MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Malik Willis #2 and De'von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins look on during joint practice with the New York Giants at Baptist Health Training Complex on August 20, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With training camp winding down, tomorrow night’s preseason contest is the last real chance for many of the rookies on our Miami Dolphins to make a statement to the coaching staff. With that in mind, I asked the following question a couple of nights ago:
Which Miami Dolphins player or players do you and/or others believe were shoo-ins for the Dolphins’ 2026-2027 roster who now must show something above and beyond what we have seen from them thus far in camp and the preseason if they have any hope of making the final 53-man roster, and why?
Below are some of your thoughts and answers-
Dolfanjoe sees all the possibilities for success falling on Willis’s shoulders.
Willis has to lead and perform. Trading the first or second pick in the 27 draft is what will help build this team for years to come. If Willis is the man, Our future is looking very bright!
Molly Polly II wants to see a QB who has shown nothing to show something.
Defense! Gonna get ugly if Tua embarrasses our defense so I’m hoping to see some QB pressure and DBs steppin up.
Offensively , I’d like to see Miller secure that second spot, Ewers doesn’t cut it.
FFFL66IBA&O seems to want more focus this week.
I’m just hoping Everybody get’s their head’s outta their @$$€$ this week and…..PLEASE GET YOUR HEAD’S IN THE GAME!!!
SlayerNation1 is not sure who will step up in week one.
Not sure which of Our bright stars will be shining come Week 1… but it will be…
Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth singing their praises.
JUK points to a variety of areas on the roster, and it will be close for certain guys.
Lots of people under pressure this week, with roster spots up for grabs in most rooms:
QB – Ewers. He’s had a terrible camp, and I think we will be looking for backups in the market if he doesn’t show something this week
WR – the vets Tolbert and Atwell. Both have partially guaranteed contracts but might not be enough to save them especially with Bell back early. I’m not sure either make it unless something changes this week
O line – Charlie Heck has done nothing to suggest he deserves a roster spot but would probably get one today as there is no one else. But cut down day would have me looking for an upgrade
D line – think the 5th spot behind Sieler and the 3 second year guys is wide open.
LB – Gay. Camp stand out for splash plays and energy every year, but doesn’t translate into playing time. Too much freelancing? He’s got to show he can be disciplined without losing impact
CB – like D line but even more so. Johnson, Brents and Marshall are locks but there are probably 5 guys (not even including the 2 on PUP) competing for 2-3 spots.
Luvs2drnk knows who it won’t be.
Well, we know it won’t be Tahj Washington. Just released and replaced with Ryan Miller.
MiamiItaliano just wants to see anyone brought in who can be a competent backup QB.
Need to see Gronowski, Miller or someone with a pulse off the street shine at backup QB. If not, cut them. Can Malik play during the season wearing a protective suit?
NeenerWhacker will be watching the wideouts and the secondary.
Needs to come from the boundaries on each side of the ball. One (or all 3) of the rookie WRs must step up. My bet is on Douglas making more splash plays, Bell will get the tough yards and Coleman a possession guy on 3rd downs
Will also need something special out of Marshall or Juju. Seems like Johnson is going to start in the nickel until one of them go down. Juju has all the potential in the world
Well, those are our comments for this evening. If you missed the original post and have a guy or a few guys who you expect to be playing for one of the last roster spots tomorrow night, please share your thoughts in the comments section below. As always, thank you to each of you who took the time to answer our PQOTD.
LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - JULY 29: Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears looks on during Chicago Bears Training Camp at Halas Hall on July 29, 2026 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Chicago Bears held their second joint practice of training camp, closing out the camp season, with the Tennessee Titans Thursday, at Vanderbilt Health Football Center, a roughly two-hour, padded session against Robert Saleh’s Titans two days before Saturday’s preseason finale at Nissan Stadium (5 p.m. CT). It was hot, physical, and chippy. From the Bears’ side the day split cleanly: the offense — especially Caleb Williams and the tight ends — won the first half; Tennessee’s defense and first-round receiver Carnell Tate won the second after Chicago lost both starting corners for stretches. Ben Johnson framed the week as “another controlled test” link against an “attacking front” designed to meet the Bears at the line of scrimmage — a different problem than Joe Burrow and the Bengals. This is the last chance for the Bears to evaluate position battles and get both the offense and defense ready for a season that will kick off in less than two weeks, and where the Bears will face their first test of the season against the Carolina Panthers.
On a very hot day in Nashville, Caleb Williams got off to a hot start according to CHGO’s Adam Hoge, noting Caleb had six straight completions and was 9 of 11 overall for that period. Hoge also reported that Caleb spread the ball around to eight different receivers.
Caleb Williams on 🔥 to start practice vs Titans. Six straight completions and 9 of 11 overall. The incompletions were a throwaway and a drop.
Ball being spread around. Eight different receivers have caught a pass from Caleb.
Ben Arthur (FOX, covering the Titans) described the tape: Williams hit Rome Odunze in stride off an RPO, stepped up and found Cole Kmet on a shuffle pass, and ripped a dart into a tight window outside the numbers.
