Confusion was the first reaction to the TMZ item in which former Cowboys quarterback and CBS broadcaster Tony Romo accepted “full responsibility” for his recent OWI arrest in Milwaukee, in a statement issued by an unnamed spokesperson.
The same statement arrived, unsolicited, in the PFT email box.
"Reaching out as we are working with Tony Romo’s team," the email began. "Below please find a statement to be attributed to an unnamed spokesperson: 'Tony accepts full responsibility for his actions and has taken proactive steps to ensure that this isolated civil matter is properly resolved. We are working with local authorities to bring this matter to a close and we are communicating with CBS about next steps.'" (Emphasis in original.)
While we won't name the spokesperson or his firm as a courtesy, any email that suddenly lands in the PFT account without prior communication is fair game to be used on the record. The ability to speak on an off-the-record basis can't be unilaterally activated — especially when there's no prior relationship whatsoever between the person who sends the email and the person who receives it.
The bigger issue is this. How can Romo, or anyone, accept "full responsibility" by issuing a statement through an unnamed spokesperson? To accept full responsibility, the responsibility must be fully accepted. That can't happen by issuing a statement through an unnamed spokesperson.
Really, who uses an unnamed spokesperson, for anything? Romo has a spokesperson who, for whatever reason, won't attach the spokesperson's name to the statement.
If Romo wants to accept "full responsibility," he needs to conduct a press conference, issue a statement in his own name, or submit to an interview. Maybe he eventually will. For now, though, it's impossible to regard a statement from an unnamed spokesperson as the acceptance of responsibility, full or partial.
The Raiders wrapped up their preseason games on Thursday night and running back Ashton Jeanty's status will be one of the team's focal points as they turn their attention toward Week 1.
Jeanty sprained his ankle last weekend and the team has not shared much detail about the severity of the injury or the outlook for when he will be back on the field. Head coach Klint Kubiak stayed the course on that during a Friday videoconference with reporters, but he did make it clear that the team's plans include having the 2025 first-round pick in the backfield.
“Still on the mend, still working to get him back," Kubiak said. "We’ve got another week to assess how he’s gonna look going into this first game, but we’re counting on him.”
Fourth-round pick Mike Washington had a good camp and Kubiak said he will have a role once the regular season is underway, but the Raiders would prefer it to be a complementary rather than starring one.
This is another round of the biggest risers and fallers by ADP over the past week. I’ve excluded players previously written about in this series from appearing again. Otherwise, I’m forced to write about De’Zhaun Stribling and Ja’Kobi Lane every week. For last week’s article, click here. The ADP comes via DraftKings, though most sites have the same general group of players moving up and down boards.
The easiest hack for getting CLV is to simply draft free agents before they sign.
CLV, or closing line value, is the difference between what a player cost when you drafted them and what they cost in the final drafts before the season starts. Getting positive CLV usually means you made a good pick.
Like clockwork, fantasy managers see that a player who was almost certainly going to play football for another season has decided to once again play football, and said player rockets up draft boards. Allen is no exception. He joins a Colts team that just got Alec Pierce back at practice, though in a very limited capacity, and is once again without Josh Downs. Downs is dealing with a very minor injury that shouldn’t keep him out long. Still, Allen is a year-in, year-out target earner on a team in need of, at minimum, a No. 3 receiver. I have been buying Allen as he climbs up the later rounds.
Kaelon Black, RB, 49ers (+30)
Jordan James was banged up and Black looked strong in the preseason after missing some time with an injury of his own. I have the benefit of foresight versus ADP and can look at the 49ers’ preseason game from Thursday night, in which both backs played. Black got the start alongside Mac Jones, followed by James later in the game. Both backs looked good, with Black averaging seven YPC on four attempts and James posting 4.4 YPC on eight totes. James also caught a 20-yard pass. Based on the tape and the preseason usage, Black appears to be the 49ers’ RB2. This rise is warranted and won’t stop at his current 16th-round price.
Devaughn Vele, WR, Saints (+30)
Vele has been the riser corresponding with Jordyn Tyson’s fall. In last week’s article, I wrote that Week 9 looked like the most likely return date for Tyson. That gives Vele half a season to run as the Saints’ No. 2 receiver. On the downside, he wasn’t very good last year. He was targeted on 16 percent of his routes and averaged a measly 1.2 yards per route run. Juwan Johnson operated as the team’s de facto WR2 and was quite successful, finishing as the TE8. Johnson should be the biggest mover after the Tyson injury, and rookie Bryce Lance deserves some 20th-round looks as well.
Malachi Fields, WR, Giants (+21)
Fields looks locked in as the Giants’ No. 2 receiver based on his preseason usage. That shouldn’t be too surprising given that the team spent the No. 74 overall pick on him. They also lost Calvin Austin to a torn ACL. Austin was slated for slot duties while Fields is an outside receiver, but the injury could still result in a few extra targets for the rookie. The fact that the Giants will be starting a rookie and one of Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, or Odell Beckham alongside Malik Nabers makes me want to keep buying Nabers, as he hasn’t pushed meaningfully past the 2/3 turn.
Emmett Johnson, RB, Chiefs (+18)
This one is weird. Johnson was reportedly the second running back up during practice, and Kenneth Walker is now a little banged up with an ankle issue, but we have more data than just one report from practice. The Chiefs have played two preseason games. Walker briefly appeared in both. Of the three backs contending for the backup job, Johnson is the only one who hasn’t gotten the RB2 treatment in one of those preseason contests. Johnson might be the RB2 right now, but that’s not something I would bet on.
Bonus: Travis Etienne, RB, Saints (+7)
If you look at the value of the draft picks instead of just the number, Etienne is the biggest riser who I haven’t already mentioned. Alvin Kamara is hurt and he was the main threat to Etienne seeing the bulk of the work on passing downs. At this point in his career, an injured Kamara might not even be of any use as a receiving specialist. He averaged .74 yards per route run. That was easily a career low for Kamara and was just the 49th-best mark by a running back. Etienne was at a solid 1.1 YPRR. That should still be enough to keep him on the field over Kamara if the latter isn’t fully healthy.
On August 19th, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Kamara was expected to miss “at least the next month.” That alone would keep him out for Week 1, and the “at least” in his report suggests it could be much longer than a month. The team strong-armed Kamara into taking a pay cut, likely with the threat of releasing him outright despite gaining no meaningful cap space from such a move. Now he has to board a moving train at some point beyond Week 1. Kamara is not a bet I have made much this summer and I won’t be doing so for the rest of drafting season.
Tyrone Tracy, RB, Giants (-24)
Tracy missed a block in the Giants’ first preseason game that resulted in a pass-rusher de-cleating Jaxson Dart. He was evaluated for a concussion following the hit. The team signed Najee Harris after that debacle. Then, in the team’s second preseason contest, Tracy fumbled in the red zone. Tracy entered the summer as the clear backup to Cam Skattebo, who was recovering from a catastrophic ankle injury. Skattebo seems to have recovered as well as Giants fans could hope for and Tracy may not even be the backup anymore. He’s a clear avoid in drafts, even as his price plummets.
