Romo is a broadcaster whose legal situation has placed his high-profile job in doubt. Kraft is a young player moving carefully toward a return that could shape both Green Bay’s offense and his financial future.

The common thread is uncertainty.

San Francisco does not know when its preferred pass catchers will be fully available. CBS does not know how long Romo’s legal and internal review will take. Green Bay cannot know how Kraft’s knee will respond until he progresses into more demanding work.

Training camp exists partly to answer football questions. It also produces new ones every day.

What These Developments Mean for the 2026 NFL Season

Team or Network	Best-Case Outcome	Main Risk
San Francisco 49ers	Samuel quickly regains his role and stabilizes an injury-hit offense	His physical decline or further receiver injuries leave the unit short of explosiveness
CBS Sports	Watt adjusts quickly and gives the lead broadcast a fresh defensive perspective	Romo’s prolonged absence disrupts the network’s most important NFL coverage
Green Bay Packers	Kraft returns gradually and becomes a major part of the offense by September	A rushed recovery leads to a setback or limits his effectiveness

Final Verdict

The final day of July delivered a reminder that NFL preparation involves far more than preseason depth charts.

San Francisco’s reunion with Deebo Samuel is a sensible response to immediate roster pressure. The reported one-year agreement limits the club’s commitment and gives Samuel a chance to rebuild his value inside the offense that made him an All-Pro.

His return will help, but it also reveals how quickly injuries have unsettled the 49ers’ plans.

Tony Romo’s leave creates a different form of disruption. CBS has removed its highly paid lead analyst while his OWI case proceeds, opening the door for J.J. Watt to take a central role in the network’s coverage.

The legal process must run its course. CBS also had to respond to an allegation involving public safety and one of its most recognizable employees.

Green Bay’s decision to activate Tucker Kraft offers the most positive development. The tight end has cleared an important administrative and medical step, but the Packers are correctly refusing to confuse progress with complete recovery.

Kraft’s real test will come when he moves from individual work into unpredictable, contact-heavy football.

Each story will continue into August.

Samuel must prove that familiarity can restore his impact. Watt must show that he can handle the league’s most visible broadcast booth. Kraft must rebuild confidence in a knee that will face far greater stress once the games begin.

The 2026 NFL season is still weeks away, yet its shape is already changing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Deebo Samuel officially returned to the 49ers?

Multiple reports say Samuel has agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $7 million. The agreement had not yet been formally announced by the 49ers at the time the initial reports emerged.

Why did the 49ers bring Deebo Samuel back?

San Francisco has injury concerns involving Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk and George Kittle. Samuel already understands Kyle Shanahan’s offense and can play several roles.

How did Samuel perform for Washington?

He recorded 72 receptions for 727 yards and five receiving touchdowns during his only season with the Commanders.

How long did Samuel previously play for San Francisco?

The 49ers drafted him in 2019, and he played six seasons with the franchise before being traded to Washington.

Why has CBS placed Tony Romo on leave?

CBS placed Romo on leave following his arrest on suspicion of operating while intoxicated in Wisconsin.

Has Tony Romo been convicted?

No. He faces a court date on September 21, and the allegation remains subject to the legal process.

Who will replace Romo on CBS?

J.J. Watt is expected to join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on CBS’ leading NFL broadcast team while Romo remains on leave.

How much is Tony Romo’s CBS contract worth?

Romo is working under a reported 10-year, $180 million agreement that runs through the 2030 season.

Has Tucker Kraft fully returned to practice?

No. Kraft has been activated from the PUP list, allowing him to participate in individual drills and walk-throughs. Green Bay is not immediately clearing him for full team work.

When did Tucker Kraft tear his ACL?

Kraft tore his right ACL during the 2025 season and underwent surgery in November.

Why are the Packers waiting before allowing 11-on-11 work?

The organization generally respects the nine-month recovery point following ACL surgery before exposing a player to full team drills and unpredictable contact.

How productive was Kraft before the injury?

He caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games during the 2025 season.

Is Tucker Kraft under contract beyond 2026?

No. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has said he would prefer to complete a long-term agreement as soon as possible.