Welcome to The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks site's 2026–27 player preview article series. This series will outline the expectations for every player projected to play for Vancouver during the 2026–27 season. Today's player is Canucks forward Ty Mueller
Mueller's 2025-26 Season
Mueller had another strong campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks. The 23-year-old finished tied for second on the team in points with 37, while his 16 goals set a new career high. Mueller was also one of eight skaters who played in at least 60 games, as Abbotsford, like Vancouver, dealt with plenty of injuries.
For the second straight year, Mueller was called up near the end of the season. He played in six games and scored his first NHL goal. Mueller's development has been a positive for the organization over the past few seasons as he continues to step up in the AHL.
Mueller's 2026-27 Letter Grade
The Hockey News' Canucks site gave Mueller a B- grade for his 2025–26 season. He adapted to a bigger role in the AHL, which led to his career-high in goals. Mueller also became more consistent as the year went on, which led to an extended call-up this past year.
Mueller's 2026-27 Predictions
With a logjam of forwards on the NHL roster, Mueller will most likely start the campaign in the AHL. That being said, he will be high on the call-up list if injuries occur. If Mueller can keep impressing, he should get another extended look in the NHL at some point this year.
As for the AHL, Mueller will once again play a significant role for the Canucks. Not only will he be part of the top six, but he should also get plenty of special teams time. Mueller may also be part of the leadership group, as he now has 125 games of regular-season experience in the AHL.
Bold Prediction: Mueller records over 20 goals in the AHL for the first time in his career.
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Ty Mueller (39) skates in warm up prior to a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 15: Jalen Milroe #6 of the Seattle Seahawks is tackled by Cooper McDonald #59 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 15, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final game of the Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 preseason is just hours away, and once the game ends it’ll be all about forming the 53-man roster and 16-man practice squad for the regular season.
Seattle wraps up its August on the road versus the Kansas City Chiefs, whom they’ll be seeing in the regular season at Lumen Field at the end of October. There will be no starters playing for the Seahawks and highly likely the same will apply to the Chiefs, so it’s one last chance for players who are just trying to make the team.
NFL preseason television rights are different than regular season, so we’re here to simplify tonight’s situation. KING-5 NBC, Seattle’s flagship station for Seahawks preseason games and other local Seahawks television programming, is carrying Seahawks-Chiefs locally. KING-5’s broadcasts are also shown on other television affiliates in the Seahawks’ secondary markets, which include Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, and Hawaii. Then there are mobile and online streaming options whether you’re in Seattle, somewhere else in the USA, or overseas!
Here’s a quick How to Watch guide.
When is Seahawks vs. Chiefs kickoff time?
On Friday, Aug. 28 at 5 pm PT, with pre-game coverage on KING-5 starting at 4:30 pm PT.
Local Seahawks television affiliates
Washington
Seattle Seattle KING – 5 NBC
Spokane KAYU – 28 FOX
Tri-Cities KFFX – 11 FOX
Yakima KCYU – 41 FOX
Alaska
Anchorage KYUR – 13 ABC
Fairbanks KATN – 2 ABC
Juneau KJUD – 8 ABC
Idaho
Boise KIVI – 6 ABC
Twin Falls KSAW – 52 ABC
Sun Valley KSAW – 52 ABC
Hawaii
Honolulu KHNL – 13 NBC
Oregon
Bend KFXO – 39 FOX
Eugene KLSR – 34 FOX
Medford KMVU – 26 FOX
Portland KPTV – 12 FOX
If you have access to any of these channels, you can watch the Seahawks!
For fans in the local market, the game can be streamed on the Seahawks Mobile App and on Seahawks.com. If you’re a fan of enhanced audio, the Super Bowl champs have you covered!
As part of the integration, Dolby OptiView now includes Dolby Vision for the first time, giving fans a more vivid, lifelike way to follow the team’s live streaming coverage on the official Seahawks Mobile App and on Seahawks.com. From team press conferences to preseason games for fans in Seattle and their International markets, every moment will be brought to life with brighter highlights, deeper contrast, and richer color in Dolby Vision, making the Seahawks’ iconic uniforms more vibrant while bringing fans closer to the sea of 12s and the gameday atmosphere at Lumen Field.
You can also watch on Seahawks.com even if you live in Seattle but don’t have KING-5!
Watch on ESPN Unlimited or NFL+
If you are out-of-market, there are other options! ESPN Unlimited is carrying Seahawks-Chiefs, although it’s probably a bit much if you’re a non-subscriber and don’t want to pay $32/month. It’s also blacked out in local markets. You can also subscribe to NFL+ for access to out-of-market preseason games, Seahawks included. Geographic restrictions may apply for international fans.
WINNIPEG, CANADA - MARCH 14: Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche skates during warmups against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on March 14, 2026 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Cameron Bartlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a day of anticipation on Thursday as new broke that the Colorado Avalanche and Cale Makar had reached an agreement on a contract extension. There was no announcement then but today is supposed to be the day it finally happens.
First it started with Elliotte Friedman dropping the bomb, which was confirmed by several other media sources that a big announcement on Makar’s extension was forthcoming.
About to go off-line for a bit, but the much-anticipated extension for Cale Makar and Colorado is closing in
Going to be a biggie…but a critical piece of business for the Avalanche
While we wait, let’s reflect on the historic career the world’s best defenseman has enjoyed up to this point.
Cale Makar:
6 Straight Norris Nominations 2 Norris Trophy Wins Calder Trophy Conn Smythe Trophy Stanley Cup Champion Fastest D-man to 200 points in NHL History Fastest D-Man to 100 playoff points in NHL History
1st player in HOCKEY history to win the Hobey Baker, Calder, Norris…
What are your final predictions on the impending Makar contract extension? Is this going to be the league’s final eight-year agreement or will the 27-year-old opt for short term? Does he cross the $20 million Annual Average Value barrier? A lot of questions should have answers soon.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 29: Pre-game ceremonies take place prior to Game One of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena on May 29, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now that the summer Top 25 Under 25 series has wrapped up today, and with it (almost) the month of August, let’s turn attention to next season.
Players on the Penguins are trickling into town and starting to workout in Pittsburgh to prepare for NHL training camp that will begin in mid-ish September. Opening night for the regular season sees the curtain come up on September 30th.