Red-zone work was even better for Chicago. The Tennessean’s live blog had the Bears scoring six touchdowns in 12 combined red-zone snaps across first, second, and third units. Caleb threw two red-zone scores in one period, including an out to rookie WR Zavion Thomas and a play-action shot to a wide-open Kmet. D’Andre Swift scored in the red zone and was part of a trick play: handoff, pitch back to Williams, downfield to Kmet. Johnson had said before practice that Swift looked as good as he has at this point of any year — vision, bounce, cut-up timing. That showed up today in the practice with the Titans.
Ben Johnson continues to embarrass Titans. Calls another trick play. It works.
Swift tosses it back to Caleb Willams who finds wide open Colston Loveland
The tight-end room was the most consistent Bears’ weapon of the day. Colston Loveland drew praise from Titans reporters on the other sideline (“looks legit”; “big, tall, fast, and very good”). He had a highlight after a Swift-to-Williams lateral and a YAC spin for a chunk gain. Rookie Sam Roush, working later units with Case Keenum, caught a deep ball and an end-zone score for “big plays” according to Nick Moreano of REKAP, in the 11-on-11 period. agreed that Johnson’s pre-practice line on Roush still applied after the session: flashes that get a staff excited, consistency not there yet, which is expected for a rookie tight end.
In the second half of the practice, the Bears were taught to remember the Titans (you come here for the news and coverage, you stay for the Dad jokes). Adam Hoge noted the “good response” by the Titans defense during a long team period in which they were better in coverage and got more pressure on Caleb. Also said that that the Titans did not like Tyson Bagent going to make a tackle on an interception. Williams finished a two-minute drive around the 20 with 12 seconds left and threw an interception to Tony Adams intended for Loveland. Titans 1s also sacked him and forced incompletions in the period after the break.
Good response by the Titans defense in a long 28-play team period. Tightened up coverage and got a lot more pressure, making things more difficult for Caleb. Would say the Titans definitely won that period.
Things got chippy too, especially after Tyson Bagent went to make a…
Chicago arrived today in Nashville short on the defensive line. Dan Wiederer of the Athletic reported that Gervon Dexter (hamstring or trade negotiations – hard to say which) and Austin Booker (groin) did not travel. Then both starting corners left early. Jaylon Johnson hurt his right arm on a run play in 11-on-11, lost his helmet and pads, stayed on the sideline next to DBs coach Al Harris, and kept chirping. Tyrique Stevenson favored his right leg after a collision with Tate / a red-zone breakup, left with trainer Andre Tucker, then returned with the starters. While Johnson took off his pads and did not return to the field, he stayed on the sidelines. Cam Lewis gave the defense its best moment: an interception of Cam Ward on a throw behind TE Gunnar Helm. Malik Muhammad broke up one would-be Tate touchdown. Otherwise, with Johnson out and Stevenson in and out, Tate feasted. Luther Burden III traveled and did individual work only while still easing back from a groin injury; he stayed vocal on the sideline. A hit on Titans WR Wan’Dale Robinson, later identified as having been delivered by Xavier Woods, was called “cheap” by Saleh in the post-practice interview. It cleared both benches and sent Robinson off for a concussion evaluation.
There seemed to be a consensus among both Bears and Titans beat reporters that the Bears had the advantage early in practice but that the Titans got the best of the Bears in the later period. Jim Wyatt, senior writer for the Tenessee Titans, thought that the Titans “held their own” against a “good football team” in the Chicago Bears at practice today. He also thought that former Chicago Bear, now Titans backup, Mitch Trubisky had a solid day with a 19-26 performance. AtoZ’s Kole Noble said it most directly from the Chicago beat: the Titans “seemingly won the day,” with plenty of Bears positives still on the field. Chris Kwiecinski and Devan Kaney of FOX 32 sounded the most Bears-optimistic voice among the reporters covering the practice, writing that Williams was the catalyst and that “the Bears’ offense was winning the day over the Titans” – but that assessment was before the practice break. All in all, while the Titans seemed to get the best of the Bears in the second half of the practice, both teams seem to have come away with positives, despite the jawing and occasional fisticuffs, and despite the scare with the injuries to Johnson and Stephenson, and the hit on Robinson, both teams seem to have come away relatively healthy.
Some other news of note, nuggets, if you will:
Swifty of the Swift Sports Network indicated that Caleb thinks that only Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet are left in the left tackle competition.
Caleb seems to think its only a two man competition at Left Tackle right now – Braxton Jones & Theo Benedet
In the same vein, Brad Biggs of the Tribune observed that the Bears were very vocal with the Titans throughout practice today:
Some players came together after last series for starters in team drills. Luther Burden, who is not doing team drills, got into some jawing with Jeffery Simmons and Jermaine Johnson. Size advantage: Titans.
Buying into an organization that isn't based in a marquee city like New York or Los Angeles, but rather a place built on a winning attitude and a constant drive to improve, was once one of the Detroit Red Wings' greatest strengths.
Now, the franchise finds itself somewhere it's rarely been, stuck in a decade-long playoff drought, with the winning culture behind the Winged Wheel wearing thin enough that a cornerstone piece like Dylan Larkin has stopped trusting the process.
What Detroit is chasing is something it used to be, a destination where the winning culture matched the appeal of an underrated city like Detroit, Hockeytown in every sense of the word. That kind of destination-building has played out recently just north of the border, with the Winnipeg Jets.
