LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 17: Brock Bowers #89 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before kickoff against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game at Allegiant Stadium on November 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last year was a tough one for top-end tight ends, as both George Kittle, Tucker Kraft and Brock Bowers had injury trouble that derailed their fantasy seasons. That left Tre McBride to pick up the slack, catching a crazy 126 passes to set the NFL record for receptions in a season. At this point there is a real chance all three of those injured stud tight ends might be available for Week 1!
We had some fresh talent infuse the tight end position last season, with three rookies putting up strong numbers. Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, and Harold Fannin Jr. all proved their fantasy worth and look to build on their strong rookie campaigns. It’s nice to have those guys added to what is usually a pretty shallow pool of top fantasy tight ends.
In twelve team leagues that start one tight end, there are often not enough capable fantasy tight ends to go around. This year I’d be happy with eleven of this group being my starter. And since we can wait longer to pick up a TE starter we like, we don’t have to waste a second or third round pick on a stud.
Tight end injuries
George Kittle, 49ers
Kittle ruptured his Achilles in 2026 and is trying to play in Week 1 of the 2026 season at the age of 33! The odds are stacked against him, but I wouldn’t put it past him to have yet another strong year in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. We get a discount on him this season, but for good reason.
Tucker Kraft, Packers
Kraft was absolutely on fire to start last season, putting up 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns through seven and a half games. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his amazing start. All signs point to him playing in Week 1 and Kraft is only 25 and going into his fourth season. I’m not as worried about him as I am Kittle.
Late round TE pick
Terrance Ferguson, Rams
There aren’t many late round tight ends who will have a chance or the ability to be a top fantasy player this year. There are good, solid players who can be useful, but they aren’t going to exceed expectation very often. But, the Rams have Terrance Ferguson, who is a field stretching tight end and if give a chance, could put up big numbers. The question is if he will get that chance. The Rams have plenty of tight ends and will mix and match them, giving none enough consistent work for fantasy greatness. But, the Rams need a WR3 behind Puka Nacua and Davonte Adams. Ferguson could fill that role from the tight end position and it’s worth taking a flier on him to see if that happens.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 27: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves tips his cap after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on August 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a night to remember for Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves, who completed the sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers after Thursday’s 1-0 win. Sale was dominant, throwing his first shutout since 2019. He went the distance, throwing a complete game and allowing just five hits. He struck out 11.
Drake Baldwin accounted for the Braves’ lone run. He launched a homer on the first pitch of the game, and the Atlanta lineup was unable to plate a run after that.
Up next, the Colorado Rockies come to town for a weekend series at Truist Park.
More Braves News:
Reliever Robert Suarez is nearing a return to the mound, per report.
David McCabe launched his second Triple-A homer on Wednesday. More in the minor league recap.
MLB News:
The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed right-hander Roki Sasaki on the 15-day injured list with a blistered finger. He returned to LA on Thursday for further evaluation.
From the Feed:
Check out Chris Sale’s son’s reaction as he headed to the mound for the ninth inning.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Ja'marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts after converting a first down in the first quarter of a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here we are again. The NFL season is right around the corner and it’s time to get all our ducks in a row. Below you will find my PPR wide receiver rankings for the season, along with injury news and a couple late round targets.
Overall, we saw the fewest 100+ reception games from wide receivers last season as we’ve had in a long while. With just six receivers hitting that mark, we can see that teams are spreading the ball around a bit more, while also relying more on the run game. We still have our handful of studs who we know will dominate if healthy and then a nice group of receivers who have great upside and strong fantasy floors a bit later in drafts.
Running backs on the other hand, don’t have those safe floor plays in the 4th and 5th rounds. In a vacuum, I want two stud RBs to start and then grab my receivers next. Of course, things change when you get in a draft, but that’s how I see things this season.
Wide Receiver Injuries
Malik Nabers, Giants
The Giants have an extremely weak wide receiver group, but the good news is that Malik Nabers is back at practice after suffering a torn ACL in Week 4 last season. He looks like he’ll be available for Week 1, which is good news for fantasy and the Giants. Nabers is one of the few receivers we know is going to get as many targets as he can handle each week.
Luther Burden, Bears
There are plenty of people very high on the Bears offense this year after watching HC Ben Johnson turn things around in year one. Second year receiver Burden is one of those players getting hype, with many seeing his upside as a top 10 fantasy receiver. I am on board with this line of thinking, but a groin strain has kept him out of practice of late and we have to keep that in mind. Hopefully he returns to practice as they get ready for Week 1, but we’ll have to wait to see.
Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers
Egbuka got off to a hot start in his rookie season, but he and the rest of the team faded hard in the second half. I still like Egbuka and with Mike Evans gone, there is going to be opportunity there to be the WR1. He is currently dealing with a toe injury and there has been no word on how bad it is. Let’s hope he returns to practice ahead of Week 1 so we can feel better about drafting him at ADP.