Oronde Gadsden, TE, Chargers (-16)
Gadsden is another one of the preseason’s biggest fallers. The Chargers rested their starters in the first week of preseason action. Gadsden played with the reserves. They played the starters the following week. Gadsden did not see a snap with Herbert. He finally played alongside Herbert in Thursday night’s bout with the 49ers but was still the TE3, only seeing the field for LA’s lone 13-personnel snap. Mike McDaniel is screaming from the top of the mountain that Gadsden is a backup. He’s a player I’m willing to buy as the price continues to drop because of how impressive his rookie season was, but the fall is deserved.
Travis Hunter, WR, Jaguars (-16)
Hunter didn’t get any snaps with the offense in some practices and people are freaking out.
“With both Thomas and Meyers not practicing, the Jaguars had rookie receivers Josh Cameron and CJ Williams get reps with the 1s.”
“Travis Hunter once again spent his entire day on the defensive side of the ball. He did not get a single team rep with the offense.” https://t.co/0E6oUURJQw
I will admit, I would rather see a player I’m drafting loads of practice with the offense, but this also isn’t that surprising. The Jags have been adamant throughout the offseason that Hunter will play both ways. In some practices (and probably some games), that will entail playing exclusively on defense. Going in the 15th-round of Best Ball drafts, Hunter needs a pair of spike weeks to pay off. That’s still easily attainable, even if he spends some games playing mostly on defense.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears (-14)
Monangai went down with a hyperextended knee just under two weeks ago and has yet to resume practicing. Bears coach Ben Johnson has since called him week-to-week. He should be ready to go for Week 1, but that isn’t guaranteed. With a good camp, Monangai might have forced more of a true backfield by committee in Chicago, but that ship has sailed. Johnson has also been effusive in his praise of D’Andre Swift.
Johnson says D'Andre Swift's vision and execution of intended run reads have improved entering the season.
Ben Johnson: “It's the best I've seen him this time of year. You look back at a year ago, he was very explosive, and yet it takes a little while to gel between him and the… pic.twitter.com/yYwSXvkvq0
Swift is locked in for a strong workload out of the gates and could hold on to the bulk of the Bears’ touches for the entirety of the season.
Bonus: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders (-7)
It’s hard for Jeanty to fall more than a dozen picks, but his seven-spot drop through the second round is a bigger value loss than almost anyone over the past week. The team hasn’t given us a clear timeline for his return, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport could only say it was a sprain that’s “more low than high.” To make things worse, Mike Washington Jr. has looked phenomenal in the preseason. If the Raiders want to ease Jeanty’s workload early in the year, they have a guy who can handle some extra touches.
The NFL's new approach to on-field safety infractions creates a three-strike formula for player suspensions.
The process also extends potential responsibility to coaches and teams.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, fines for position coaches, coordinators, head coaches, and owners are "on the table" in connection with chronic violations by one player of various specific rules (hip-drop tackles, horse-collar tackles, launching, hits on defenseless players, and blindside blocks).
There's no specific equation for determining when, and if, responsibility would extend beyond the player. The fact that it's now available is appropriate, and overdue.
The new procedure also entails the possibility that the position coach, the coordinator, and/or the coach will be required to make with the player any trips to 345 Park Avenue arising from a string of violations.
Coaches lose nothing when players are fined for techniques that violate the rules. When the player is flagged, the team loses field position. When the player is suspended, the coach loses the player. But the coach never faces direct accountability.
Now, he does. In theory. It's unclear how it will play out, but the potential exists for direct financial punishment for coaches and teams if a player continues to violate one of the five specific rules that are included in the three-strike formula.
ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 26: Travis Bazzana #37 of the Cleveland Guardians runs to first base during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Two streaking baseball teams face each other tonight in Cleveland.
9-1 in their past 10 games, the Royals are 60-75 with -81 run differential, 19th in team wRC+ at 98, tenth in baserunning runs above average at 3.1, sixth in Defense at -0.4, 19th in starting pitcher ERA at 4.34 (4.25 FIP), and 29th in bullpen ERA at 5.15 (5.20 FIP).
8-2 in their past 10 games and owners of seven-game win streak, the Guardians are 68-66 with a -4 run differential, 23rd in team wRC+ at 94, eighth in baserunning runs above average at 5.1, seventh in defense at -0.6, seventh in starting pitcher ERA at 3.84 (4.05 FIP), and seventh in bullpen ERA at 3.72 (3.78 FIP).
Keys: Get into the bullpen as soon as you can and take advantage and don’t let Witt or Caglianone beat you.
Matchups: Game One, Friday, 7:10PM ET: Wacha 3.49 ERA (4.18 FIP) vs. Bibee RHP 3.97 ERA (4.61 FIP) Game Two, Saturday, 4:10PM ET: Lynch IV (opener) 2.93 ERA (3.48 FIP) vs. Griffin LHP 3.19 ERA (4.20 FIP) Game Three, Sunday, 1:40PM ET: Lugo 4.61 ERA (4.00 FIP) vs. Messick LHP 2.50 ERA (3.08 FIP)
The Royals are led by Jac Caglianone 128 wRC+, Bobby Witt Jr. 127 wRC+, and Tyler Tolbert 123 wRC+.
The Guardians are led by Chase DeLauter 130 wRC+, Nathaniel Lowe 116 wRC+, Steven Kwan 110 wRC+, Angel Genao 108 wRC+, Austin Hedges 105 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 102 wRC+, and Travis Bazzana 102 wRC+.
The Guardians lead the season series 4-3 and need three wins in the remaining six games to secure the season win. Really need to find a way to minimize the damage that Witt and Caglianone can do and you can win this series.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 27: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Las Vegas Raiders passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter of a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nothing says preseason football quite like a game with 10 field goals and no touchdowns, as the Las Vegas Raiders fell to the San Francisco 49ers 18-12. That drops the Raiders to 1-2 over the last three weeks, officially wraps up training camp, and sets up the final winners and losers before the regular season.
LOSER: Fernando Mendoza
I cut Mendoza some slack last week, but it’s hard to ignore back-to-back games with interceptions. This time, he got greedy and tried to fit a ball into a very tight window while targeting the 5-foot-11 Jalen Nailor. To be fair, Mendoza managed to get the ball over the linebacker, and a bigger/taller receiver might have been able to come down with it. But it was the wrong throw/decision for the pass-catcher he was throwing to.
Also, the Raiders’ offense operates more smoothly with Kirk Cousins behind center right now. Of course, that’s to be expected since he’s the veteran and has played in Klint Kubiak’s system before. However, that’s another strong sign that the rookie won’t be the team’s Week 1 starter, and it feels like any hopes of that ended on Thursday night.
WINNER: Mike Washington Jr.
Washington has been deserving of some recognition in the winners column but hasn’t gotten it yet. That had nothing to do with his play, though, and everything to do with the fact that he’s held down the second running back job essentially since he was drafted. But that changes because not only did the Arkansas product have another strong outing with eight carries for 49 yards (6.1 ypc), he also eased some concerns if Ashton Jeanty has to miss some time.
The rookie provided some hope that he’s capable of taking on a bigger role if needed and that he can be more than just a home-run hitter out of the backfield.