Despite years as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, the Jets still sit on plenty of players' no-trade lists. So how did a market like that build itself into a Western Conference power, one that won the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best team during the 2024-25 season?
A lot of it traces back to longtime general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who has steered the franchise since its relocation from Atlanta and built something that both the team and the city have earned.
While free agents on the open market have often steered clear of Winnipeg, the Jets' own core has stayed. Stars at nearly every position, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor up front, Josh Morrissey on the back end, and Connor Hellebuyck in net, have all signed long-term deals and bought into the organization, something that would have seemed unlikely for a franchise with little track record of sustained success before recent years.
Winnipeg took a step back this past season due to some free-agent signings that didn't pan out and rough injury luck, and it's currently navigating its own controversy surrounding Hellebuyck's future.
But even that situation reflects the strength Cheveldayoff has built. Convincing Hellebuyck to sign long term in the first place, and now holding the leverage to trade him on Winnipeg's terms if it comes to that, all while a three-time Vezina winner and Olympic gold medalist still has term left on his deal, is the kind of position most organizations would envy.
In many ways, that's exactly what Detroit has lost. The Red Wings could use Winnipeg's handling of the Hellebuyck situation as something of a mirror for their own with Larkin.
A player wanting out doesn't have to mean blowing up everything an organization is building, and that appears to be the mentality guiding Winnipeg as it continues to look like not just a playoff contender, but a team that has proven several times that they can win a series against some of the best in the West. Detroit is looking for its own version of that formula from whoever becomes its next general manager, and league insiders seem to agree on what that will take.
Discussing the Red Wings' GM search on a recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman relayed that the organization has made clear it wants a new hire who comes in with a plan, one that shows they can make players proud to wear the Winged Wheel once again.
The blueprint from a place like Winnipeg is straightforward enough as they will need to draft smart, prioritize player development above all else, lock core players in early, and convince them the organization's direction is built around winning first.
Detroit has the pieces to follow that path, however, the harder task will be convincing players like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, the two players expected to define the franchise's future, to stay locked in and believe better days are ahead.
If Detroit can pull that off, there's a real path to the other side of the rebuild, and a chance to become the kind of consistent contender the Jets have built themselves into.
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On Thursday, the hockey world was rocked by the news that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck had requested a trade, confirmed in a public statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau.
The confirmation follows Hellebuyck's pointed comments during his end-of-season media availability back in April, when he made clear that after winning gold with Team USA at the Olympics, all that's left on his mind is winning a Stanley Cup.
The Jets have already come close at least once to moving the 33-year-old Michigan native. Around the draft, a deal reportedly came together that would have sent the fourth overall pick and additional assets to Winnipeg in exchange for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, but the trade ultimately fell through.
In his statement, Hellebuyck said he first made the request privately several months ago and had "tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options."
He didn't leave much ambiguity about where things stand now. "My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family," he wrote, while also thanking the organization and its fans, adding that Winnipeg "has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there."
With training camp fast approaching, the trade request appears likely to carry into the season unresolved. The Jets responded with their own statement, attributed directly to general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.
"Connor has been open with us about his desire for a change," Cheveldayoff said. "He has been an important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years and we have tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here. While we will continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time."
It's a tough development for a Jets team already dealing with plenty of uncertainty, and Hellebuyck's statement leaves little doubt that his preference is to begin the season somewhere else.
Still, there's a case to be made that Winnipeg can find its footing either way. If the situation drags into camp, the Jets already have a reliable option in net in Stuart Skinner, brought in via free agency this summer, and whatever return eventually comes back in a Hellebuyck trade could give the front office real assets to retool the roster.
Just because Hellebuyck no longer believes in the team's current direction doesn't mean the Jets can't make the best of the situation, using a deal involving a genuine superstar to reshape the roster and push back toward playoff contention.
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1870: Tom Morris Jr. won the Open Championship at Prestwick, claiming his third consecutive British Open title.
1899: Willie Smith captured the U.S. Open at Baltimore Country Club by 11 strokes, one of the most dominant victories in tournament history.
1901: The Detroit Tigers routed the Cleveland Blues 21-0 in the most lopsided shutout of baseball’s modern era to that point.
1921: Babe Ruth hit his 55th home run of the season, surpassing the major league record of 54 he set the previous year, as the New York Yankees swept a doubleheader from the St. Louis Browns.
1923: Bill Tilden defeated Bill Johnston to win the U.S. National Championships, securing his fourth straight national singles title.
1938: Pittsburgh’s Lloyd and Paul Waner became the first major league brothers to hit consecutive home runs, connecting in the fifth inning against New York Giants pitcher Cliff Melton.
1950: Johnny Mize hit three home runs for the sixth time in his career, establishing a major league record though the New York Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers.
1953: The National Boxing Association adopted the 10-point must scoring system, a significant business and rules change that became the standard for professional boxing.
1960: Montreal Canadiens legend Maurice “Rocket” Richard announced his retirement after 18 NHL seasons, ending a career that concluded with a then-record 544 goals and eight Stanley Cup championships.
1963: Felipe, Matty and Jesús Alou became the first three brothers to play together in the same major league outfield, appearing for the San Francisco Giants against Pittsburgh.
