CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 22: Cleveland Browns quarterback Taylen Green (15) warms up prior to the National Football League preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns on August 22, 2026, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cleveland Browns are playing their final preseason game tonight against the New England Patriots on Amazon Prime. The main drama is out of the way: Deshaun Watson will start the regular season, with Shedeur Sanders as the backup. None of the starters are expected to play in this final preseason game.
However, this is the last chance for some of those bubble players or practice squad candidates to make an impression. The most intriguing thing about this preseason game is the chance to see rookie QB Taylen Green in action. QB Dillon Gabriel will start the game, with a chance to improve his trade stock, and then Green should follow.
This season, we’re going to be having one game thread for the entire game, so this will be your home to discuss the game for all four quarters!
VS.
Game: New England Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns Date/Time: Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET Location: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, OH National Television: Amazon Prime (Al Michaels & Kirk Herbstreit) Local Television: WEWS (Channel 5.1) Local Radio: ESPN 850 WKNR, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 FM WNCX
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 10: Hayden Wesneski #39 of the Houston Astros pitches against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on August 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (66-67) and New York Yankees (75-57) will play their final regular season game tonight at Yankee Stadium.
RHP Hayden Wesneski (3-1, 4.23 ERA) will start for the Astros vs. Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (7-6, 3.11 ERA).
First-Timer: Wesneski, who was drafted by the Yankees in the 6th round of the 2019 Draft, will be facing his former organization for the 1st time tonight. It is also his 1st career app. at Yankee Stadium.
ASTROS-YANKEES: The Astros are 2-3 vs. NYY this season, with the Yankees taking 2 of 3 at Daikin Park, April 24-26. In their last visit to the Bronx, the Astros took 2 of 3 from the Yankees, Aug. 8-10 of 2025.
All-Time: In the regular season, the Astros are 38-55 vs. NYY.
Postseason: The Astros have won all 4 postseason series that they have played vs. the Yankees (2015, ‘17, ‘19, ‘22) and have a combined record of 13-5 (.722) in those games.
NY STATE OF MIND: Tonight is the 3rd game of a 6-game road trip for the Astros, with all 6 games being scheduled in the Big Apple. After this 3-games series vs. the Yankees in the Bronx (Tues.-Thur.), the Astros will take on the Mets for a 3-game series at Citi Field in Queens over the weekend (Fri.-Sun).
Last Time It Happened: The Astros had a similar road trip in NYC, June 23-29 of 2022, during which they played 4 games at Yankee Stadium (2-2) and 2 games at Citi Field (2-0), respectively.
BIG WES: Tonight will be RHP Hayden Wesneski 6th start of the season for the Astros. He re-joined the Astros rotation on July 29 at LAA after missing 14 months while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In his most recent start on Aug. 21 vs. ATH, he had his best outing of the season, allowing just 1 hit over 5.0 scoreless innings, earning the win in a 4-0 Astros victory. Wesneski has pitched through 5th inning in 4 of his 5 starts and through the 6th inning in 2 of them.
Local Product: A Houston native, Wesneski attended Cy Fair High School as well as Sam Houston St. He was acquired from the Cubs along with Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith in exchange for Kyle Tucker, Dec. 13, 2024.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP: The Astros dropped the 2nd game of this series in the Bronx last night, 9-3. The score was tied at 3-3 going into the bottom of the 7th inning until the Yanks rallied for 4 runs in that 7th and 2 more in the 8th. RHP Peter Lambert had ND, but was solid (5.2 IP, 2 ER). Daulton Varsho had a good night, going 2×4 with a HR and double.
UP TO THE CHALLENGE: Astros hitters are tied with the Yankees and Reds for the most successful ABS challenges in the Majors, all with 84. The Astros 55% success rate is T-1st in the AL and T-3rd in the Majors. Among players, Jose Altuve’s 20 successful challenges are T-1st in the AL.
MEASURING UP: The Astros are 24-14 (.632) vs. teams currently at .500 or above. Some clubs that they have winning records against include BOS (5-1), CHC (3-0), CWS (2-1), CLE (4-2), MIA (3-0), and TB (2-1). HOU is 9-4 vs. TEX, who are in 2nd place in the AL West.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Among AL teams, the Astros rank T-1st in SLG (.412), 3rd in HR (177) and runs scored (608) and 4th in OPS (.730).
TRIPLE THREAT:Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently leads the AL in several categories, including all three Triple Crown categories. He enters tonight leading the AL in batting avg. (.322) and HR (36) and T-1st in RBI (91). Additionally, Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.051), SLG (.614), OBP (.437) and TB (290).