There’s a lot to figure out from now until then, today let’s take a stab at what that lineup could be. Injuries figure to derail a lot of this – the Pens announced on opening day of training camp that Rutger McGroarty was out with a summer injury (good news: McGroarty is skating so that shouldn’t be the case this year). During training camp there was more with Bryan Rust and Kevin Hayes opening the year on IR and not the 23-player roster due to injuries. Any issue that hasn’t happened yet can’t be projected ahead of time, of course, so we’ll roll with what is known as of now and see how it holds up.
Forwards
Egor Chinakhov – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust Nick Robertson – Ben Kindel – Rickard Rakell Andrey Kuzmenko – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Elmer Soderblom
Extras: Hendrix Lapierre, Ville Koivunen
Defense
Erik Karlsson / Trevor van Riemsdyk Sam Girard / Kris Letang Declan Carlile / Kaeden Korczak
Extra: Ilya Solovyov
Goaltending
Opening night starter: Arturs Silovs Backup: Sergei Murashov
A lot of meat on the bone, let’s get into it.
For the forwards, I’ve no idea what to do with Justin Brazeau. Do they find a spot for him with with Kindel? It’s hard to see how. Maybe Brazeau sneaks on as a scratch but after signing Koivunen to that contract it’s tough to see Koivunen going on the waiver wire. Maybe that means a trade to clear the numbers, but we’ve all thought that for many months now. More than likely if there’s even one injury to one of these 14 forwards, there’s a space for Brazeau and that could be how things sort out. As last year taught us, that could easily be in the cards.
As far as the rest, you can call the second line the third line and the third line the second line, it’s all about the same with the ice time splits under Dan Muse. The main thing is trying to get Malkin with players he should do well with and putting Kindel in a spot where he can continue to shine. The good news is there are lots of choices on the splits to make that happen independent of this exact outlook. Otherwise, we’ll stick Chinakhov with Crosby and project Soderblom to win perhaps the only open job and see how long before things get mixed up, which will likely be pretty quickly.
On defense, Erik Karlsson slyly joked last season that it took 17 years before an NHL coach asked if he could kill penalties. Has anyone inquired about how he feels about playing on the left side of the ice? That would solve a lot of lineup split concerns for having too many right handers if he can. If not, maybe van Riemsdyk can. This outlook could be wildly inaccurate with plenty of other directions more than possible, but hey, it’s an idea. Overall the #1-6 roles are probably about known, but the placement of who gets paired with who is going to be very curious to see unfold during the preseason. The spoiler/wild card would be if Owen Pickering or Harrison Brunicke make a preseason run at a roster spot and kick a player like Carlile or Korczak into the scratch spot and send Solovyov to waivers. Could happen but the path of least resistance is to keep 7D that way the overload of forwards can keep a player and keep the younger players in the AHL for the start of the season. One name not seen yet: Ryan Graves. Just putting this out there to show that’s not an oversight on our part, but in reality will he get a look?
Last year, it was a surprise when Silovs played opening night and not Tristan Jarry. Do the Pens have another surprise in store this year? Considering the first opponent is the Flyers and Silovs played so well against them in the playoffs, I’d have to think him a heavy favorite to be the regular season Game 1 starter this year. We all know it won’t take long for the backup to get in, perhaps as soon as the second game (Silovs after all pitched a shutout and then watched Jarry take the next game).
In terms of the salary cap, the Penguins have plenty of room. They could keep 26 or 27 players comfortably and still be under – if not for the 23-player limit. That will make it difficult for bubble players like Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Filip Hallander and the aforementioned young defensemen of Brunicke and Pickering to make a run for what looks to be an extremely limited amount of spaces. Then again, it only takes one announcement or practice gone awry to land some players on the injured reserve, which would shake up the entire outlook and provide some unexpectedly open spots to work with. Until that happens, it’s tough to project, besides the knowledge that a team rarely is 100% healthy even at the start of the season – so who knows, there may be surprises in store during the coming weeks before opening night.
Feel free to give your projected opening night lineup in the comments and very soon we’ll start to see how it comes together with the impending start of training camp.
Former Rockie and current manager of the Women’s Pro Baseball League’s L.A. Queens hugs pitcher Meggie Meidlinger earlier this season. | Jackie Kalafut
Eric Young Sr. has always considered himself an underdog.
A 43rd-round pick in the 1989 MLB Draft: That’s the 1,120th player picked that year. With his underdog status in tow, all Young did was serve up a 15-year MLB career that included five years with the Colorado Rockies.
The speedy, smart baserunner with a 2.83 career batting average, 465 stolen bases and an 18/8 rWAR then started a coaching career that spanned over 13 years, but he never got the chance to manage an MLB team, despite a good amount of success and his best efforts.
So after the 2025 season, Young retired from baseball. Or so he thought.
It turns out, he belonged with the other underdogs and earned his first managing position with the Los Angeles Queens of the Women’s Professional Baseball League. His identity as the little guy, literally, as EY stands at 5-foot-9, and metaphorically, is now part of his managing identity as he guides the Queens in the inaugural season of the new league.
“I’ve always been an underdog,” Young said on Wednesday night in Springfield, Ill., after an 8-6 victory over the Boston Hunters. “[I told them] you guys are the underdog. I always came up fighting, and that’s what I expect y’all to do when you play this game. Don’t take this for granted.”
So far, anchored by his other coaching philosophies which masterfully blend transparency, honesty, humor and inspiration, it’s working. The Queens are 6-6 and gearing up for the playoffs, which will begin on Sept. 9 after the 15-game regular season concludes.
Beaming with a smile surrounded by his gray beard that has replaced the mustache old school Rockies fans might remember, Young knows he made the right decision to come out of retirement.
“I consider myself a leader. I always wanted to be a manager. I’m full of joy. I am so happy to give a chance to manage them in a way that I can be myself, ’cause that’s what they want,” said Young, who met with the players to get on the same page before the season started. “[I told them,] ‘I’ll give you all I got. It’s my job to make sure you can be the best player you can be. If you are doing well and everybody here is getting better, come September, we are going to have a good season.”