1969: St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Steve Carlton struck out a major league-record 19 batters in nine innings but lost 4-3 to the New York Mets after Ron Swoboda hit two two-run home runs.
1971: Houston’s Larry Yount injured himself while warming up after being announced as a relief pitcher and left without throwing a pitch, making his major league debut and final appearance in the same game.
1978: Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks by unanimous decision in their 15-round rematch at the Louisiana Superdome, becoming the first boxer to win the world heavyweight championship three times.
1979: Bob Watson became the first player in major league history to hit for the cycle in both the National League and American League.
1982: The Houston Rockets traded reigning NBA MVP Moses Malone to the Philadelphia 76ers for Caldwell Jones and a future first-round draft pick; Malone led Philadelphia to the 1983 championship and won another MVP award.
1990: Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen became the first major league pitcher to record 50 saves in a season, securing a 7-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
1995: St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith set a major league record with his 1,554th career double play turned.
1996: The Texas Rangers retired No. 34 for Nolan Ryan, the first retired number in franchise history.
1996: Andrés Galarraga’s three-run homer helped the Colorado Rockies break the modern major league record for runs scored at home in a season; Colorado finished the year with 658 runs at Coors Field.
2002: Arizona’s Curt Schilling recorded his 300th strikeout of the season, making him and Randy Johnson the first major league teammates with 300 strikeouts apiece in the same year.
2004: Arizona’s Randy Johnson surpassed Steve Carlton to become the career strikeout leader among left-handed major league pitchers, finishing a victory over Colorado with 4,139 strikeouts.
2013: Suzann Pettersen won the Evian Championship by two strokes, capturing the event’s first edition as an LPGA major championship.
2019: Suzann Pettersen sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the final match to give Europe a 14½-13½ Solheim Cup victory over the United States, then announced her retirement.
2020: The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 104-89 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, becoming the first NBA team to overcome two 3-1 series deficits in the same postseason.
2022: Roger Federer announced that the upcoming Laver Cup would be his final ATP event, bringing to a close the career of one of tennis’ most accomplished champions.
— USA TODAY Network
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Aug 2, 2026; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) participates in a receiving drill during Detroit Lions training camp at Meijer Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Detroit Lions closed out training camp with a competitive scrimmage-style practice. And after a very strong month from the Lions defense, it was nice to see the offense put together a solid string of practices to close out camp.
As a reminder, you can get the latest news on injuries and participation in these practices with our daily injury report.
For these final observations, I’m going to package them by unit, going drive-by-drive.
First string
Drive #1 — Starting on own 1-yard line
Result: 99 yards, TD
Key plays:
Back shoulder catch from Jameson Williams on the first play for 21 yards (Rock Ya-Sin in coverage)
Third-and-12 conversion to Williams on a screen play
Amon-Ra St. Brown 22 yards on a crossing route with Malcolm Rodriguez in coverage (!!)
Play-action bootleg pass to Isaac TeSlaa for 14 yards
Fourth-and-goal catch from Williams at the back of the end zone, where he just barely got a knee in (D.J. Reed in coverage
Other notes:
The starters on offense and defense were who you would normally think, but Levi Onwuzurike, Skyler Gill-Howard, Rodriguez, and Devin White all got some rotational work
Run game was pretty ineffective with runs of 5 yards, -2, -1, 2, and 1.
Drive #2 — Starting on own 24-yard line
Result: Debatable three-and-out
Key plays:
Tyleik Williams batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage
On third-and-10, Williams caught a post route for a first down, but a holding penalty negated it
On third-and-10, St. Brown caught a screen pass and looked to convert thanks to good downfield blocking, but Dan Campbell called him short
Drive #3 — Starting on own 29-yard line
Result: 2 plays, 71 yards, TD
Key plays:
TeSlaa catches a quick curl, makes Jack Campbell miss, and turns it into 12 yards
Gibbs, following a block from Tate Ratledge, takes a 59-yard run to the house
Drive #4 — Starting on own 45-yard line
Result: 52-yard FG
Key plays:
Play-action screen pass to Sam LaPorta goes for 18 yards
Avonte Maddox completely blows up a third-and-short run for a 5-yard loss
Drive #5 — Starting on own 45-yard line
Result: Three-and-out
Key plays:
Rodriguez tallies a sack on third-and-long…. although the whistle came awfully quick, and Jared Goff completed a pass to a wide-open LaPorta that would’ve gained at least 20. Goff was not happy about the whistel.
Drive #6 — Starting on opponent’s 40-yard line
Result: Missed 63-yard field goal
Key plays:
Jack Campbell blew up a second-and-short run for a 2-yard loss (Tyleik Williams was also close)
Another holding penalty erased a third-and-5 conversion
Pressure from Skyler Gill-Howard and DJ Wonnum force a third-down incompletion.