LOSER: Aidan O’Connell
In a way, this preseason has summarized O’Connell’s tenure in Las Vegas. He’s been up and down, with a shaky outing in the first contest against the Cardinals, then was much better to lead a game-winning drive last week, and had another tough performance on Thursday night. If the Silver and Black were hoping to shop the fourth-year pro ahead of cutdown day, going three-for-nine with 32 passing yards didn’t exactly help matters.
WINNER: JJ Pegeus
The Raiders have been looking for defensive tackles to step up all preseason, and not many had answered the call in the first two games. However, Pegues made a statement against San Francisco, standing out against the run with four tackles, the majority of which were near the line of scrimmage.
He also made a few plays that won’t show up on the stat sheet by plugging up gaps to make runs bounce, and he had a great rep as a pass rusher, pushing the pocket with a bull rush and getting his hands up to record a batted pass. If the 2025 sixth-round pick was on the bubble heading into the game, he certainly made a strong case to stay on the roster.
LOSER: Atonio Mafi
I thought Mafi had a chance to make the team with what he was bringing as a run blocker. But he’s been a problem in pass protection, and that continued in the third preseason game by giving up another sack. The franchise needs to protect its investment in Mendoza, and it’s becoming clear that the fourth-year lineman isn’t up for the job.
WINNER: Brandon Cleveland
Along the same lines as Pegues, Cleveland had a much-needed outing to boost his odds of making the team. The seventh-round pick tied for the team lead with five total tackles and led the club outright with a pair of TFLs. He also had an impressive win as a pass-rusher to get a quarterback hit and was in the 49ers’ backfield on several occasions throughout the night. That should give the coaching staff something to think about ahead of cutdown day.
LOSER: Wide Receivers
To cut the quarterbacks mentioned above some slack, it seemed like the Raiders’ wide receivers struggled to get open. The passing game was filled with a lot of check downs, and there wasn’t a receiver who really stood out against San Francisco. Tre Tucker led the team with 25 receiving yards and no one else even eclipsed 20 yards, while the group had a handful of drops on the evening.
Kubiak called out the position group after last week’s game and can’t be much happier with what he saw on Thursday night. Even after cutdown day, the receivers at the bottom of the roster shouldn’t feel comfortable because it seems like the Silver and Black will be taking a long look at the position on the waiver wire.
WINNER: Cameron McGrone
It will be interesting to see how many linebackers the coaching staff wants to keep, and if there’s an open spot, McGrone made a strong case to fill it. He was flying around all night, showing off some impressive instincts to tie Cleveland and Greedy Vance for the team lead in total tackles (five). At the least, that could have earned the 26-year-old one of the six veteran practice squad spots.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 15: Nate Thomas #71 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the second quarter during the NFL preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 15, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For most of the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have operated with fewer distractions than usual, keeping them under the radar. Then, after two strong performances in the first two preseason games, Dallas became a focus of sports talk television, raising the question, “Is this finally the year they do it?”
Before jumping too far ahead in that conversation, the Cowboys have one more preseason game to play at home against the New Orleans Saints. The top end of the roster is almost set for the season opener, but questions remain about what to do with the final spots and who will win certain competitions.
Who sits and who plays on Friday night will tell us a lot to begin with, but here are four remaining questions Dallas needs answers to by the end of the preseason finale.
Can Dallas keep three quarterbacks?
Joe Milton has performed exceptionally well in his second season as a backup to Dak Prescott. When Dallas signed Sam Howell, it “pissed off” Milton, but it also brought out the best in him and pushed him to become a proficient commander of the offense.
Milton has the fourth most passing yards in the preseason (286), leads quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (3) and passer rating (142.9) for any quarterback who has had 20 percent of the total dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Sam Howell has made a case for himself to stay on the roster as well. His first preseason game was better than the second, but Brian Schottenheimer continues to praise him and what he’s brought to the quarterback room. If Howell does nothing more than continue to keep that fire under Milton lit the entire season and grow as a player, does that justify keeping Howell in the building on the 53?
If the Cowboys cut either quarterback, it might not be as easy to claim them back on the practice squad, since good backup play is hard to come by in the NFL. Dallas has kept three quarterbacks in the past. This roster makes it much harder to find a scenario where that’s possible.
Does Dallas keep five or six wide receivers?
Over the last week, there’s been chatter on social media about Camden Brown’s flaws. He can’t separate; he doesn’t have the finishing speed; Dallas could find another developmental wide receiver. And then Brown makes another highlight play in training camp practice that makes everyone remember how consistent he’s been all offseason, forcing his way onto the 53-man roster.
Jonathan Mingo has also played extremely well in training camp and in the preseason games. He has four catches on five targets, 82 receiving yards, one touchdown, and a 90.5 PFF grade, which is fifth-best among all wide receivers in the preseason. Add that on top of him becoming a special teams player for Dallas, and it makes it hard to cut a player like Mingo, too, who Dallas has invested a ton of time in and has been patient.
If Dallas decides to go with five wideouts, which player would be unlikely to return to the practice squad and get claimed by another team? The way Brown has flashed and has been showcased in games could catch the eye of another team looking to bring on a developmental player who’s ahead of the curve as a rookie. Mingo gives another team a pro-ready player who elevates the back end of a wide receiver room, with the potential to be a high-end WR3 for a team like the Miami Dolphins.
The best-case scenario is that both players make the 53, and Dallas goes short at another position. It shouldn’t be an either-or conversation because both players deserve to be on the final roster.
Do the Cowboys have their backup tackles?
Nick Leverett, Ajani Cornelius, and Trevor Keegan have played really well in the interior of the offensive line. With T.J. Bass already locked in as the sixth offensive lineman, Dallas might only be able to keep two of the three. That’s a small potato question (if you know, you know). The big potato question is what Dallas should do about their backup offensive tackles?
Nate Thomas was supposed to push Tyler Guyton at left tackle for a starting job. Guyton quickly ended that battle, pushing Thomas down to backup. Throughout training camp and the preseason, things haven’t always looked great for the former seventh-round pick. The team has tried him at left and right tackle to practice position flex, but his development seems to be taking a step back instead of forward. For a player who has started four games in the NFL, Dallas was hoping for more.
Drew Shelton will need more time to grow as an NFL tackle. The 2026 fourth-round pick has not been great and has given up the second-most pressures (seven) of any offensive lineman in the preseason. Like Thomas, the coaching staff has tried to move him from right to left so he can learn to be a swing tackle and find the best role for him.
Dallas might not feel great about where either player is in their development, and with Cornelius moving to offensive guard, the Cowboys might have to find their swing tackle on the open market. If the front office has to pick either Thomas or Shelton to make the initial 53-man roster, the tie would probably go to Shelton, considering he’s the most recent draft pick and Dallas doesn’t usually give up on fourth-round picks this early.
Sam Williams or Marist Liufau?
After the Cowboys signed Von Miller, it took away a roster spot from James Houston, Sam Williams, and Marist Liufau. Instead of all three making the team, the competition could come down to two. All three can play on special teams and have been really good at it, so who makes the roster might be decided by who can show the most as a pass rusher.
Houston was a surprise for Dallas last year, getting 3.5 sacks in the first five games as a rotational player. He’s also continued that production in the preseason. Houston is the one Dallas might be most confident in out of the three.