Getting back in the game
Just when Young was getting used to the idea of retirement, he got a call from the MLB Players Alumni Association asking if he wanted to be a part of the new WPBL. Young didn’t know much about it. When he asked why he was contacted, he was told that he was recommended by three-time World Series Champion and one-time All-Star Dave Stewart, who serves as a special advisor to the WPBL. Instantly, Young was overcome with gratitude and all in on joining the league.
“Dave is one of the most phenomenal players who ever played, as a pitcher and a person. And for him to recommend me, I knew it was no brainer for me,” Young said.
When WPBL players went to Fort Myers, Florida, in March for a very short spring training as one step to prepare before the start of the season on Aug. 1, Young wanted to go check it out.
“I wasn’t sure how they played. I wanted to make sure they were committed and had the passion I had,” Young said. “That’s where I saw they had 25 of the best players, and they were out there balling.”
During his scouting trip, Young met with WPBL CEO Keith Stein. Young thought he was having a conversation, but it was actually an interview. When Stein formally offered him the job, the choice was easy.
“Absolutely,” Young told Stein. “I want to be a part of this.”
Managing challenges
When Young joined the Rockies for their inaugural season in 1993, he said a huge part of the process was getting to know all of his teammates quickly. He’s using that experience now, but to the next level as the manager. He was very intentional in trying to sit back, be quiet and observe.
“One lesson that you have to learn personalities,” Young said.
He learned a lot this way, and slowly began the process of trying to establish relationships and trust. He took specific care to see how players would best receive and use feedback. He created an open-door policy based on transparency and honesty. He emphasized that everyone will get playing time and be part of the once-in-a-lifetime and there won’t be a set lineup, but he was happy to explain why as long as everyone understood one thing.
“One thing we are going do is be a selfless team. We are going to root for each other,” Young said. “You want to make sure everybody enjoys the experience.”
A little over a week into the season, a major obstacle presented itself. Young had a great coaching staff with former pro Jemile Weeks and minor league umpire and youth baseball coach Emma Charlesworth-Seiler. When Boston Hunters manager Keith Foulke had a scheduling/contract dispute with the league, the Hunters were left without a manager. So Weeks stepped in, effectively being traded from Los Angeles to Boston to be their manager. While EY didn’t want Weeks to leave, he also didn’t want to block him from the promotion. It was EY’s dedication to selflessness and putting the league first in action.
“I told him you have to go be the manager and make them the best team they can be,” Young said.
Young and Charlesworth-Seiler tried to make it on their own, but Young admitted they needed more help. So they brought in Pete Romero, who throws batting practice and coaches first base among his many duties.
King of Queens
Not only has managing in the WPBL been the perfect fit for EY, but so has being with the L.A. Queens. He takes the name very seriously. He asked his players to reflect on what being a Queen means and proceeded to tell them what it means to him.
“We have the best name. Everybody knows it. Okay, you’re a Queen. I said, ‘You know what that makes me? A king.’ We laughed about that,” Young said with a laugh. “But seriously, a Queen walks, carries themselves with so much confidence. It radiates positive energy. That’s a Queen because they know they’re good, they know they look good, they know they can play.
“I know it when they walk. I said, when we walk out as Queens, that’s what we stand for. It’s not just a name across your chest,” Young continued. “And I feel like I have to make sure I take care of my Queens. That’s my mentality.”
For a glimpse of the style of manager EY is and the joy he is finding in this chapter of his career, check out this clip from the post-game press conference on Wednesday.
Partly due to a small roster and partly due to the astonishing athleticism of the players, Young’s job to fill out a lineup before each game is no easy task. He can rotate players and several of them volunteer to play positions, even if they haven’t before, just to help the team.
One example is Queens captain Ashton Lansdell. Usually a third baseman, Landsell played in right field against the Hunters on Wednesday night. Not only did she field the position well, but she also nearly pulled off a Larry Walker-like throw by nearly turning an Alli Schroder hard-hit single into an out by gunning it into first. The play impressed Young, especially since it was Lansdell’s first game in right field.
“She would try that — the only one daring enough to try that,” Young said. “She’s always thinking.”
When asked if he would like to continue to be a part of the Queens and WPBL beyond this season, Young didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely. I hope they keep me around and help this thing really grow. I enjoy seeing growth. I enjoy people believing in me. Like Colorado, the region out there, they always believed in me — even when they sat me,” Young said. “When you have that support, when people that genuinely want to see you play, that’s what I felt when I went out there every day playing. That’s why I wanted to give them a show every time I get out there. That’s where I feel with the ownership here and the young ladies make me feel that way, especially my team.”
Young paused on that last sentence, looking around the WPBL press room and seeing the banners for the four inaugural teams: the L.A. Queens, the Boston Hunters, the San Francisco Firebells and the New York Heights.
“I would love to manage and see this grow to great heights.”
Laughing, Young was quick to clarify that the Heights aren’t the greatest. He’s all in on the Queens.
The Isotopes rallied to score five runs in the eighth and added another five in the ninth to overcome a 3-1 deficit and beat Round Rock. The win was the lone victory for the Rockies farm teams on Thursday. In the eighth, Vimael Machín hit a two-run triple to tie the game and then he helped Albuquerque gain the lead it never lost when he came home to score on a wild pitch. Conner Capel added a two-run single. The offense continued in the ninth when Nic Kent drove in two runs with a double, Capel earned another RBI by drawing a walk with the bases loaded and Adael Amador plated two more runs with a single. Amador tried to stretch the hit into a double and was thrown out at second.
Patrick Weigel threw 1.1 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win and Blake Adams earned the save by closing out with two scoreless innings. Jake Brooks pitched well enough in his start to keep the Isotopes in the game when he gave up three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Machín went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI, while Sterling Thompson recorded two hits, scored a run and drove in another.
The Yard Goats scored the last three runs of the game, but it wasn’t enough for a comeback on Thursday night. The first run came in the sixth when Dyan Jorge hit an RBI single, Skyler Messinger added a sac fly in the eighth and Jimmy Obertop hit a run-scoring single in the ninth. Braylen Wimmer posted two hits and scored two runs for Hartford. Bryson Hammer took the loss for the Yard Goats, only making two outs into the third inning before he was pulled after surrendering six earned runs (seven total) on five hits, including a homer, with four walks and one strikeout.