On second-and-long, Gibbs kept his feet moving and with the help of the offensive line pushing him, set up a third-and-1
Roger McCreary had tight coverage on St. Brown on an end zone shot. It looked like St. Brown came down with it, but out of bounds
On fourth-and-1, the Lions pitched it out to Gibbs with Penei Sewell as the lead blocker and he took it to the house with only seconds remaining
Overall takeaways:
Thought this was perhaps the wide receivers’ best day against what has been a sticky secondary
Run game was just okay, but it did produce a couple of explosives and successful plays
Aidan Hutchinson was shockingly quiet
Second teamers
Drive #1 — Starting on own 1-yard line
Result: Six plays, 20 yards
Key plays:
Sione Vaki picked up a third-and-1 with a run up the middle for 10 yards, key blocks from Miles Frazier and Ben Bartch
Gill-Howard forced an incomplete pass with a pressure
Joe Bachie was all over a crossing route to Tay Martin to limit it to 5 yards
Devin White sack on third down
Drive #2 — Starting on own 34-yard line
Result: Missed 71-yard field goal … yes, you read that right
Key plays:
Luke Altmyer fumbled two snaps from Mason Miller, who was filling in for a missing Seth McLaughlin
Notably, Miller has not played any center in the NFL or in college
The two spent extra time after practice working on exchanges
Nick Whiteside, mostly playing safety again, was all over a quick slant attempt to Tom Kennedy to break up the third-down pass and end the drive
Why the Lions tried a 71-yard kick, I don’t really know
The wind wasn’t in Jake Bates’ favor, either, and the kick wasn’t close
Drive #3 — Starting on opponent’s 40-yard line
Result: 31-yard TD run from Trayveon Williams
Key plays:
Altmyer did a good job sliding from the pocket and finding Jackson Meeks on a short curl
On Williams’ 31-yard run, he did a great job drawing the defense inside, then bouncing it outside of cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe, who lost outside contain
Third teams
Drive #1 — Starting on own 22-yard line
Result: Six plays, 10 yards
Key plays:
Anthony Lucas picked up a sack, costing the offensive 9 yards
But on third-and-19, Josh Dobbs found Dominic Lovett open on a crossing route, and the second-year receiver turned it upfield for a big gain and a first down
Pressure from Ahmed Hassanein forced an incompletion and third-and-7
Eric O’Neill ends the drive with a sack
Drive #2 — Starting on own 45-yard line
Result: Four-and-out
Key plays:
Khalil Dorsey with a nice pass breakup on Malik Cunningham’s post route
On third-and-3, Dobbs nicely skirted pressure, but way overthrew his receiver downfield
Fourth-and-3, Gill-Howard absolutely danced around the guard for an immediate pressure and incompletion forced
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Bryson Eason #67 of the San Francisco 49ers works out during training camp practice at SAP Performance Facility on July 27, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in their preseason finale. We won’t see many, if any, of the starters. The opposite is true for the last two draft classes. However, it does not sound like we’ll see De’Zhaun Stribling. That’s a good thing, and a sign the coaching staff has seen enough from their first pick in the NFL Draft.
If you are a wide receiver fighting for a spot tonight, you may have wished you had cemented a job ahead of tonight. Mac Jones is in uniform, but we’re likely looking at a heavy dose of Adrian Martinez, who has been inaccurate in a pair of preseason games. Hopefully, for the sake of the pass catchers, that changes tonight.
I’m interested to see Kaelon Black and Jordan James, and how much run they get. We have yet to see James. They’ll be running behind a backup offensive line, so it could be a play-it-by-ear situation if we see them at all.
There are realistically a few jobs available tonight. Most of those are either for depth or special teams. A few splashes from the defensive tackle trio of James Thompson Jr., Sebastian Valdez, and Bryson Eason could seal the deal for a roster spot.
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis is among those battling for the team's punt returner role. His efforts to earn the job may have been undone by an all-time announcer's jinx from Andrew Catalon.
Catalon was setting the stage for Davis' first punt return after Buffalo's defense forced the Pittsburgh Steelers into a three-and-out on their opening drive.
"Joe Brady wanted to see Ray Davis return punts at night," Catalon started. "He's done it during the day."
However, as Catalon finished his thought, Davis let the punt slip through his hands as he tried to catch it. The ball glanced off his chest and to the ground, where it took a massive bounce into the waiting arms of Brandin Echols.
"And that's why he had him back there," Catalon said, referencing Brady's decision to give Davis some reps as a punt returner.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Typically, August is considered the real dog days of summer in the NBA with news and rumors at a premium while everyone resets for a new season.
That led to plenty of questions in our latest mailbag as well. So, let’s dive into it!
Is a trade still in the pipeline? Bronny? Hardy? Knecht? If so, what type of player should they look for and which ones are realistic to get.
Or is this it, and who is going to be cut? — Walter Burns
I don’t expect a signing, but I still think there’s going to be a trade. At the very least, the Lakers are going to look hard for one.
The problem is, when you look around the league, it’s tough to find a deal. The list of teams with an open roster spot is small and there are multiple teams in the same position as the Lakers in needing to trim their roster.
If it comes down to cutting someone, I imagine Dalton Knecht or Jaden Hardy are at the front of the line, and more likely the former considering he isn’t under contract for next season.
If it’s a trade, it’s going to be hard to find a starting-caliber forward with the relatively limited assets available to LA. Saddiq Bey, for example, is a popular name, but is he a nailed-on starter for the Lakers? If anything, I think we could see a trade for a backup center and the team making due for that fifth starter.
I’d expect Knecht and Hardy to be the package shipped around. That gets you into a salary range that you can find a useful player and, if any team is willing, gives them a lottery ticket with Knecht.