Rare Feat: Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).
SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 46-36 (.561) in their last 82 games (since May 22)…. That is the 2nd-best record in the AL in that span, behind only the Red Sox (51-33).
ROAD WARRIORS: Since posting a 1-9 record on the 1st road trip of the 2026 season, the Astros have been one of the best road teams in the Majors. They are 32-23 (.582) on the road since April 14, which is 3rd-best in the AL in that span. More recently, they are 16-11 (.592) on their last 5 road trips combined (includes current trip). Overall for the season, HOU is 33-32 on the road.
THE HIT MAN: Jose Altuve enters tonight’s game needing just 10 hits to reach 2,500 for his career. Among active players, his 1,490 hits rank 2nd to Freddie Freeman’s 2,578.
IN GOOD COMPANY: In MLB history, Altuve is one of just 3 players with a .300 career batting avg. to reach both 250 HR and 300 SB. The other 2 are HOFers Willie Mays and Derek Jeter.
WALK OF FAME: Yordan Alvarez’ ML-high 28 intentional walks this season are a franchise record. Jeff Bagwell had held the club record with 27 IBB in 1997. Alvarez was intentionally walked 3 times on Sunday vs. ATH (has drawn no walks vs. the Yankees in 5 games thus far this season).
ROOKIE LEVEL AWARDS/ALL-STARS: Today, Minor League Baseball announced their Rookie Level League Awards and All-Star Teams. 19-year-old Astros RHP Adrian Ardines was named both FCL Pitcher of the Year and as an All-Star after posting a 5-1 record with a 3.42 ERA in 12 G (8 GS) with a 1.08 WHIP and 56 K’s in 52.2 IP. He also had a CG shutout. Astros C/1B Luis DeLeon was also named to the FCL All-Star team after his stellar season in which he hit .390 (46X118) with a 1.041 OPS (482 OBP/.559 SLG). DeLeon is also 19 years old.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2023 – The Astros tie a franchise record by tallying 25 hits in a 17-4 thrashing of the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Jeremy Peña leads the way with a career-high 5 hits. Overall, the Astros compiled 4 doubles, a triple and 4 HR.
2006 – In a 13-1 shelling at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Willy Taveras hits safely in his 30th straight game, which is a club record that still stands today. Taveras wasted no time in extending his record streak, singling to lead off the game.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, August 27, 6:05 p.m. CT
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 21: Drew Allar #16 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to the preseason game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium on August 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just one more game until the regular season…
The Steelers will kick off their third preseason game of the year at 7 p.m. EST Thursday in Buffalo against the Bills.
Like every Steelers preseason game this year, the game will be broadcast nationally on NFL Network and NFL+, as well as locally on KDKA-TV (CBS). You can view the full list of viewing and listening options here on Steelers.com.
Starters normally don’t get much playing time in Week 3 of the preseason, but with the Steelers getting a list of names including Jalen Ramsey and DK Metcalf back in practice this week, some prominent names still might see the field to knock some rust off. Also, expect rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor to finally get some preseason playing time at right tackle.
On the Bills’ side of things, Pro Football Talk reported some starters are expected to play, but not quarterback Josh Allen — who could end up calling some plays instead.
Make sure to stay caught up on the latest Steelers news here at BTSC this preseason:
The Cincinnati Bengals front office went all in this offseason to rebuild the defense as quickly as possible going into 2026.
The Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence and also brought in multiple free agents like Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Jonathan Allen, and others.
Cook is an exciting addition after playing college football for the Bearcats and winning multiple Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cook has been dealing with a minor hamstring injury the past few weeks but is back in action now as the final week of preseason approaches.
“I’m buzzing with a lot of excitement right now,” Cook said.
"I'm buzzing with a lot of excitement right now."
Two straight days of work now for Bryan Cook after dealing with a hamstring injury. He can't wait for week one and told us he's "ready to go."#Bengals@FOX19pic.twitter.com/OwKzkiu3lx
When asked about preparing for Week 1, Cook had some fun comments.
“It feels phenomenal. I am looking forward to it, especially as a hometown kid. I’m ready for that first chance to actually put on the uniform.”
Cook comes in with fantastic experience and leadership, something that the Bengals defense has desperately lacked since the departure of Jessie Bates a few years ago.
Having Cook running the show in the secondary should drastically improve a defense that was the worst I have ever seen.
Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh was not happy about a hit levied on Wan'Dale Robinson by former Titans safety Xavier Woods during joint practice with the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Saleh had a brief reaction when asked about Woods' hit on Robinson – which occurred while the veteran receiver was trying to make a catch over the middle of the field – following practice.
Members of the Titans immediately sprang to Robinson's defense following Woods' hit. That led to a shoving match between the two teams on the field, and several players eventually had to be separated by staffers.
Robinson was eventually able to get up and walk off the field under his own power despite the hit. However, the 25-year-old receiver was evaluated for a head concussion and did not return to practice because of it.
"We're checking Wan'Dale for a concussion," Saleh said.
Robinson spent the first four years of his career with the New York Giants before joining the Titans on a four-year, $70 million free-agent contract. The 26-year-old played under Brian Daboll, who the Titans hired to be their offensive coordinator during the offseason, across his four seasons with the Giants.
Robinson is coming off a career-best 1,014 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 92 catches. He is expected to be a high-volume safety valve for second-year quarterback Cam Ward.
If Robinson is sidelined for any amount of time by his injury, rookie Carnell Tate and veteran Calvin Ridley would be expected to see a majority of the snaps at receiver. More playing time would also be available for second-year wide-outs Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike.
Robinson has played in 48 of a possible 51 games over the last three seasons. He missed one game at the end of the 2025 season because of fractured ribs while he missed the first two games of the 2023 campaign while continuing to recover from a torn ACL.
Robinson played just six games as a rookie in 2022 because of a couple of knee injuries, including the ACL tear.
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TOP PICK
Who will win Falcons vs Dolphins: Falcons -3.5
Kalshi probability: 52%
Kevin Stefanski said that the Atlanta Falcons starters will get their reps in Week 3 as a regular-season dress rehearsal, though Tua Tagovailoa is slated to play the first quarter against his old team.
Behind him, Cooper Rush and Jake Strand will see playing time. The duo combined for 298 yards after going 22 of 28 passing — they might see 300-plus in this matchup.
Meanwhile, Jeff Hafley confirmed Quinn Ewers will see heavy action, and the Miami Dolphins' lack of depth is a concern — making the Falcons the safer pick.
Falcons vs Dolphins Over/Under pick: Under 36.5
Kalshi probability: 53%
The lack of depth on the Dolphins is alarming — as is its inability to move the ball through two weeks; there's a chance that unit doesn't find the end zone after putting up just 10 points through two games.
I see this being mostly one-sided, with Rush doing most of the damage for the Falcons.
The Under is 3-1 between these two teams as the preseason finale approaches, and we shouldn't have an issue seeing a fourth hit.
It'll be a perfect night for football in Miami, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures reaching 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The weather should have no impact before or during the game.
How to watch Falcons vs Dolphins
Location
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Date
Friday, Aug.28, 2026
Kickoff
7 p.m. ET
TV
WAGA, WFOR
Falcons vs Dolphins latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Tampa City Council voted 4-3 Thursday morning to approve the city's $80 million share of a $2.36 billion Rays ballpark, sending the deal to Hillsborough County Commission on Friday.
The team, which returns to Tropicana Field after a long road trip on Friday, is holding up its end of the marketing plan for the stadium. They have the best record in the American League at 79-54 and a division lead that has shrunk from six games to 3½ in two weeks. By first pitch against the Padres, they may finally know where they'll be playing in 2029.
The vote took all day with vociferous and colorful public comment and some contentious comments between council members.
The structure that was voted on was rebuilt by Council Member Bill Carlson, who is running for mayor, and who had been a no vote on previous agreements. In that deal, Tampa is responsible for $80 million and it was earmarked for building roads and sidewalks around the ballpark. The city expects to earn it back through property taxes on the private development the Rays say they will build alongside the stadium.
The county commissioners' vote is a whole other obstacle for the Rays to get over. They approved a non-binding version 5-2 in May and now two of the yes votes have wobbled.
This is the fourth ballpark the Rays have announced and they have yet to break ground.
In 2007 the team proposed a waterfront park in St. Petersburg and withdrew it after residents revolted. In 2018 there was a roughly $900 million plan to put a ballpark in Ybor City, Tampa's historic Cuban neighborhood. That fell apart that same year when the Rays and Hillsborough County couldn't reach a financing deal.
In 2024, the Rays proposed a $1.3 billion ballpark inside a $6.5 billion redevelopment of the historic district next to the current ballpark, Tropicana Field. St. Petersburg's council approved $290 million in bonds in December 2024. Pinellas County approved $312.5 million. The Rays put up billboards with the slogan "Here to stay." The team abandoned the project on March 13, 2025.