Williams re-signed with Dallas on a one-year deal after testing the waters of free agency and getting nothing on the open market. The transition to a 3-4 defense could benefit him at stand-up outside linebacker. Williams has done a lot on special teams during the regular season, but has hurt the Cowboys at times with costly penalties. Do the Cowboys still believe the same player exists who had 8.5 sacks over the first two seasons of his career?
After two seasons at off-ball linebacker, Liufau made the switch to outside linebacker in the new scheme in what feels like a last-ditch effort to make the cut. Liufau has received praise from Schottenheimer for the way he’s attacked the transition and played with effort. Watching the preseason games, it looks like he may be too small to consistently go up against offensive tackles and blocking tight ends. Despite being the most recent draft pick of the three players listed, he might not fit the scheme anymore.
The final preseason game will be a chance for all three to make their final mark, with Williams and Liufau being at the center of it.
TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 26: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 and Brett Bateman #21 of the Toronto Blue Jays come off the field after the top of the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre on August 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A 4-2 homestand against two of the best teams in the National League has put some wind behind the Mariners’ sails. Over their last 15 games, they’re 8-7 against some pretty tough competition. From here through the rest of the season, the Mariners face either teams directly competing against them in the playoff race (TOR, BOS, TEX, HOU) or teams who are on pace to lose at least 98 games this year (ATH, LAA, COL). For those still holding onto hope, this soft schedule to finish off the season has been the guiding light; beat up on a bunch of weak teams and win just enough head-to-head games against those two division rivals to eke out the division in September. It starts with an East Coast road trip through Toronto and Boston.
After their deep postseason runs last year, both the Mariners and Blue Jays have suffered through shockingly similar seasons. They’re separated by half a game in the standings right now and both teams have started to play a little better recently, though it might be too little too late for the Jays. Toronto has continued to be plagued by injuries and its superstars haven’t been able to carry the team through the summer. The team traded away a bunch of impending free agents at the trade deadline — Kevin Gausman, Daulton Varsho, and Jeff Hoffman are out — but they also looked towards the future by acquiring José Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Brett Bateman
CF
L
74
21.6%
5.4%
0.074
113
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
1B
R
507
13.0%
9.5%
0.091
94
Alejandro Kirk
C
R
230
10.9%
11.3%
0.134
111
George Springer
DH
R
428
18.2%
9.6%
0.156
104
Jesús Sánchez
LF
L
284
23.2%
6.0%
0.165
110
Kazuma Okamoto
3B
R
531
29.9%
8.5%
0.207
106
Nathan Lukes
RF
L
354
15.0%
5.6%
0.118
98
Ernie Clement
2B
R
526
9.7%
3.4%
0.116
96
Andrés Giménez
SS
L
428
18.9%
3.3%
0.117
79
Vladito’s struggles this year have been bewildering; his contact quality has taken a massive hit despite swinging just as hard as he has in the past. He simply can’t square up the ball right now and it’s driving his offensive production into the ground. The one guy who is hitting well right now is Alejandro Kirk. He missed more than two months of the season with a fractured finger and it took him a while to get his bat going after returning in mid June. Since the All-Star break, he has posted a 152 wRC+, easily the highest mark on the team in that period. The rest of the Jays’ postseason heroes from last year haven’t been able to keep it up this season; Ernie Clement has a 96 wRC+, Nathan Lukes is a hair higher at 98, and Addison Barger only played in nine games between two major injuries.
Dylan Cease was the Blue Jays’ headlining acquisition this past offseason when he signed a seven-year, $210 million free agent contract just before Thanksgiving. He’s long been one of baseball’s best strikeout artists, though all those punchouts come with some spotty command. He’s usually able to make it work because he can just work out of any trouble he gets into by avoiding contact altogether, but he can also be prone to big blowups from time to time if his command really slips. He primarily relies on a hard fastball and a nasty slider as his out pitches. He’s increased the usage of his changeup this year and it’s been nearly unhittable; the whiff rate on his offspeed pitch is over 50%!
Cease is one of the two favorites to win the AL Cy Young award. He’s been absolutely dominant throughout the entire season. Back in July when he faced the Mariners, he held them scoreless over seven innings, striking out nine while allowing just four baserunners.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
José Soriano
144.1
23.7%
10.8%
11.6%
51.9%
3.43
3.75
Kade Anderson (AA)
93.1
40.5%
3.9%
6.2%
45.3%
1.06
1.78
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
21.6%
23.8%
97.1
95
92
85
0.382
Sinker
31.1%
25.9%
96.3
104
149
85
0.374
Splitter
7.7%
28.0%
92.3
100
108
94
0.243
Curveball
30.4%
21.7%
85.4
92
140
104
0.271
Slider
9.2%
0.6%
90.2
95
93
116
0.304
From a previous series preview:
José Soriano is a weird pitcher. He throws extremely hard, he has three pitches with elite whiff rates, and his groundball rate is among the highest in baseball. Last year, his ERA outpaced his FIP by more than half a run. This year, the script is flipped; his ERA is nearly a full run lower than his FIP. Maybe he read my profile of his issues from last summer because, all of a sudden, he’s striking out a bunch more batters. He’s reduced the usage of his sinker in favor of his four-seamer and splitter, but his command hasn’t improved with the pitch mix change. The result is more punchouts, but also a lower groundball rate, a high walk rate, and more damage on contact allowed.
Soriano was traded to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, an interesting move made for the future at the same time the team was selling off some of their expendable parts. The Mariners are well acquainted with him from his time with the Angels, but he’s only faced them once this season; he allowed three runs in five innings while striking out nine back in June.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Max Scherzer
50
16.0%
11.1%
15.0%
36.6%
7.02
6.32
Bryce Miller
94
24.5%
6.6%
14.3%
37.5%
4.12
4.31
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
45.7%
47.3%
93.2
89
64
118
0.367
Cutter
1.9%
6.3%
88.3
94
Changeup
7.7%
20.5%
84.2
85
55
108
0.232
Curveball
9.3%
16.3%
75.2
99
99
125
0.313
Slider
35.5%
9.7%
85.7
106
64
108
0.370
After helping the Blue Jays reach the World Series last year, Max Scherzer staved off retirement for one more go around with Toronto. His age-41 season has been marred by a few injuries, limiting him to just 12 starts. They haven’t been good starts either. It’s pretty clear his arsenal just isn’t good enough anymore and batters are happy to tee off on his diminished stuff. For the first time in his long career, his strikeout rate is sitting below 20% and his walk rate is sitting above 10%. It’s an ugly combination and it’s the reason why his ERA is sitting above seven right now.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Astros
67-67
0.500
—
-44
L-L-W-L-W
Rangers
66-68
0.493
1.0
-47
L-W-W-L-L
Mariners
64-70
0.478
3.0
-57
W-L-W-W-L
Athletics
53-81
0.396
14.0
-185
W-W-L-W-W
Angels
52-82
0.388
15.0
-75
W-L-L-L-L
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Yankees
75-58
0.564
+7.5
+100
L-W-L-W-L
Red Sox
73-60
0.549
+5.5
+101
W-W-W-W-L
Guardians
68-66
0.507
—
-4
W-W-W-W-W
Rangers
66-68
0.493
2.0
-47
L-W-W-L-L
Orioles
65-69
0.485
3.0
-24
W-L-W-W-L
Blue Jays
65-70
0.481
3.5
-65
W-L-L-W-L
Mariners
64-70
0.478
4.0
-57
W-L-W-W-L
Twins
64-70
0.478
4.0
-56
L-L-W-L-L
The Astros kept pace with the Mariners after beating the Yankees on Thursday and winning that series in New York; they’ll head across town to face the Mets this weekend. The Rangers lost some ground after dropping the final two games of their series against the White Sox this week and face a tough challenge this weekend as they travel to Milwaukee.