Although the signings of Mamu, Grimes, and Walker (and the extension for Austin) raised valid concerns about contract length, did Pelinka also give JJ some needed continuity and buy-in the team has lacked for a while? — Plain Fiction
I think this was an important and deliberate move this offseason. Remember last year that Redick made a point to talk about how many players were in contract years and the struggles of getting them to buy in when they’re thinking about their next deal.
Now, the team’s core is under contract for multiple years and can grow together alongside Redick. It doesn’t change some of the concerns about that core, but it should be a lot easier to get buy-in when everyone knows they’ll be around for multiple seasons.
What do you think will be JJ’s biggest challenge this season? — OldSchoolBaller
That’s a great question because I think there will be plenty of legitimate answers. For me, it’ll be building a defense that makes this team a contender.
Offensively, the team will always have a high floor so long as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are on the floor, and presumably one of them always will be. Defensively, it’s going to take more scheming and work to get this roster to even an average level.
It took quite a bit of time last year, but they eventually got to something decent defensively. With a rim protector like Walker Kessler, it should be more straightforward and, perhaps, easier. But it’ll also unquestionably be a necessity.
What’s the status of JJ’s coaching staff? Are they all returning? Do any of them have new and/or different responsibilities? Any new additions? — Coops Knee Highs
There were no notable changes. Perhaps the benefit of having two veterans as the lead assistants in Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan is that few teams are going to be looking to poach them to be a head coach.
I would say to keep an eye on Lindsey Harding, though, specifically for a WNBA job in their offseason this winter. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sparks parted ways with Lynne Roberts once their season ends and Harding would make lots of sense.
Is there any reporting on progress on beefing up the scouting and analytics departments? Why would new owners impact that with a different vision or is it just a minor bump? — scooter
Pelinka made it known during his exit interview that they had beefed up these areas, but they weren’t announcing every hire. At the same time, it was also reported that there would be a hiring freeze as they transition from the Mark Walter era to the Bob Iger and Josh Kushner era.
My assumption would be that any other buffing up they had planned is on hold.
What is the impact on the fan experience, if any, from the ownership changes? — Crap
That is one of the complete uncertainties that comes with owners who have never been majority sports owners before. It’s just a guessing game.
But I hope that they lower ticket prices and turn the lights back on during games.
When an owner can make $2 billion on buying and selling a franchise in only 12 months–plus the profits from the year, too, why are we suffering under this wretched hard second apron? — Johnny Tuttle
A bit further down the line but this current CBA runs through the 29-30 season. With the onerous provisions that punished talent retention and team building (2nd Apron), would there/could there/should there be a shift back ? Teams like Denver, Lakers, Boston, Golden State and (soon be teams like OKC, San Antonio) have lost talent due to how punitive it is. — LooseLikeSleeveOfWizard
Won’t someone think of the billionaire owners? They might have to face a big luxury tax bill at the end of the season! Do you even care!?
Those aprons are getting nuked in the next CBA, though. Owners in small markets may like them because they limit owners willing to spend big, but they’re having pretty drastic consequences. Players and agents, meanwhile, really dislike them.
If the union has good leadership heading into the next negotiations, then they’ll take a firm stance against the aprons, at least as presently constructed.
Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) high-fives teammates in the dugout on Aug. 16. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Lefty Tarik Skubal hasn’t had time to fully reflect on his time in Detroit. When he learned at the beginning of the month that he was being traded to the Dodgers, he had one night of emotional goodbyes, before shifting his focus the next morning to preparing to face the Cubs in a few days.
Friday won’t be the right time either. He’s scheduled to take the mound against the Tigers, the only organization he’d played for up until three and a half weeks ago, in the series opener.
“I play baseball, and I don’t really want to let any noise or anything outside change or take away from my ability to go play baseball and put our team in a position to win,” he said in a recent conversation with The Times. “So that’s where my focus is always at. It doesn’t matter if it’s opening day of the season, it doesn’t matter if it’s spring training, it doesn’t matter if it’s the dog days of July, it doesn’t matter if it’s the postseason. For me, the game is always the same game, and that’s something that I take a ton of pride in.”
Even in his short time with the Dodgers, Skubal has thrown himself into the task at hand, from the way he’s pitched, to his commitment to connecting with his new teammates, to how he’s handled questions about his impending free agency.
Oddly enough, after the World Series favorites traded for the best pitcher available, they lost the next six games as part of a seven-game losing streak.
“Everyone around here was like, ‘Hey, we win games here,’” Skubal said. “And I go, ‘I don’t know, maybe it’s me.’”
Eventually, the Dodgers did win a game with Skubal on the roster. They even swept two series straight — before running into the Braves this week. And as Skubal has settled in, he’s enjoyed the sheer abundance of baseball conversations going on around him all the time, whether it be a pitcher chatting with the pitching coaches about sequencing, or hitters breaking down how an opposing pitcher attacked him.
“No one’s ego is too big to ask a question and try to learn from anybody,” Skubal said. “So I think that’s what makes this team so good. I think that’s why they tick, and I think that’s why they’re so good, especially in September, is they’re just not afraid to fail. They’re going to try and learn as much from each other as possible. I just love being a part of that.”
Likewise, his new teammates have loved him embracing them right away.