Spokane’s lone run came on one of two fielding errors by the Canadians on a night when Vancouver held the Indians to five runs. Spokane was also hurt by two errors of their own. Tommy Hopfe led the Indians with two hits. In the third, Clayton Gray walked, Roldy Brito singled and Kelvin Hidalgo reached on a throwing error to score Gray. At that point, the Indians were up 1-0. Vancouver tied the game up in the bottom of the third before breaking it open in the seventh with a six-run frame.
The Grizzlies were outhit 12-6 and only went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in a tough loss on Thursday. Izeah Muniz started the game and was pulled after one inning with Fresno down 1-0. The ripple effect meant six different Grizzlies pitched in the game, and Inland Empire was able to score in the first, second, sixth and seventh innings. Juan Martinez and Kyle Fossum each recorded two hits and scored a run for Fresno, while Fossum also drove one in.
Gabriel Hughes has yet to get his first big league win. He’s faced some tough outings, but he’s working to better control his pitches, get and stay ahead in counts and avoid the big innings that are getting his team down in a hole early. With pitchers like Chase Dollander coming back from injuries, Tanner Gordon making strides and more prospects coming up, Hughes will have to improve to be able to have a future in the Rockies rotation.
Jumping from 28th before the season started, the Rockies have climbed the farm system rankings to tied at No. 19 with the Chicago White Sox. With loads of young talent, the Rockies aren’t likely to deplete their stock any time soon.
Negotiations on the new CBA continued on Thursday with a focus on roster transactions, specifically how often they can happen and when they can and can’t happen in the offseason. Mark Feinsand details the whole list of MLB’s proposal, including changes to the Rule 5 Draft.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 22: Anthony Richardson Sr. #5 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass during the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Carter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Anthony Richardson’s future with the Indianapolis Colts continues to feel uncertain.
Could see multiple QBs on the move in the next few weeks.
-Tua -Gabriel -McCarthy -Richardson
All have had calls placed on them to varying degrees of interest.
Benjamin Allbright reported Wednesday that multiple quarterbacks could be on the move in the next few weeks, listing Tua Tagovailoa, Dillon Gabriel, J.J. McCarthy and Richardson as names who have had calls placed on them to “varying degrees of interest.”
That does not mean Richardson is definitely being traded, and it does not even necessarily mean the Colts are actively shopping him. There is a big difference between teams calling about a player and a team being ready to move him. Still, Richardson’s inclusion is notable because of where things stand in Indianapolis.
The Colts have already made their quarterback situation clear at the top. Daniel Jones is the starter, and Richardson is competing with rookie Riley Leonard for the backup job. Indianapolis has publicly backed Richardson throughout the offseason and training camp, and the team has said it plans to keep three quarterbacks. On the surface, that would suggest Richardson is not going anywhere.
The problem is that the NFL can change quickly, especially at quarterback.
Richardson remains one of the most interesting backup quarterbacks in the league because of his age, draft pedigree and physical tools. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and even after a frustrating start to his career, there will always be teams willing to talk themselves into the upside. Quarterbacks with his size, arm strength and athletic ability do not become available often, even when the production or play have not matched the traits.
For the Colts, the decision would come down to value. Moving Richardson just to move him would make little sense, especially if the return is minimal. He still gives Indianapolis a high-upside backup behind Jones, and with Leonard also on the roster, the Colts have more quarterback depth than most teams. Trading Richardson would only be logical if another team made an offer strong enough to justify giving up on the remaining upside.
For now, this is more smoke than fire. Calls being placed does not guarantee movement, and the Colts do not have to force anything. However, Richardson’s name appearing in quarterback trade chatter is another reminder of how quickly his situation has changed.
Two years ago, he was supposed to be the future of the franchise. Now, teams are at least checking to see if Indianapolis would consider moving him.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 10: Félix Bautista #74 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the New York Mets during game one of a double header at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 10, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 5, Durham Bulls (Rays) 4
Félix Bautista delivered a clean inning in his second rehab appearance (first at Triple-A). Bautista shook off the rust from his first outing and generated a ground out, strikeout, and fly out. His sinker topped out at 97 MPH.
Bautista entered after starter Trey Gibson threw four innings of two-run ball. Gibson allowed four hits, struck out four, and did not hand out a free pass.
Albert Suárez returned to Norfolk with a fresh minor league deal. Big Al tossed 2.1 innings of bulk relief. He allowed an unearned run and struck out three.
Norfolk trailed 3-2 before scoring in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Enrique Bradfield Jr. tied the game with a single in the seventh, José Barrero gave the Tides the lead with a solo homer in the eighth, and Jeremiah Jackson drove in a crucial insurance run with a base hit in the ninth. Bradfield Jr. finished 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot, and Jackson went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Heston Kjerstad doubled and took a walk. Ryan Noda walked twice and launched a solo home run in the top of the second. Creed Willems ended the day 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
Chesapeake led the game 2-0 when it was called for weather in the top of the seventh inning. Starter Anthony Eyanson struck out eight over 3.2 innings. Eyanson allowed three hits and walked three. The top pitching prospect wasn’t overly efficient—he threw 52 of 85 pitches for strikes—but he continued to flash the talent fans want to see after dealing away a player like Adley Rutschman.
Ethan Anderson gave the Baysox the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Anderson and Wehiwa Aloy combined for half of Chesapeake’s four hits, while Tavian Josenberger added the other two.
High-A: Frederick Keys vs. Asheville Tourists (Astros) — PPD
The game was postponed for rain and will be made up on August 30.
There’s not much to report here. Fredericksburg held Delmarva to only three hits in the contest. Ty Head, Stiven Martinez and Jemone Nuel all singled. Eric Booth Jr. finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Starter Esteban Mejia walked the first three batters he faced and left with a cracked fingernail that was bleeding, according to MASN’s Roch Kubatko.
Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek works from the sideline during the second half of an NFL game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
With the preseason winding down this weekend, the NFL’s roster cutdown day—Sunday, Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. PT—is looming. That means the Las Vegas Raiders and the 31 other teams in the league will have to make decisions on which players to keep and let go. But with the Raiders being longshots to win the Super Bowl, +15,000 on FanDuel Sportsbook, cutdown day doesn’t mean Las Vegas’ roster is finalized before the season opener against the Miami Dolphins.