In the Wild Card race, the Guardians have won seven straight and nine of their last 11 to put a sliver of daylight between them and the rest of the field. They host the hot-hitting Royals this weekend. Elsewhere, the Orioles play in Sacramento while the Twins host the White Sox.
UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 21: Final Game at Yankee Stadium., N.Y.Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium., Derek Jeter celebrates (Photo by Linda Cataffo/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) | NY Daily News via Getty Images
Everything started with an email.
On July 26, 2022, just a couple of months after graduating from high school, an 18-year-old who had already been rejected for a position once before decided to try his luck one more time. He pressed send as his heart raced and fingers twitched with excitement and nervousness. Twenty-four hours later in the beige-leather interior of his mom’s Lexus, he received a response from the man he had been trying to reach — Pinstripe Alley managing editor Andrew Mearns. After being asked for a mock piece that would be “indicative of something we might publish on the site,” the 18-year-old happily obliged, feeling fortunate even to be asked for a sample, and sent a Google Doc with an article on Joey Gallo.
The article was fundamentally sound, but not good enough. Not nearly good enough.
So came a large round of edits suggested by Andrew, and the young writer sent it back after making major changes. And after a suspense-building wait, a small dream come true.
I am, of course, writing (and reminiscing) about my story of joining this incredible site.
Since that late July day, I’ve had the immense pleasure of working at Pinstripe Alley. Talking Yankees (and baseball in general) with my wonderful co-workers, hearing their opinions, seeing their reactions through some of the best and worst times, and of course, giving mine too when I wasn’t busy screaming at the TV for all the right or wrong reasons, was just a bonus for me. The real prize? Being a young, aspiring sports journalist who got to write about his favorite team every week for an outlet he had been reading consistently since the middle of high school.
My favorite memory of my time with Pinstripe Alley was easily writing an article for my grandfather’s birthday. I’ve been a Yankees fan since I was born, and it’s because of him that I fell in love with the men in pinstripes and my favorite player ever, Derek Jeter. Having that published on this site and reading it aloud to him was one of the best, most impactful moments of my writing career, even today. I will never forget it, and I owe this site everything for creating a memory like that for me.
Pinstripe Alley wasn’t just a place where I got to write about the Yankees; it was where I learned the ins and outs of journalism on a stricter, more regimented schedule. And while I admittedly wasn’t always the best at it, especially during stressful times in college, my amazing editors greeted me with the utmost grace and acceptance. And, most importantly, it showed me early on how important that part of the job is when entering the real world.
There aren’t many words to describe how I felt when I got Andrew’s email about becoming a member of the staff here at Pinstripe Alley. In that moment, I had accomplished a goal that I had set for myself, and it helped me grow not only as a writer but also as a professional.
For four years, I woke up every week and wrote about my favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees. Now, I’m stepping into the real world, with two college degrees and a full-time sports editor job on the horizon. And had it not been for Pinstripe Alley and the amazing people at this site, I don’t believe I would have made it to where I am today and, more importantly, where I intend to be in the future.
When I began this job, I was just a kid. And to many, I still am. But Pinstripe Alley afforded me all sorts of different new experiences that helped me as I stepped into my college newsroom, my internship newsroom, and my now-sports editor newsroom. The experience I gained here was invaluable, but at the crux were the people, and the people who not only made such an incredibly accepting atmosphere for a relatively inexperienced kid, but who also loved the team just as much, if not more than I do. That is what makes this place so special, and I’m so excited to continue reading as much content from this outlet as possible.
So, after four years here at Pinstripe Alley, it’s time I bid this site adieu. But every word I wrote, and every article I published, is one I’m proud of because of where it was posted and the team it’s about. I’ll never take any of it for granted, and I can’t say thank you enough to everyone on this incredible staff and all of you amazing readers. Until next time.
You’ll have to forgive me as we get a little stuck in the weeds. I promise it will be worth it. One of the more interesting debates in statistical circles is in how much fidelity Pythagorean records have. In plain English, can we use run differentials as a way to accurately gauge the quality of a baseball team? It was established baseball “science” for several decades, but science always has a way of updating itself.
For many of you, your eyes have glazed over and you are wondering what this has to do with the price of whiskey in Ireland. Simply put, Pythagorean records are one of the things we use to determine if a manager is doing a good job and whether teams are overachieving or underachieving. When we spit runs scored and runs allowed into Bill James’ trusty formula, it spits out an expected record based on that differential. The Astros are currently four games better than their expected record. Does this mean Espada is actually doing a good job?
Obviously, that explanation is overly simplistic for a number of reasons. For one, we would have to include the manager’s input into why they have scored and allowed those runs. For instance, do shoddy bullpen decisions lead to more runs allowed? Do you shaky lineup decisions limit runs scored? Is how the manager using players and does that have an impact on player health? These are things that run differentials can’t tell us on their own.
Maybe more importantly to those of us crunching the numbers, we have a baseline explanation for things we have yet to figure out. If we don’t know why something is occurring then we are apt to assume it is random. This is not something we know mind you. It is more of a default that we put in place until a better explanation comes down the pike.
There have been a ton of theories to explain why teams overachieve or underachieve their expected records. Often times, bullpen performance can turn the tide between a good and bad record in one run games for instance. Others point to performance in clutch situations. There certainly is nothing to suggest that those are not factors in Pythagorean records, but most of it comes down to simple math.
There is an affectionate term that I have attributed to the Astros throughout their World Series run. They play something called “bully ball.” Essentially, bully ball occurs when you blow out your opponents. Those games have a way of covering up a ton of sins. Suddenly, numbers like performance with runners in scoring position or with two outs suddenly look a lot better. However, the difference between a 7-2 win and an 11-2 win are negligible for those of us watching the game.
Before we look at the obligatory table, one must appreciate the history of all this. Teams that win 100 or more games almost always overachieve their Pythagorean record. In other words, there is some luck involved in piling on that many wins. I want you to notice what happens to the Astros win differentials in those seasons where they won 100 or more games (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022).