“You can’t tell whether he’s pitching or not because his personality never changes,” Kiké Hernández said. “And I appreciate how talkative he is, like even during his starts, like in the middle of the game, which is kind of refreshing.”
“At the end of my career, if the one thing [all my ex-teammates] say about me is, ‘Yeah, he was talented on the field, but he was an even better teammate,’ that’s what I want to be remembered as,” Skubal said.
Skubal is only under club control for the rest of the season, but he’s consistently said he doesn’t want to address free agency.
“I really am probably not going to get to that until this season’s done,” he said. “Until, hopefully, I’m holding up a trophy and I’m celebrating with these guys for two weeks, and I’m going to [have a headache] for a month after.”
A video clip from Skubal’s appearance on the podcast “Pardon My Take” caused a stir on social media, when he said, “I would love to play my whole career in Detroit” and expresses hope that the Tigers are involved in negotiations in November. But Skubal points out the missing context in that clip.
His response was to a question that described the Tigers trading him as an “unfortunate part of where baseball is.” He understood the premise as: smaller markets can’t retain their stars.
Pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) hugs Jack Flaherty in the dugout after getting pulled from his last start with the Tigers on July 29. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)
“Which I don’t agree with,” said Skubal, who has thought a lot about the larger picture as a member of the MLB Players Assn. Executive Subcommittee. “You can retain whoever. Now, the longer you wait, the harder it is to get guys to give away the years to hit free agency. I think that’s just the business of baseball, and that’s not any different than any other sport.”
He backed his point with counterexamples on each side: the Royals signing homegrown star Bobby Witt Jr. to an 11-year extension worth $288.8 million guaranteed, and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge still hitting free agency in 2022 (before ultimately re-signing).
“There’s narratives around the sport that I don’t agree with, and that’s one of them,” Skubal said.
Skubal also doesn’t buy into the fascination with the 100-pitch threshold.
He threw 109 and 106 pitches in each of his last two starts. Skubal had only surpassed 105 pitches twice before in his career, including the postseason.
“I don’t really understand the difference between 98 and 107,” he said. “I always adjust my workload in between, based on what I’m doing on the field anyways. My routine I trust a lot in terms of that, too, and how I go about my business to make sure that I feel good every fifth day.”
Clearly, even though he’s coming off a May surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow, and will have free agency to worry about in a couple months, Skubal isn’t being precious about his workload.
“All my games that I’ve been pitching in have been pretty competitive,” Skubal said, “and I want to be on the mound in all those games and try to win as many games as I can for L.A.”
As he and manager Dave Roberts get more time together, Roberts will get an even better sense of how to read the southpaw’s body language — something Skubal said they’ve already had “unique conversations” about — to help him decide when to take him out of games and when to push him.
They seem to be off to a solid start. As Skubal entered the dugout after the first inning of his last start, having given up three runs to the Pirates (“bad luck, but also some bad execution,” Skubal said), Roberts said: “That’s all they get today.”
That’s exactly how the game played out.
“He could have said that, and I could have given him five runs,” Skubal said. “But he said that, and mentally, I’m like, he’s got my back. He knows, keep us in the game, and we’re going to win.”
Though Skubal excels at focusing on the present, he also seems to sense how much weight his words carry. Wanting to avoid out-of-context reading between the lines as he praised the Dodgers, Skubal made sure to note that he wasn’t comparing his new situation with his old one.
He’s made clear over and over how special his time in Detroit was to him.
Skubal’s resolve hasn’t been tested in exactly the way it will be on Friday. But he’s performed on that same mound under unique circumstances.
When Skubal took the mound in his last start for the Tigers on July 29, he knew it could be a turning point for him and the club. The Tigers lost in extra innings, but he made a quality start and recorded his 1,000th career strikeout before leaving the game to a standing ovation at Comerica Park.
“You really appreciate that stuff,” Skubal said. “And I went down the tunnel and had some conversations with coaches that were pretty emotional too.
“You appreciate everything because without fans, this game is nothing. If no one showed up, we wouldn’t be able to play baseball for a living.”
He’s sure to have quite the reception on Friday, too. And even though Skubal excels at compartmentalizing, Roberts had one request for the Tigers.
“I hope they do the festivities the night after we win on Friday,” Roberts said, “so the emotion doesn’t get to him and he can just kind of enjoy the welcome back.”
The Kansas City Royals’ nine-game winning streak came to an end with a 3-0 loss to Toronto, but Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco frame it as a strong stretch rather than any kind of collapse. Bobby Witt Jr. stays in the AL MVP conversation, though the offensive edge right now still points toward Yordan Alvarez. Jac Caglianone’s struggles since returning from injury spark a broader conversation about rhythm and confidence, and how much weight a rough game or two should actually carry.
The roster continues to churn. Michael Massey has gone on the seven-day concussion list after a scary-looking play, and Mason Black has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Josh Rojas is back for his third stint with Kansas City, and Anthony Gose has been selected after a strong stretch in Omaha and a long MLB career as both an outfielder and a pitcher. Beck Way’s returned rehab assignment reignites a heated critique of how the organization has handled player health this year, and Nick Mears’ thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosis becomes another example of injuries taking far too long to sort out. The conversation turns pointed when Craig Kimbrel and the broader old-versus-young roster philosophy come up, with Jacob and Jeremy questioning whether Kansas City is leaning too hard on veterans who have no real bearing on the team’s future.