Jordyn Tyson, Saints
The hype train out of Saints camp for the rookie Tyson was chugging away at full tilt this preseason, that is, until he suffered yet another hamstring injury. His history with injuries is truly scary for anyone drafting him. We’ll see if he ends up on the PUP list or not to start the season, but it looks like he’s out for Week 1 at least. I really like Kellen Moore and this Saints offense, but this does hurt them a bit.
Alec Pierce, Colts
The Colts went out and gave Pierce a nice contract this offseason despite knowing he was dealing with an ankle issue. So, the fact that he’s still not practicing is concerning, but something I expect he can recover from at some point early in the season. I’m not drafting him at this point though. I want to see him practicing and getting through practices first.
Wide receiver late draft targets
Jayden Reed, Packers
Reed is a very good football player. Sadly, we can’t project that he’ll see a big snap percentage and workload. The Packers receivers have been black holes for fantasy, which is partly due to injuries, emphasizing the rushing game and spreading the ball around. Will Reed stay healthy and become a key player in this offense? I think it’s possible. He’s too good to not keep giving the ball if he can stay healthy. And at WR47, I’m happy to take the chance on him again this year.
De’Zhaun Stribling, 49ers
Stribling has looked great so far in preseason. His ability after the catch fits so well in Kyle Shanahan’s offense that it looks like a match made in heaven. The 49ers offensive playmakers are ancient in NFL terms. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel are all great players, but most people would take the bet that one or more of these guys will miss significant time this year.
Stribling’s hype may push someone in your home league to scoop him up way too early, but if he’s anywhere near his current ADP of WR50, grab him.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 26: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) looks on from the dugout during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves on August 26, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
On August 18, 2020, 23-year-old left-hander Tarik Skubal made his major league debut for a Detroit Tigers team that went on to miss the postseason for a sixth consecutive season.
Over the next six years, Skubal helped Detroit reach the postseason over two consecutive seasons, with highlights being his performance in Game 5 of last year’s ALDS and lowlights like the grand slam he allowed to Lane Thomas in the 2024 ALDS. He also made his name officially known by winning two consecutive AL Cy Young awards, winning the pitching triple crown in 2024— the first Tiger to do so since Justin Verlander in 2011.
Skubal made his final start as a Tiger on July 29, and the baseball world was stunned to see him shipped off to Los Angeles. Now, for the first time as a visiting player, he returns to the city he called home for parts of seven seasons. When asked by David Vassegh of AM 570 about the emotions of returning to Comerica Park, Skubal has a rather stoic mindset.
“The game of baseball is going to stay the game of baseball. That’s something I pride myself on, treating every game as the same. I’m very familiar with the stadium and all the guys across the way, and I look forward to seeing all those guys too. Those guys are my really good friends. We’re going to have relationships beyond baseball, so I look forward to getting back there and pitching.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was on the losing end of a fierce pitcher’s duel against Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, where a first-pitch leadoff home run from Drake Baldwin was the only time any side could scratch across a run.
Yamamoto spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA following the Dodgers’ 1-0 loss about his ability to navigate Atlanta’s lineup following the Baldwin home run while also finding a way to pitch deep into the game, with a final line of 6 1/3 innings.
“It’s a great lineup, I knew that. I just had to stay sharp the whole game.”
Getting swept against a team that is also a division leader stings, but there’s still a chance to go out win games over the weekend. That’s the mindset that Dave Roberts has following Thursday’s defeat, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.
“I wish we’d played better,” Roberts said. “I wish we’d have won the game. I wish we’d won the series. It didn’t happen. But right now, there’s nothing we can do but just go out there and keep trying to get better and win a baseball game [Friday].”
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 11: Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NFL season is trying to sneak up on us, but we’re prepared and poised to take on all challengers! Below are my running back PPR rankings for this season. We have a couple clear studs that should go first and second in most of your drafts, and for good reason. After that, it’s the usual free-for-all.
After a few years of “Zero-RB” draft strategy winning due to running back injuries, the tables have turned and running backs are back in the forefront. What we really need to learn from trying to predict injuries is that you can’t. When you take a player who is the best offensive guy on a team, he’s going to get “overworked” to an extent. How his body handles that is impossible to predict. Not many people thought Christian McCaffrey would hold up to his 400+ touches again in 2025, but he went and did it like the stud fantasy back he is. This is all to say, every pick has risk, and that risk isn’t easy to quantify.
Do we want running backs who get 20+ touches a game? Yes, yes, and more yes. Would we rather that back be young like Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson or old like McCaffrey? Young, yes. You’re scoring an incredible 100% so far. But, unfortunately, if you don’t have one of the first two picks, you aren’t getting those young superstars. So, you fall back on CMC and hope he stays healthy or you lower your upside for a player who seems safer.
Running back injuries
Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals
Love has the ability to be a top fantasy producer as soon as he’s healthy, but after suffering a high-ankle sprain in preseason, his health is questionable. I’m not out on Love, but I would rather get a discount on him due to this injury. We should know more as we close in on the season, so keep an eye on the news.