That’s where the NFL’s waiver wire comes in post-cutdown day.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Kubiak and general manager John Spytek take a long look at players who didn’t make another club’s 53-man roster but could help in Vegas. The organization’s decision-makers were different, but that’s how the Raiders acquired defensive tackle Jonah Laulu in 2024, who has started 22 games since getting waived by the Indianapolis Colts at the end of training camp two years ago.
But how does the waiver wire work, and how can the Raiders add players to the roster from it? Let’s dive in!
Who’s Eligible?
Any player who is cut and has less than four years of experience in the league, meaning they’ve been on a 53-man roster, physically unable to perform (PUP) list, or injured reserve (IR) for at least six games in four different seasons. That touches on why the Raiders are expected to scrounge the waiver wire on Sunday; they’re rebuilding, and every player who gets waived is young with three or fewer years of experience.
Players with four or more years of experience aren’t subject to waivers if they get cut and just become free agents. To clarify, a player who remains on PUP, the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, is on any sort of reserve list after cutdown day, or is put on IR ahead of cutdown day, is not available for another team to claim them. Those players are still under contract with their current clubs; they just aren’t on the active roster.
This is somewhat besides the point since it doesn’t apply to the post-cutdown day waiver wire, but after the trade deadline (Nov. 10), every player who gets released is subject to waivers regardless of how much experience they have. So, the rules will change a bit later in the season.
How do Raiders add players via waivers?
When teams submit their 53-man rosters to the NFL, they also include a list of the players who are waived or released. That creates the “waiver wire”, which is distributed to the rest of the teams and is publicly available. General managers and head coaches who are interested in adding players look over the list and see if there’s anyone that piques their interest.
If there is someone the GM and head coach want to add, they put in a claim for said player within about 24 hours of cutdown day. The timeline might be closer to 20 or 21 hours depending on the exact time of the two deadlines, but it’s roughly a day. So, a player gets cut on Sunday, another team puts in a claim for the player on Monday, and the player is officially on a new team’s roster by Tuesday.
Once all of the waiver claims are submitted, if two clubs want to claim the same player, the team that finished with the worse record last year/was higher on the draft order (removing trades) in April gets the player. That means the Raiders are in a pretty good spot with the waiver wire this year because they had the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft and, thus, will have waiver priority over any other team.
Also, the waiver wire/order isn’t like fantasy football where you have to submit a priority list if you want to add multiple players and hope that no one else in your league put in a claim for your second player. If the Raiders want to add five players on waivers, they get all five since they have priority over every team. However, they would have to cut five other guys by the following day to get back down to a 53-man roster.
Below is the waiver order to begin the 2026 season:
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
After three weeks, the order changes week-to-week to reflect the current NFL standings.
What happens after player gets claimed?
This one is pretty simple. Once a player gets claimed, he’s on the 53-man roster of the team that won the claim for him, and that team absorbs his current contract. Additionally, the club will have to waive or release another player to make room for the waiver claim, and the waiver process starts all over again if they have less than four years of service. It’s just on a much smaller scale since every team isn’t making roughly 37 transactions/cuts on the same day.
What happens if player clears waivers?
If a player gets cut and doesn’t get claimed on the waiver wire or “clears waivers”, they become a free agent and are eligible to sign with any team, including the one that just cut them. Typically, said players will sign practice squad contracts, though. The only exception would be if the player is on an expensive contract and other teams are interested in having him on the 53-man roster but not at his current price tag. However, that’s pretty rare. Even 2021 first-round pick Alex Leatherwood was claimed off waivers when the Raiders cut him in 2022.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 27: Ty Simpson #15 passes a touchdown to Brennan Presley #81 of the Los Angeles Rams tduring the first half of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams put the finishing touches on an unbeaten preseason led mostly by strong quarterback play. They held onto a last-minute surge by the Los Angeles Chargers to maintain a 20-18 lead.
Sunday brings an important deadline in the NFL calendar. All 32 teams must soon cut to their initial 53-man regular season rosters. The “Winners & Losers” list is largely shaped by those who helped build their case, although the framework is mostly set by those who sat out of Thursday night’s finale.
Who performed well on an individual level against the other LA team? Which players are watching their stock fall?
Winners
Ty Simpson, QB
Ty Simpson came into Thursday night’s game with the lowest average depth of target (ADOT) among all rookie quarterbacks—by far. Simpson averaged 4.80 air yards in the first two preseason games. That mark improved to 6.1 yards against the Chargers. That would still rank last among all first-year signal callers.
Simpson completed 18 of 23 passes (78%) for 119 yards and an impressive touchdown throw on the run. He finishes the preseason 47 of 60 (78%) for 382 yards, three scores, zero turnovers, and a passer rating of 109.9.
This isn’t meant to bash Simpson. Many fans didn’t like the pick. He’s won a lot of people over. There are still a number of questions that remain unanswered. We are able to check some boxes: short and intermediate area accuracy, value-add mobility, ability to throw on the run, sack avoidance, and an overall poised composure. We haven’t seen Simpson throw deep and it’s fair to wonder whether his efficiency can be sustained when the offense requires him to be consistently more aggressive.
I think fans are losing sight of the fact that Simpson seems to be a high floor player. We haven’t seen the rookie make many mistakes. We still have no idea how high his ceiling is. The preseason really taught us nothing in that regard.
So big picture, Simpson made as convincing as a case to be Stafford’s backup as to be reasonably expected. That is a win for the Rams. In terms of his potential to takeover the starting job as soon as 2027 and his viability as a franchise quarterback? That is still completely unknown.
The difficult truth is that the Rams may be completely set at running back with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers. Sean McVay is adamant that he trusts Rivers and values his contributions on special teams.
With Jarquez Hunter getting traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Tutu Atwell just hours before kickoff, there was an opportunity for Dean Connors and Jordan Waters to make their final argument to make the team. Connors did everything he could to help his case. It still may not be enough.
Connors rushed 18 times for 69 yards (3.8 average, although several carries came late to milk the clock and not put emergency QB Simpson in harm’s way). He also added three catches for 24 yards and a score through the air. This was his third touchdown of the preseason. It also happened to be quarterback Matthew Caldwell’s first NFL touchdown.
And if the Rams end up cutting Connors, he may draw attention from other teams. Running back tends to be a position where there is a short learning curve to adapt to a specific scheme. They are largely plug and play. That makes them somewhat interchangeable.