Run Differential
Pythag +/-
One Run Games
Blowout games
2017
+196
+2
19-13
35-19
2018
+263
-6
24-24
37-8
2019
+280
0
24-19
36-12
2021
+205
-6
21-19
36-12
2022
+219
0
28-16
35-13
2023
+129
-3
20-21
28-15
2024
+91
-2
18-27
29-23
2025
+21
+4
27-17
23-21
2026
-44
+4
13-13
13-25
AVG
+151.1
-0.78
0.534
0.648
Based on the Pythagorean records, the Astros should have won 100 or more games in 2021 as well. So, they not only won 100 or more games four times, but they SHOULD have won 100 or more games four times. That is extremely rare and when you remove 2020, those seasons would have happened consecutively. I think we need to take a step back and appreciate how unique that is. There aren’t many teams in history that can say the same thing. You can probably count them on one hand.
if you remove 2026 from the equation, the Astros record in blowout games (games decided by four or more runs) moves to 259-123. That is a .678 winning percentage. That is absolutely stupid good. That would be equivalent to 110-52 in a 162 game schedule. You’ll notice that the Pythag differentials started to change in 2025 when the Astros weren’t quite as good at blowing out opponents. This year has been an inverse of their recent history dating back to 2017.
If you’ve gotten this far then you’ve reached the point where we can arrive at some conclusions. First, this is not a good baseball team. I know I’m not breaking any ground there and I know many of you are thinking you don’t need the fancy numbers to tell you that. However, the Pythagorean records say they shouldn’t even be .500 and we should take a step back before we reach that conclusion because this team gets its doors blown off with more frequency than in the past.
The second point is that it is fair to suggest that Espada is doing a good job based on these numbers alone. One could argue that the art of giving up on a lost game helps preserve players for future games when they are close. I’m not sure I would completely buy into it, but it an understandable inference from the numbers above. I do think it is important to look at the differences in how these numbers break down. By sheer definition, you would likely have to score five runs or more to register a blowout. The Astros did so 23 to 37 times between 2017 and 2025 and registered between 28 and 37 between 2017 and 2024. They have only 13 with approximately 30 games to go. Unless they suddenly go absolutely nuts down the stretch, they will drastically underachieve in that department.
Many will point to the Astros;’ pitching woes as a reason for the decline in this department and it certainly is a factor, but the offensive challenges have also played a dramatic role. This means that independent of what happens to Espada, this team was not good enough when constructed. Certainly, the use of certain players will come into focus when management makes the call on Espada. The end result is that Pythagorean records are one tool we can use to evaluate managers, but they shouldn’t be the first tool and obviously should not be the only tool.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 24: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels against the Cleveland Guardians during a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 24, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a belated adjustment to Pacific time, the Phillies will now have to travel all the way down the coast to Los Angeles. The good news is that they’ll be greeted in Southern California by one of the worst teams in baseball.
The Angels were bad to begin with, and then they shipped out a bunch of guys before the trade deadline. What’s left? A bunch of young players of varying degree of promise, along with one notable veteran who seems content playing out his career in obscurity.
Opposition research: Mike Trout
You’d think that one of these years, Mike Trout would say, “You know what? I’d actually like to experience being on a good team before I retire.” Sure, Ernie Banks also spent his entire career playing for mostly moribund Cubs teams, never making the playoffs, but you have to keep in mind that a lot fewer teams made the playoffs back then. In the current setup where the American League allows six teams into the postseason every year, it’s rather embarrassing that Trout has only been there once – and promptly got swept.
Mike Trout choosing this over pennant chase baseball late in his career https://t.co/WlrnfKxS6i
As there is every year, there was some talk that the Phillies should trade for Trout at this year’s deadline. While he’s not anywhere near the hitter he was in his heyday, he’s still swings a good bat and would have fit in well at the top of the Phillies’ order. Of course, there’s the little matter that he’s still owed $37 million for each of the next four seasons, he’s been injury prone throughout his career (though he’s on pace to play close to a full season for the second straight year), and his defense in the outfield has slipped.
Perhaps more importantly, despite the wishes of many Phillies fans, he’s never really expressed any desire to play in Philadelphia.
What does Mike Trout think about the possibility of playing for the Phillies? pic.twitter.com/SonPUOr4ET
If you really want to see Trout in Philadelphia, you’re in luck: Eagles season begins in just a couple of weeks, and Trout’s schedule will be nice and open by the beginning of October.
If you’re an Angels fan, it has to be grating to see the crosstown Dodgers enjoying so much success, while your team has been a mess for almost two decades. (Those Rally Monkey shirts are looking pretty ragged these days, huh?) Since 2010, the franchise has had more name changes than playoff wins. I don’t know how had arguably the two best players in baseball over the past 15 years and still couldn’t sniff contention.
2017: can't believe the angels wasted Mike Trout's prime
2018: wow trout AND ohtani?!
2023: can't believe the angels wasted Mike Trout AND Shohei Ohtani's primes
Then again, the franchise wasn’t doing all that hot before the 2000’s either. Here’s a quick summary of Angels’ history:
One World Series title of which the lasting memory is a monkey
They can’t seem to decide what city they represent
One of their outfielders tried to assassinate Queen Elizabeth
Trivia
Last week’s answer: Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina each had multiple multi-home run games at Citizens Bank Park as members of the Cardinals. Multiple people guessed Pujols but nobody picked Molina.
This week’s question: The Phillies’ first ever game against the Angels was a 3-0 win on June 6, 2003. Name two of the three pitchers who combined for that shutout.
Additional thought about the series
The Angels’ offense has been horrendous, scoring the second fewest runs in the league in August. Surprisingly, the Angels’ pitching staff has been solid, carrying the fifth best team ERA since the All-Star break. Reid Detmers (Whose name sounds like how Carnac the Magnificent might describe Philadelphia Eagles history) is emerging as a star pitcher and former Phillies prospect George Klassen is off to an impressive start to his career. (Welp)
George Klassen is putting together a strong run for the Angels.
Since returning to the rotation in early August, Klassen has allowed just 5 ER over 22.1 innings across 4 starts.
The biggest concern is his 16.8% walk rate, but the strikeout upside is real after he posted a 27.7%… pic.twitter.com/SUSqoUg4bK
The good news is that in addition to Detmers, the Phillies are scheduled to face Ryan Johnson and Yusei Kikuchi, both of whom have been mostly bad this season. (Though Johnson has been much better over the past month and is coming off a start where he pitched seven shutout innings.)
With key series against the Diamondbacks and Braves looming, it would be ideal for the Phillies to take advantage of the talent disparity and rack up at least two wins this weekend.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals in action against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 16, 2026 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Nationals 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two weeks ago today, the Washington Nationals announced that they were planning to move star shortstop CJ Abrams to second base. However, for a variety of reasons, Abrams has still yet to play the position. The longer that remains the case, the more awkward this situation will get for the Nats.
Blake Butera said CJ Abrams will start playing second base in a few days. Will still have shortstop reps once a week or so. But a big decision from the organization.
From a purely statistical perspective, moving Abrams off short makes a lot of sense. He is one of, if not the worst defensive shortstop in the game. Abrams has also had years to improve defensively, but has just not taken the required leap. However, the timing of the move was curious.
Instead of waiting until the end of the season, the Nats forced the issue, switching their star’s position in the dog days of summer. While the Nats were struggling due to trades and the injury of James Wood, the new regime decided to unsettle Abrams.
Despite not being a good defensive shortstop, Abrams takes a lot of pride in playing the position. He has been a shortstop his whole life and sees himself as “the captain of the infield” when he is playing short. With this in mind, it seems like this was a decision that should have come in the offseason.