The current plan was tagged with the logo "Forever Home," and comes under new ownership. Stu Sternberg sold controlling interest in the team to a group headed by Patrick Zalupski, a politically-connected Jacksonville businessman.
The history is a reminder that even a clean sweep this week isn't a guarantee that the Rays will be christening their new home in April 2029, but it's an important step.
A.J. Ewing – CF Francisco Lindor – SS Carson Benge – RF Luis Robert – LF Jared Young – 1B Marcus Semien – 2B Brett Baty – 3B Christopher Morel – DH Francisco Alvarez – C
SP: Sean Manaea – LHP
Brewers lineup
Jackson Chourio – LF Luis Lara – CF William Contreras – DH Andrew Vaughn – 1B Gary Sanchez – C Joey Ortiz – 3B Sal Frelick – RF Cooper Pratt – SS David Hamilton – 2B
SP: J. Misiorowski – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:10 PM ET TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
The Minnesota Twins are calling up their No. 1 prospect in advance of their most important series of the year.
Walker Jenkins, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft and the game's 10th-ranked prospect per Baseball America, will be called up in advance of the Twins' weekend series against the first-place Chicago White Sox.
Jenkins, 21, joins shortstop Kaelen Culpepper as top Twins prospects aiming to provide a boost to the club's flagging playoff hopes. Jenkins, a 6-3, 210-pound outfielder, has been on a recent tear at Class AAA St. Paul and now has 12 homers and a .940 OPS in 69 games there.
Buxton aggravated a right hip injury during the club's series at Sacramento.
A person familiar with the agreement confirmed Jenkins will be recalled to replace the injured Byron Buxton on the active roster. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the move has not yet been announced. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune first reported Jenkins' impending promotion.
Jenkins has been plagued by injuries over his minor league career and hasn't played in more than the 84 games he posted in 2025, when he hit 10 homers at three levels. Yet he seemed to grow into his much-anticipated power this season, slugging .532 at St. Paul after a .451 mark in 2025.
The Twins enter the weekend 6 1/2 games behind the first-place White Sox; they're four games out in the wild card chase but have five teams to vault into playoff position.
Preseason action wraps up for both the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night, with the two facing off at 8 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philly heads in as a 57-cent home favorite, and my Bengals vs. Eagles predictions expect the hosts to notch their first preseason win behind Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee, who are fighting for the QB2 job.
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Who will win Bengals vs Eagles: Philadelphia Eagles
Kalshi probability: 57%
Both head coaches have said their starters will sit, giving each team one final look at players fighting for roster spots.
McKee went 16-for-22 for 173 yards and two touchdowns against New England, and I have far more confidence in Philadelphia’s QB room than the Cincinnati Bengals' combination of Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford.
It’s also worth noting the Bengals aren’t expected to play several established backups, meaning Cincinnati could lean heavily on players simply trying to make the roster.
In a matchup dominated by reserves, Philadelphia’s setup looks cleaner.
TOP PICK Bengals vs Eagles Over/Under pick: Over 36.5 points
Kalshi probability: 51%
While the Eagles may have the more productive quarterback room, the Bengals’ duo isn’t exactly bad, either. Johnson and Clifford have both produced this preseason, helping Cincinnati score 27 points last week against the Chicago Bears.
I also like this angle because the Bengals’ defense will feature plenty of reserves, opening the door for Philadelphia’s quarterbacks to do damage throughout the night. The Eagles’ defense hasn’t exactly been lights out, either, allowing 24 points in each of its first two preseason games.
McKee led three touchdown drives last week, and Philadelphia’s offense looked much sharper overall in Week 2.
With both teams capable of generating offense against reserve-heavy defenses, I like the Over 36.5.
Conditions should be favorable at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday night. Temperatures are expected to sit around 80 degrees at kickoff before dropping into the mid-70s later in the evening. Humidity will be high, but winds will be virtually nonexistent, while the chance of precipitation falls from 25% around 7 p.m. to roughly 10% later in the game.
How to watch Bengals vs Eagles
Location
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
Kickoff
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
CBS
Bengals vs Eagles latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Former Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller has shed a little light on some of the events that occurred during the 2024-25 season.
In a video released today by Spittin' Chiclets, an exchange between Miller and Paul Bissonnette while golfing shows the ex-Canuck reacting to a jab about the end of his time with Vancouver; specifically the widely reported "rift" between himself and Elias Pettersson.