With their wealth of riches in the backfield, that may be enough for the Rams to not keep Connors on the 53-man roster. If there isn’t a stark drop off from Connors to Waters, why not bet that one of them will be available for the practice squad. It’s not personal. It’s a numbers game.
Matthew Caldwell threads the needle to Dean Connors for the TD! 🧵
You can’t ask any more from your kicker than being perfect in the preseason. Harrison Mevis made all six of his attempts across the three exhibition games. He hasn’t been asked to kick from distance—his longest attempt was from 40 yards out. Still, you can only convert the opportunities you get. This is real and positive momentum heading into the regular season.
CJ Daniels, WR
With another five catches on six targets for 42 yards, Daniels was clearly LA’s most talented and productive preseason receiver. The Rams were intent on running the passing game through him when they could, especially in last week’s contest against the New Orleans Saints.
But on-field production isn’t Daniels’ biggest challenge. He’s clearly behind Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield on the depth chart. If he makes the roster, it may be a long while before we see the rookie again.
Wesley Bailey, EDGE (maybe?)
Bailey played only two snaps on defense. He started the game and then exited after Justin Herbert’s fumble on the second play. Did the Rams want to limit Bailey’s time in order to keep him healthy because he’s in line to make the roster? The only other alternative is that Bailey was injured during the game. There were no such reports. This is a noteworthy result worth monitoring ahead of Sunday’s cutdown to the 53-man roster.
Bill Norton, DT
Norton is someone who has consistently flashed on preseason tape over the last two years. He has a high motor and can often be seen chasing ball carriers downfield. It’s impressive for a big man. Teams that need additional depth along the defense interior should have Norton atop their target list as the NFL trims their rosters. He can help someone and approaches the game in the right way.
Losers
Stetson Bennett, QB
Stetson Bennett obviously didn’t play on Thursday night. He filled up the box score last Saturday, though he was erratic as a passer.
Simpson seems ready to backup Matthew Stafford. If the rookie ends up winning the job, I fail to understand why it is worth keeping Bennett around. Would it be nice to have someone who knows the offense as an option if something happens to Stafford? Sure, but there will be veteran options like Jimmy Garoppolo available and somehow losing Stafford and Simpson would mean the Rams have awfully bad luck.
Bennett had to win the backup job convincingly. He didn’t. For that reason there is not sound logic behind potentially keeping him around.
Cam Lampkin, CB
Justin Herbert’s night was cut short after he threw a 64-yard pass to split two Rams defenders for a touchdown. Lampkin was on the wrong side of that deep ball. He also played late into the game despite having one of the most hyped starts to training camp. It’s not how you start, it’s about how you finish. Lampkin’s last impression likely won’t help him in what should be a lean cornerback room.
Failed to make a reception on four targets, and when quarterbacks looked his way he was often blanketed. Simpson gave him a contested catch opportunity deep along the left sideline and the corner handily won the rep.
WOODLAND HILLS, CA - JUNE 02: Head Coach Sean McVay during the Los Angeles Rams OTA on June 02, 2026, at the The Rams Village in Woodland Hills, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams concluded their preseason game slate with a 2o-18 win against the Los Angeles Chargers. All eyes now turn to the 53-man roster as decisions need to be made by Sunday, August 30th. After weeks of training camp practices and three preseason games, Sean McVay and the Rams’ coaching staff now have to make some difficult decisions as they trim the roster down.
Several players who appeared to be on the roster bubble have already done enough to secure their spots. Quarterback Stetson Bennett and running back Ronnie Rivers are among the notable players who have made the initial 53-man roster. Both entered the final stretch of the preseason with some uncertainty surrounding their status.
Bennett’s roster spot became particularly interesting because of the competition at backup quarterback. The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, creating a legitimate competition between the rookie and Bennett behind Matthew Stafford. McVay had not publicly settled the backup job heading into the preseason finale, but Bennett’s experience in the offense and preseason performances ultimately helped him remain in the mix.
Rivers also faced a legitimate roster battle in a crowded running back room. While players such as Kyren Williams and Blake Corum were viewed as locks, Rivers had to compete with younger backs for a roster spot. His special teams and return-game value helped separate him from the competition.
Now, attention turns toward the players who won’t make the final cut.
The Rams are required to reduce their roster to 53 players, meaning several players who spent the offseason competing for a job will soon be looking for their next opportunity. Some could eventually return to Los Angeles on the practice squad, while others could be claimed or signed by another team.
This tracker will be updated as the Rams officially announce roster cuts.
Roster Cut Tracker
Players released/waived:
[Tracker will be updated when official moves are announced.]
Players placed on injured reserve:
[Tracker will be updated when official moves are announced.]
Players traded:
[Tracker will be updated when official moves are announced.]
With roster decisions coming quickly, this page will serve as a running list of the Rams’ moves as they finalize their roster for the 2026 season and prepare for the regular-season opener. Anticipation for the Rams 53 man roster continues to grow with expectations sky high this year in Los Angeles. The Rams are currently the betting favorites (+550) according to Fan Duel to win Super Bowl LXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NFL deadline for teams to get down to the initial 53-man rosters is at 3 p.m. PT Sunday. Teams are starting the process early and the Las Vegas Raiders could make cuts as soon as today.
The Raiders are entering a rebuilding season—owning the third-longest odds (+500) in the AFC to make the playoffs this season, per FanDuel Sportsbook—which makes it more interesting to see who the coaching staff keeps on the roster. A youth movement has already started in Las Vegas, so we could be in for a surprise or two on cutdown day.
This is your place to find out all the latest news and rumors about the Raiders’ moves plus decisions around the league that could affect your favorite team. Come back early and often.
The third-year coach had his wish somewhat granted, as the Chargers presented several encouraging performances in a 20-18 loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Thursday.
Here are five takeaways from the Chargers’ final tune-up before 53-man rosters must be finalized Sunday:
Starters show up
The Chargers’ first-string defense, without safety Derwin James Jr. and outside linebacker Khalil Mack, did its part against the Rams’ second-stringers.
Chris O’Leary’s unit forced a punt on its first drive. And despite the Rams’ second drive starting at the Chargers’ 9-yard line, the defense limited the damage to three points.