There was never going to be a perfect time to make this needed decision. However, I think the move would have been less messy in the offseason. As it stands, Abrams has reluctantly agreed to switch positions. Even his agent said that Abrams was “uneasy” about the move but was willing to put the team first.
CJ Abrams’ agent told The Athletic he is uneasy about the move to second base, but is eager to put the team first. Paul Toboni said if he was Abrams, he'd be upset too.
On two sides who praised each other as strong partners and seek common ground: https://t.co/plIIg5Qd7I
With all this in mind, the fact that Abrams still has not played second is a bit awkward. One important piece of context to consider is his ankle injury though. It seemed like Abrams was close to finally making the move, but during the Texas series he rolled his ankle. This caused him to miss a few games, and he has only been a DH since.
However, the Nats were planning on putting Abrams back in the field the other day. They had him go through pre-game workouts, but it was determined he was not ready to go yet. Confusingly, Abrams was set to play shortstop that game, not second base.
I get he was coming back from an injury, but what does that injury prevent him from playing second base? This whole situation is just becoming a distraction for the entire team and Abrams in particular. The clear solution to this issue is to just pull off the band-aid and play him at second. I wish they waited until the offseason, but at this point you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.
Ok the CJ to second base song and dance is getting silly. First he’s obviously annoyed about it but playing it cool, then he gets hurt so they slow play it by DH’ing him for a while, and now he’s healthy and BACK AT SHORT https://t.co/b1KRmlYKx5
Making this ordeal even more awkward is the fact that Abrams has been in a deep slump since the position move. After winning player of the month in July, Abrams is hitting below .200 in August. Abrams came into the second half with a point to prove and looked to crush the narratives about his second half struggles.
It looked like he was on his way to doing that, but this situation has brought his momentum to a halt. Everybody involved in this does not look great right now. From the outside, it is easy to look at this situation and say that Abrams is not handling this very well. His play and enthusiasm have taken a noticeable dip since the announcement. Even that play where he hurt his ankle could have been prevented if Abrams was running harder and slid.
For the new regime, it seems like they made a star player unhappy and unsettled without much of a reason. It is not like Abrams is being moved off the position for a super star or an exciting prospect like Eli Willits or Seaver King. They are just swapping him and Nasim Nunez. Is that move really worth all the trouble it is causing?
The longer Abrams is not at second base, the weaker the team looks as well. We do not know what is going on in the building, but from the outside you can make a narrative that Abrams is dragging his feet. Why would Abrams go back to short after the injury?
In the long term, this should work itself out. However, the longer Abrams is not at second base, the weirder this looks. I hope to see Abrams playing second sometime this weekend. It would remove a distraction from a clubhouse that needs to come together over this final month of the season.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 26: Sedrick Van Pran-Granger #62 of the Buffalo Bills looks on prior to his game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Buffalo Bills mounted a glorious comeback to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 on Thursday night to cap a 3-0 preseason.
Now Brandon Beane, Joe Brady, and Co. have to trim the roster from 91 players to 53 by Sunday at 6pm EST. Therefore it’s time for my final roster projection of the summer.
Quarterback (2)
Josh Allen
Kyle Allen
Allen won the QB2 battle — a competition that did have some legs in training camp — with another surgical performance in the second preseason game. He’s not the best backup in the NFL but appears comfortable in Joe Brady’s system.
Running Back (4)*
James Cook
Ray Davis
Frank Gore Jr.
Ben VanSumeren
Tipping the scales back to Gore Jr. after he demonstrated how he can make something out of nothing on multiple occasions against the Steelers and had another stellar blitz pickup on a Shane Buechele long completion for the second-straight week. This is no slight on Ian Wheeler. He was dynamic in the preseason. Gore Jr. has earned this spot on the roster that he’ll at least hold until Ty Johnson returns from what I’m predicting will be a IR designation to begin the season.
Wide Receiver (6)
D.J. Moore
Khalil Shakir
Josh Palmer
Keon Coleman
Skyler Bell
Trent Sherfield
No changes here — I wanted to include Mecole Hardman here as the primary punt returner. But he muffed a punt last season and had three drops in the preseason. I’m guessing Ray Davis will be the primary kick and punt returner this season. Yes, his initial muff was ugly.
Tight End (3)
Dalton Kincaid
Dawson Knox
Jackson Hawes
Despite strong pushes by Keleki Latu and even Shane Zylstra, the Bills opt to keep their normal three tight ends on the roster. Do not sleep on Latu or even Zylstra getting practice-squad elevations this season. They’ve proven their worth this summer.
Offensive Line (9)*
Dion Dawkins
Alec Anderson
Connor McGovern
O’Cyrus Torrence
Spencer Brown
Austin Corbett
Lloyd Cushenberry
Tylan Grable
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
For now, I have nine Bills blockers making the roster but there are caveats galore here. Given that Jude Bowry was seen in a walking boot at practice this week, it’s sensible for this raw, high-upside rookie to start the season on IR, making room for another player on the 53-man roster. That player is Van Pran-Granger who, despite losing the backup center job to Cushenberry, pieced together a strong summer.
Then there’s this reasonably distinct possibility — the Bills trim the roster to 52 players to prep to add a veteran blocker released by another team after they trade Van Pran-Granger to the Commanders (or another interior offensive line needy club).
Defensive Line (6)*
Ed Oliver
Deone Walker
T.J. Sanders
Landon Jackson
Greg Gaines
Zane Durant
No changes here, although Durant leaving the Steelers game late with what looked to be a non-serious injury, is worth monitoring.
InsideLinebacker (4)
Terrel Bernard
Kaleb Elarms-Orr
Dorian Williams
Joe Andreessen
Yes, I just advocated a place for Jenkins on the 53-man roster earlier this morning… but Andreessen is more of a proven commodity as a depth linebacker and special teams ace. He is ahead of Jenkins’ developmental track by a year, having first made the team in 2024. In this case, the Bills cling to hope Jenkins isn’t snagged by another club after Buffalo moves him to the practice squad.
RushLinebacker (6)
Greg Rousseau
Bradley Chubb
Michael Hoecht
T.J. Parker
Javon Solomon
Mike Danna
Based on WAWW, Danna would not make the roster. He played the majority of the fourth quarter in the final preseason. That’s typically a dead giveaway that a player isn’t going to be part of the original 53-man roster to start a regular season. HOWEVER, Danna provides Buffalo serious experience on the edge — along with some interior rushing flexibility — and I expect Leonhard would want an extra rush linebacker over another inside linebacker (see: Keonta Jenkins). Although special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers probably would lean in the opposite direction.
.Defensive Backs (10)
Christian Benford
Maxwell Hairston
Dee Alford
Davison Igbinosun
Cole Bishop
CJ Gardner-Johnson
Jordan Hancock
Jalon Kilgore
Kani Walker
Sam Franklin Jr.
I’ve gone back and forth on Damar Hamlin — he was an afterthought this offseason but has parlayed a strong camp into a solid preseason, and I do think in a perfect world, the Bills would like to keep him as veteran experience at safety behind Cole Bishop and CJ Gardner-Johnson. For this projection, he’s left off the 53-man roster with Buffalo hoping he can be stored on the practice squad, although I do think it’s very possible Hamlin vs. Franklin Jr. is the final roster decision for Beane to make.