Ashton Jeanty, Raiders
We had a big scare with Jeanty going down in practice, but thankfully he didn’t suffer a major injury. At this point he appears to have a lower ankle sprain, but his Week 1 availability is in question. As long as it truly isn’t a high-ankle sprain, he should be okay. But if you get Jeanty, it is worth trying to grab his backup Mike Washington as well.
Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
Charbonnet played well last year, but also tore his ACL in the playoffs. The Seahawks let Kenneth Walker go to the Chiefs and then drafted Jadarian Price with the 32nd pick overall. Charbonnet has reportedly been ahead of schedule in his recovery, but it would be surprising if he didn’t go on the PUP list to start the season. His likely absence should give Price a chance to prove himself early on.
Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
Brooks is healthy and ready to go after back-to-back lost seasons to injury. He will compete with Chuba Hubbard for work after Hubbard returned from a hamstring injury in training camp. As long as both are healthy, I’d expect them to divide up the work, but Brooks at least has a chance to prove he is truly back and worth giving the majority of the touches.
Late round RB targets
Keaton Mitchell, Chargers
Mitchell is an explosive play waiting to happen and Chargers OC Mike McDaniel is adept at scheming explosive plays for explosive players. Mitchell’s ADP is rising, but with Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal on the team, fantasy footballers will be wary. With Mitchell we are looking for efficiency and big plays. And as long as he’s healthy, I believe that is on the way. He might not be consistent, but given 8-10 touches a game, I’m on board with him as a flex option most weeks.
Marshawn Lloyd, Packers
Lloyd’s injury troubles have taken him out of contention his first two years of his NFL career, but so far so good in year three. Josh Jacobs isn’t going anywhere, but Lloyd is talented enough that if he can stay healthy, who knows how high he could fly. He’s extremely risky, but that’s why we get him late and drop him if he gets hurt again.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 25: Jahmyr Gibbs #0 of the Detroit Lions warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Your fantasy football drat day is around the corner. Are you ready? Are you excited? Let’s do this! The 2026 season will once again be led by the many great to okay quarterbacks in the league. There are plenty of questions that need to be answered about this group of quarterbacks this season. Can Sam Darnold do the unthinkable and lead his team to another Super Bowl victory? Or will Drake Maye continue his assent and get his team back to the promised land? Will Lamar Jackson stay healthy and run his way to yet another MVP? Can Patrick Mahomes return from his knee injury to bring the Chiefs back to their usual prominence? Will Jaxson Dart start to slide to save his brain from being crushed? Can Josh Allen keep up his insane fantasy numbers? Will Jayden Daniels return to his rookie form following an injury plagued season? Will Justin Herbert have healthy starting tackles all year? Does Kyler Murray find his mojo in Minnesota? Can Tyler Shough mind meld with Kellen Moore to make the Saints a contender? Will Aaron Rogers get E. coli from a raw milk and lettuce smoothie? The questions are endless, but in just a few days we’ll start to get the beginnings of answers topmost of these pressing inquiries.
In fantasy, quarterbacks who run the ball continue to get a huge leg up on quarterbacks who don’t. That doesn’t mean pocket passers can’t put up good numbers, but efficiency is key and they need their TD rate to be extra high, like Matthew Stafford’s last season. His 7.6% touchdown rate led the league and helped him to QB3 honors in fantasy and a MVP award. But, even with 46 passing touchdowns, Josh Allen and Drake Maye put up more total fantasy points than Stafford due to their rushing ability. I’m still happy to take a player like Joe Burrow or Jared Goff or Stafford at the right spot, but the margins for error are much smaller.
Quarterback Injuries
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Mahomes tore his ACL last December, but appears on track to suit up Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. He didn’t play in the preseason, but has been a full participant in practices. Without Tyreek Hill and a strong deep passing game, Mahomes’ fantasy greatness has fallen off. He did actually put up decent fantasy numbers last season because the team had no running backs worth anything, so Mahomes needed to run a lot more. He ended up with 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns, but we won’t see that this year following his injury and the acquisition of RB Kenneth Walker. He may help his team bounce back from a down year, but his fantasy upside remains capped.
Michael Penix Jr., Falcons
Penix Jr. tore his ACL in Week 11 of last year and is now returning to practice as we close in on the season. The team went out and signed Tua Tagovailoa to compete with Penix Jr., but he hasn’t shown much so far in training camp and preseason. At this point it looks like Penix just needs to get back up to speed and he could quickly start over Tagovailoa.
Late round QB pick
Bo Nix, Broncos
Nix isn’t free in drafts, but he’s one of the QBs I feel good about grabbing if none of the top guys fall to me. He can be had late enough that I’ll pair him with a later round QB like Tyler Shough or Malik Willis to form duo I can stream throughout the season. Nix just got Jaylen Waddle added to his target tree, which could truly open up this offense. But, even if he stays as his steady self, he’s finished the last two seasons a respectable QB7.
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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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.
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.
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.