Mike McDaniel’s bunch, meanwhile, started on the wrong foot. Quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled a handoff to running back Omarion Hampton on the Chargers’ second play from scrimmage, setting up that second Rams drive.
Justin Herbet LAUNCHES it to Quentin Johnston for a 65-yard TD 🎯
Herbert and the starting offense, though, made sure they left something pleasing on film. On the second play of the Chargers’ second possession, Herbert connected with wide receiver Quentin Johnston over the middle on a spectacular 65-yard touchdown pass.
Herbert’s pass traveled 57.6 air yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
DJ Uiagalelei outduels Trey Lance
Lance, the incumbent backup quarterback, used his legs well and earned 22 yards on four rushes. Uiagalelei, however, looked like he could become the Chargers’ new backup signal-caller.
Uiagalelei made some nice, quick reads and completed 11 of 18 passes for 141 yards. He lost a fumble to seal the loss, though, after being strip-sacked by Rams outside linebacker Darryl Peterson.
Lance, hurting his case, looked rushed on most of his snaps and didn’t connect on his two passing attempts.
There hasn’t been much separation between Lance and Uiagalelei throughout training camp, but the St. John Bosco product was better on Thursday.
Rookies Rodney Shelley, Greg Desrosiers Jr. make strong cases
Shelley, an undrafted cornerback, and Desrosiers, an undrafted running back, are on the bubble of making the Chargers’ 53-man roster.
Even with an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth, Shelley made his reps count, making five tackles and breaking up a deep pass from Rams quarterback Ty Simpson intended for Tyler Scott.
Desrosiers erupted for 118 yards on nine rushes, including a 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Left guard race still going?
Kayode Awosika is the favorite to win the Chargers’ starting left guard job, and he played there during the first two series.
But when Lance and the second-stringers replaced the starters, Awosika moved to right guard. Trever Penning replaced Awosika at left guard.
Maybe Trey Pipkins III, who McDaniel said remained in the left guard competition, still has a shot. He played left tackle with the starters Thursday. Another candidate, Logan Taylor, started at right tackle.
Special teams not sharp
Cameron Dicker missed an extra-point attempt in the Chargers’ preseason win over the Houston Texans. Scott made unfavorable headlines against the 49ers after an abysmal tackling effort during Jacob Cowing’s 83-yard punt return for a touchdown.
On Thursday, Dicker missed a 49-yard field goal to end the first half, a distance he’s usually sharp from. And Scott, although he didn’t have to make any tackles, shanked a punt 20 yards down the right sideline from the Chargers’ 9-yard line, setting up a 29-yard Rams touchdown drive.
Inglewood, - August 20: Tight end Jerand Bradley #36 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts with teammate running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. #31 after a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of a NFL preseason football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Chargers fell 20-18 to the Rams in a back-and-forth matchup inside SoFi Stadium.
Justin Herbert and the majority of the starters got four plays on the night, headlined by a 65-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston.
The stars of the night for the Chargers were third-string quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and running back Greg DesRosiers Jr. “DJU” led the team with 141 passing yards with a completed pass for a two-point conversion. DesRosiers took nine carries for a whopping 118 yards, including a bruising 34-yard touchdown run.
Defensively it was a fine day as the Chargers stood their ground on fourth downs several times, but otherwise got diced up by rookie Ty Simpson who completed 18-of-23 passes. The Rams offense has always looked to get the ball out fast which made it tough for the Chargers pass rush to make plays.
With the preseason now over, final cuts are next. The deadline to cut a roster down to 53 players is this Sunday (August 30th) by 4:00 p.m.
First Quarter
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Rams offense found early momentum with a nine-yard pass to CJ Daniels and a two-yard run by Jordan Waters to move the chains. The Chargers starters then allow just five yards on the next three plays to force the first punt of the game.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense got started with a nine-yard pass to Charlie Kolar who authored a similar play to begin last week’s game against the 49ers. Unfortunately the starters’ first drive of the game was cut short after Herbert fumbled a handoff to Omarion Hampton and the Rams recovered.
Chris O’Leary’s unit held strong after the sudden change and held the Rams to a short 27-yard field goal as they took the 3-0 lead.
The second Chargers drive of the game was also just two plays, but the end result was as far as you can get on the other side of the spectrum.
Herbert took the snap, faked a handoff right, and lofted a moonshot to Quentin Johnston who caught it in stride for a 65-yard touchdown.
Simpson took the Rams on a long 17-play drive before the end of the quarter, but the Chargers shut the door on fourth down near the goal line to keep points off the board. Linebacker Marlowe Wax and safety Tony Jefferson each authored big stops on third and fourth down.
Second Quarter
Trey Lance took over for Herbert to begin the second quarter but his opening drive of the night was a three-and-out. Punter JK Scott, who has had a rough preseason thus far, shanked his first punt of the night for only 20 yards. Simpson and the Rams quickly turned it into a five-play drive that ended in an 11-yard touchdown pass to wideout Brennan Presley.
The Chargers offense was more successful on their next drive as they went 10 plays and 50 yards without Lance needing to complete a pass. Unfortunately Lance was sacked on fourth down at the LAR 30-yard line which forced a turnover on downs.
Simpson continued to slice and dice the Chargers defense on another lengthy drive that stretched 13 plays and 61 yards before stalling in the red zone. Harrison Mevis came on again to bang home a 27-yarder to push their lead to 13-7.
With less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, D.J. Uiagalelei stepped in for Lance and immediately brought the Chargers downfield with a pair of throws that went 21 and 20 yards, respectively. With nine seconds left, Uiagalelei was sacked for six yards and Dicker came on to attempt a 49-yard field goal but he pushed it wide right.
Third Quarter
The third quarter was a fast one as both teams leaned on their run games throughout. The Chargers took the second half kickoff and put together a nine-play drive that only went 23 yards due to a facemask penalty on rookie offensive lineman Alex Harkey. Scott’s second punt of the night went just 33 yards, continuing his very poor preseason performance.
The Bolts held the Rams to another punt after a short six-play drive. UDFA running back Greg DesRosiers Jr. then put the team on his back with runs of 15 and 14 yards. After stalling just inside the red zone, Dicker came on and converted from 34 yards out to bring the Chargers within three points.