Specialists (3)
Reid Ferguson
Tommy Doman Jr.
Tyler Bass
Hard to say if there’s been a clear winner in the punter battle — as both Mitch Wishnowsky and Doman only got cracks at it in the second preseason game. This one could go down to the wire.
*Phidarian Mathis will begin serving his three-game suspension at the start of the regular season so he will not originally be on the 53-man roster Week 1.
*Ty Johnson and Jude Bowry begin the season on IR in this projection
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 23: Michael Dansby #37 and Maxen Hook #43 of the Seattle Seahawks break up a pass intended for Bryce Oliver #80 of the Tennessee Titans during the second half of Week 2 of the preseason game at Nissan Stadium on August 23, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the last week of preseason, which means roster cuts are on the horizon for the Seattle Seahawks and the rest of the NFL. With Seattle retaining so many of its players from last season, the roster bubble is probably a bit smaller than most other teams, but nevertheless still compelling.
Let’s get to some roster bubble talk before the Seahawks take on the Kansas City Chiefs at 5 pm PT at Arrowhead Stadium. And no, Jalen Milroe is not on this list. You were going to be watching Milroe regardless of whether he was on the bubble or not, so this is about filling out positions for which the depth is a bit questionable.
Running Back: Jacardia Wright and Velus Jones Jr
It’s possible that neither player makes the cut, if only because Seattle likely has its three running backs (Jadarian Price, George Holani, and Emanuel Wilson) for the regular season. When Zach Charbonnet comes back, they’ll have four. Wright and Jones can both be practice squad stashes and game day elevations for a few weeks, if needed.
Wright returned from injury last week and rocketed his way into the end zone on a 69-yard touchdown run. Jones has had a good camp in his first proper offseason as a running back, plus he has experience (albeit not great ones in the NFL) as a wide receiver.
The edge probably goes to Wright IF Seattle keeps a fourth running back, I suspect.
Wide Receiver: Montorie Foster Jr, Cody White, Emmanuel Henderson, Ricky White III
I contemplated leaving Foster off completely because I think he has a spot secured, but let me not get ahead of my skis and risk him being the new Kasen Williams or Easop Winston. Foster should have an inside track, but Cody White has the most experience of this group, Emmanuel Henderson has done pretty much nothing at receiver but could be a very good special teams players, and Ricky White III is another special teams standout.
With Jake Bobo’s season over, will the Seahawks roster five receivers or six? This could be two spots for the aforementioned four or everyone competing for the fifth and final spot. Foster has been the best actual wide receiver among this quartet, with Henderson maybe the most versatile on special teams.
Cornerback: Andre Fuller, Michael Dansby, and Trevon Diggs
I’ve left off Noah Igbinoghene if only because he’s a vested veteran and doesn’t have to go through waivers. There’s a chance that, in order to roster one of Fuller or Dansby, the Seahawks get creative and “cut” Igbinoghene and sign him after the practice squads have formed. Even still, from what I’ve seen of Noah I believe he has value on this roster.
Fuller has been exclusively a slot corner in preseason, which is interesting to see. Dansby had the more eye-popping camp and his speed and quickness to the ball-carrier is something that has stood out at times. They’ve had their respective ups and downs with their camp and preseason reps, but I think the Seahawks would like to have at least one of these guys on the roster.
Then there’s Trevon Diggs. He says he’s had a healthy offseason for the first time, but now it’s time to see him in live game reps. The former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro corner has had a tough go of it with injuries and lackluster performances over the previous three years, so this is his first chance to show there’s still something left in the tank.
There’s obvious uncertainty as far as the cornerback depth below Josh Jobe and Devon Witherspoon. Do the Seahawks address this with a higher volume of CBs than normal? Nehemiah Pritchett should be fine, as should Igbinoghene even if they do funny roster tricks with him, but it’s still up for grabs as far as remaining spots. There’s also, of course, the looming Terrion Arnold signing, although he’s set to be on the commissioner’s exempt list the minute the ink is dry.
Safety: A.J. Finley, D’Anthony Bell, and Maxen Hook
I’m leaving Rodney Thomas II off if only because I don’t know if he’s playing tonight. He had recent hand surgery and even then was spending a fair amount of time with the third-team in his lone preseason outing versus the Dallas Cowboys.
There are question marks about Nick Emmanwori’s Week 1 readiness and, of course, who will step up now that Bud Clark’s Week 1 readiness is for the 2027 season. Finley could be a great turnaround story after tearing his ACL last training camp, and he’s generally been the starting deep safety over the last two preseason outings.
Bell is really more an approximation of Emmanwori’s presence down in the box, and he’s someone Seattle could keep even temporarily as Emmanwori insurance. Hook has drawn some praise from Coach Mike Mcadonald and had a good game (particularly his tackling) versus the Tennessee Titans.
If Ty Okada, Julian Love, and Nick Emmanwori are roster locks, we might see the Seahawks keep a maximum of two additional safeties out of the aforementioned three (well, maybe four if we include Thomas).
I swear that the goal wasn’t to get to 12 players. It just sort of happened that way! You can name your bubble players in the comments section below!
George Hill posted an increasingly-aggressive 62 and Josh Hull completed a three-wicket haul as Yorkshire and Leicestershire played out a heavily weather-interrupted day of County Championship cricket at Scarborough.
Yorkshire advanced their first innings from 144-5 in their first innings to 263 all out at tea on day two, with Leicestershire only able to respond with 12-0 inside four overs.
There was no play beyond 16:35 BST because of rain, and in all only 24.5 overs were bowled.
The start of play was delayed until 14:10 BST because of a wet outfield following overnight rain.
When play got under way, with 64.1 overs remaining in the day, Leicestershire made the ideal start through their captain Ian Holland, who had James Wharton caught behind pushing forwards for 70.
Wharton failed to add to his overnight score, and Holland had struck with the second legitimate ball of the day - he had started with a no ball - to leave the score at 146-6.
Jonny Tattersall, meanwhile, took his fifth catch and became the first wicketkeeper to claim five dismissals in an innings both for and against Yorkshire. He did it wearing the White Rose against Surrey in 2022.
Hill and Dom Bess (21) shared 56 for the seventh wicket before the latter holed out against Hull, who then removed Ben Coad.
Running out of partners, Hill became more expansive en route to a 64-ball half-century, though he did watch from the other end as Ben Cliff struck three successive boundaries off Rehan Ahmed before being bowled for 22 off the next.
At 263-9 in the 76th over, Hill and Cliff had shared 53 in 29 balls.
Leicestershire's left-arm quick Hull, who finished with 3-57 from 12 overs, has got to the level Yorkshire all-rounder Hill is aiming for.
He played one Test for England, against Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval in September 2024.
Hill has represented the England Lions in the past year or so and is cementing his standing as one of the county game's brightest talents at the age of 25. His performances have come more with the ball than the bat, though this was his fourth fifty of the season.
The performances of Hull and Hill ensured supporters got to see a high-quality, albeit shortened, day of Championship cricket.
Whether or not we get enough time over the next two days for either side to force a positive result remains to be seen, but both counties will feel that chance remains for them, especially with obvious assistance on offer for the bowlers.
Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.
Patrick Daugherty