The back half of the episode is dedicated to MLB’s newly floated CBA proposal, and it is a thorough breakdown. A proposed $265 million cap on free-agent contracts, changes to Rule 5 draft eligibility, and earlier arbitration and free agency timing are all covered in detail. Jacob and Jeremy are particularly critical of the calendar-based offseason plan, arguing that manufactured transaction windows and a winter meetings quiet period would depress salaries and make the sport less interesting rather than more efficient. The very real possibility of a lockout when the current CBA expires in December 2026 closes out the discussion, along with a personal note on how a work stoppage would affect the people who depend on baseball’s offseason calendar to network and find jobs in the industry.
When it comes to the NFL's potential discipline of 49ers owner Jed York for his no-contest plea resulting from an attempt to pay for sex at an Ohio trailer park, the widespread public humiliation (which has crossed the Atlantic Ocean due to his partial ownership of two English soccer clubs) could be punishment enough.
Moving forward, the embarrassment could prompt York to impose a suspension on himself.
"Self-suspend" is the term an unnamed insider used to describe the potential outcome to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal at this week's special ownership meeting to approve the sale of the Seahawks — from which York was absent.
"The shame elementwas an overriding theme in the hushed hallway conversations around the Atlanta Airport Marriott, with person after person noting that the formal sanctions are likely to be an afterthought compared to the long-term reputational damage, externally and internally," Fischer writes.
Many will nevertheless be paying attention to the NFL's handling of York. As Fischer explains, the outcome probably will be a suspension and a fine.
Of course, an owner's suspension never carries the same weight as a player's suspension. When a player is suspended, he loses all income for the duration of the banishment. When an owner is suspended, the owner still gets all of the revenue his team earns during the owner's absence.
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Roki Sasaki on the 15-day injured list on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Sasaki had a blister on his right middle finger, according to the team. The blister led to him leaving a game against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning on Wednesday night.
Sasaki allowed four runs in 3.1 innings before he had a visit on the mound from the team's athletic trainer and left the game.
The right-handed pitcher has a 5-5 record this season, allowing 63 runs (61 earned runs) and 22 home runs in 119.1 innings pitched.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled Seth Halvorsen to replace Sasaki.
Halvorsen, 26, has produced a 4-4 record with a 4.25 ERA during his three-year career. He made his debut with the Dodgers on Aug. 11, throwing a scoreless inning against the Kansas City Royals before recording the win.
Currently, the Detroit Red Wings are without a general manager following the stunning announcement of a leadership transition in mid-July that saw beloved former captain and GM Steve Yzerman vacate the role he had held since April 2019.
But prior to that announcement, Yzerman acquired multiple new players via the NHL Draft, free agency, and trade.
On the opening day of the NHL's free agency period, Yzerman inked former Boston Bruins forward Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year, $10 million contract. He also acquired forward Keegan Kolesar from the Vegas Golden Knights in return for a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Entry Draft and a seventh-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.
Both players will wear jersey numbers previously worn by Red Wings Stanley Cup winners. Arvidsson will wear No. 33, most notably associated with four-time Stanley Cup winner Kris Draper. He's traditionally worn No. 33 during his NHL career, having done so while with the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings.
He did wear No. 71 last season with the Bruins, but as of right now, Dylan Larkin remains on the Red Wings roster, meaning that option wasn't available.
Meanwhile, Kolesar will become the first Red Wings player since Niklas Kronwall to wear No. 55.
Notably, No. 33 was most recently worn by prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa during his only NHL appearance with the Red Wings in December of 2024; he was traded on the opening night of the Draft to the Utah Mammoth in return for the 23rd overall selection.
Prior to Kronwall, No. 55 was famously used by Hall of Fame defenseman Larry Murphy, whom the Red Wings acquired at the 1997 Trade Deadline from the Toronto Maple Leafs; he helped Detroit win consecutive Stanley Cup titles.
Speaking of newcomers to the Red Wings, goaltender Daniil Tarasov will become just the second player in club history to wear No. 80. This was previously worn by goaltender Michael Hutchinson, who played a single regular season game for Detroit in December 2023.
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Liverpool need midfield nous, Michael Carrick is already under pressure and Villa can bid farewell to Enzi Konsa
Enzo Maresca has a shiny new £85m midfielder he could select for a debut but, at 18 years old, he may want Ayyoub Bouaddi to have a bit of time watching on from the bench to learn about the Premier League from his elders. The Moroccan may not have anticipated one of those to be a centre-back by trade. Marc Guéhi will be eager to make a triumphant return to Crystal Palace and may well have the opportunity to do so from central midfield, where he played last weekend in the victory over Bournemouth, scoring the equaliser. The centre-back was a surprise selection in the blocker role next to Elliot Anderson, but equipped himself admirably and was not limited to the dirty work, often being found in more advanced positions in open play and happy to have the ball at his feet. His long-term future is unlikely to be outside of defence but further proof of Guéhi’s adaptability will be a positive for Maresca, as a long season awaits. Will Unwin
Crystal Palace v Manchester City, Friday 8pm (all times BST)