Fourth Quarter
Rams quarterback Mattew Caldwell helped march their offense down the field on a seven-play, 60-yard drive that spanned over the break. Caldwell capped it off with an eight-yard pass to running back Dean Connors which pushed their lead back to 10 points.
DesRosiers Jr. ripped off a huge 34-yard run touchdown run on the ensuing drive, breaking numerous tackles on the way. Uiagalelei then found tight end Evan Svoboda for the two-point conversion which brought the score to 20-18.
After a short drive ending in a punt for either team, the Rams found their offensive momentum again. Caldwell moved the Rams 44 yards in 12 plays but could not overcome an ill-timed penalty near midfield. Once backed up, the Rams turtled up and the Chargers stuffed several runs before they punted once more. Fortunately for the Rams, their punter pinned the Bolts all the way back to their one-yard line.
But did that matter to Uiagalelei? Apparently not.
DesRosiers started the drive with a three-yard run to create some breathing room. Then, Uiagalelei found wideout Liam Clifford for a gain of 13 before hitting Gary Jennings for 24 yards. With a fresh set of downs and facing a first-and-five at the Rams 40-yard line, things quickly evaporated.
Uiagalelei was sacked for six yards, despite looking as if he pitched the ball before the whistle. On the very next play, DJU was stripped from behind and the Rams recovered to snuff out the final comeback attempt.
Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson passes during a 20-18 preseason win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Rams coach Sean McVay does not play starters or players expected to be significant backups or contributors during the preseason, especially in the final game.
That would seem to indicate that Bennett, not rookie Ty Simpson, will open the season as Matthew Stafford’s backup.
Simpson led three first-half scoring drives in a 20-18 victory at SoFi Stadium.
Simpson, the 13th pick in the draft, completed 18 of 23 passes for 119 yards, including a second-quarter touchdown.
It was Simpson’s second no-turnover performance. In the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Simpson played all but the first two series and completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
On Thursday, his most impressive play came early in the second quarter on third and seven from the Chargers’ 11-yard line. Simpson escaped pressure and rolled out to his left before firing a pass to diving receiver Brennan Presley for a touchdown.
“A lot of times, his first read wasn’t necessarily there and he did a great job progressing on, making plays, making plays with his feet,” offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase said of Simpson during an in-game television interview.
Matthew Caldwell, an undrafted free agent from Texas, started the second half and played into the fourth quarter before suffering an apparent injury. He completed five of 10 passes for 31 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown pass to running back Dean Connors.
Rams quarterback Ty Simpson slides in front of Chargers linebacker Nadame Tucker during the first half Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Bennett, a fourth-year pro, took the vast majority of second-team snaps during training camp and preseason practices, and took first-team reps on days Stafford was held out. Bennett played the first half against the Saints and rushed for two touchdowns.
He appears on track to be No. 2 on the depth chart for the Sept. 10 opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 in Melbourne, Australia.
Other noteworthy items from the Rams’ victory:
No Jarquez Hunter
Running back Jarquez Hunter did not play — and was not in the building — but not because he was assured a roster spot with the Rams.
On Thursday, the Rams traded Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, to the Miami Dolphins for receiver Tutu Atwell, who played five seasons for the Rams before signing with the Dolphins last March.
“Tutu’s an alumni,” Rams general manager Les Snead said during an in-game television interview. “He should come back. He’s someone who knows Sean’s offense. He can come in and play all three [receiver] positions.”
Connors, who played at Murrieta Valley High and Riverside City College before finishing his college career at Rice and Houston, rushed for 69 yards in 18 carries. Jordan Waters rushed for 53 yards in 15 carries.
Defensive standouts
Rams safety Nick Andersen, center, celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the first half Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III had two sacks, including one that resulted in a fumble in the final minute to preserve the victory.
Safety Nick Andersen recovered a fumble by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Cornerback Cam Lampkin also had a sack.
Edge rusher Wesley Bailey, who made a big impression in the first two preseason games, started against the Chargers but played only two snaps and had one quarterback pressure.
Kicker Harrison Mevis finishes perfect preseason
Mevis kicked two 27-yard field goals, making him six for six in three games.
Mevis kicked two field goals against the Chiefs and two against the Saints.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 27: Drew Gilbert #0 of the San Francisco Giants rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Oracle Park on August 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dbacks were 8-1 on the season against the Giants coming into the game today. However the offense has not yet arrived in San Francisco as the Dbacks drop the first game of the series 6-1.
Jose Cabrera got off to a rough start giving up a leadoff home run and throwing 30 pitches in the first. However he settled in nicely and was able to pitch into the 5th inning and allowed only 2 runs. Exactly what you are asking for out of the rookie righty. The Giants were really not hitting him much at all as he gave up only 3 hits. The second run only scored due to some shaky defense from the Dbacks. After beaning Koss, the next Giants batter laid down a sacrifice bunt, however no one was covering 3rd base allowing Koss to take the extra base. A rare defensive miscue for a Dbacks defense that has been its calling card. Its worth noting that just before the game, Nolan Arenado was scratched due to thumb discomfort and so it was the rookie Jose Fernandez that wasn’t covering 3rd base. Koss would then score on a sacrifice fly.
According to skipper Torey Lovullo in the post game show, Nolan Arenado is day-to-day with the right thumb discomfort.
Even thought the Giants scored 6 runs, it was really a much closer game than the final score showed. The Dbacks offense simply did not show up tonight against weak Giants pitching. Notably Corbin Carroll went 0-4 and really only Gabi Moreno and Perdomo contributed to the offense tonight with 3 hits and some good at bats incuding a 4th inning HR from Moreno. The Dbacks were then able to load the bases in the 4th inning, however they were unable to score any of the runs with the bases loaded and 1 out. If they were able to get a big hit there with the bases loaded, this game could’ve finished completely differently.
Another youngster will be starting a meaningful baseball game tomorrow night as Kohl Drake will make the start Friday. The offense is going to have to figure it out and quick because to expect Drake not to allow at least a few runs tomorrow is foolish. The Dbacks have got to take advantage of the schedule here against the Giants and prove that they wont play down to their competition with the season on the line. These guys have to step up and look like playoff contenders no matter who they are facing. The Philles and the Padres both had the night off tonight so the Dbacks lose just half a game in the wildcard standings falling to 1.5 games back.