In the clip, Miller mentions that he "went to rehab," saying this after Bissonnette made a comment about Pettersson.
The latest Spittin' Chiclets video might bring back some tough memories for #Canucks fans.
Biz chirping J.T. Miller in the middle of his backswing about Petey.
J.T. answered back: "Petey in my backswing is crazy...I went to rehab for that."
Notably, Miller took a leave of absence after a 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on November 17 and did not return to the ice until December 12 against the Florida Panthers. In the months that followed, the rift between Miller and Pettersson garnered more and more public attention.
Things cooled once Miller was traded to the New York Rangers on January 31, 2025, though little pieces of information on this point in time in Canucks history have since emerged.
While this was undoubtedly a notable point in recent Canucks history, Vancouver is now entering a different era with only a handful of players from their 2024-25 team still in the organization. The team will be looking to move past this point in time and work towards establishing a brighter future.
Dec 23, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (9) talks with forward Elias Pettersson (40) during a stop in play against the San Jose Sharks in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Today, Astros manager Joe Espada told the media the team has brought back former pitching coach Brent Strom as a consultant.
The Astros are adding Brent Strom to their coaching staff as a pitching consultant, Joe Espada said. He is expected to join the team tomorrow at Citi Field.
Strom had been the person most associated with what has colloquially been called the “Astros Lab” at the start of the Golden Era. Pitchers frequently improved significantly when joining the Astros and working under Strom.
The “Astros Lab” continued to have success under Strom’s successors, Josh Miller and Bill Murphy, until this season. Prior to this season, Murphy left for a job with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Astros have struggled to adapt to changing behaviors of hitters and umpires due to the ABS strike zone.
Astros pitchers are tied for the second most walks in MLB this season with 550, just 1 behind the league-worst Cincinnati Reds. Despite injuries and ineffectiveness plaguing the pitching staff, the Astros are still 10th in MLB in strikeouts with 1161.
The team hopes Strom still has some magic left in him. He will join the team tomorrow in Flushing as the Astros take on the Mets. He will be in uniform.
FRISCO, TEXAS - AUGUST 25: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys lines up under center during practice at The Star in Frisco on August 25, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have Jess Haynie, Sean Martin, and Tom Ryle.
Time to predict the 53-man roster. On offense, who do you predict to be the running backs on the final roster, the wide receiver corps, and the tight ends?
MIKE: At running back, I’d keep Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue and Hunter Luepke. Williams is locked in as the lead back, Davis feels like the safest RB2 because of consistency and reliability, Blue gives them the change-of-pace element, and Luepke’s fullback and special teams value makes him hard to cut.
At wide receiver, I’d go with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo and Camden Brown, this one seems easy to predict.
At tight end, the keepers will be Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford and Luke Schoonmaker. Ferguson is TE1, Spann-Ford should be TE2 and has the momentum to take a bigger role, while Schoonmaker probably sticks because of draft investment, experience and the fact Dallas has treated him like a safe veteran during preseason. Michael Trigg is the tempting upside choice, but Trigg’s injury makes that harder for me unless Dallas is willing to gamble.
JESS: At RB I have Williams, Davis, Blue, and Luepke. At this point, Mafah and/or Abanikanda feel practice squad bound. WRs are Lamb, Pickens, Flournoy, Turpin, Brown and Mingo. I think they go long there with six because they can now stash Trigg on IR, which means they’ll only keep Ferguson, Spann-Ford, and Schoonmaker on the 53.
TOM: I’ll second Jess on both RB and TE, but I’ll throw a curveball on WR. It’s obvious that Lamb, Pickens, and Flournoy are the top three weapons, with Turpin, primarily a return specialist, counting as part of the group. But I think they will dangle one or both of Brown and Mingo as trade bait. There are some receiver hungry teams out there that might be willing to part with a decent pick. With other options to stash on the PS, I think Jerry and his brain trust would close a deal. (If you force me, I’m guessing Brown would go because of how cheap he is. This is not an endorsement of a trade on my part, just something that popped into my warped mind.)
SEAN: Designating Hunter Luepke as a running back for this, I’d have him along with Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, and Malik Davis. I like what Phil Mafah brings, but unfortunately for him I also don’t see anything he does remarkably better than Williams or Davis in the ground-and-pound game, or Blue in the pass game. At wide receiver, the locks are obviously CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, and like Jess I’m also going to keep both Camden Brown and Jonathan Mingo. Leaving just Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and Luke Schoonmaker at tight end. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s interest in Zack Kuntz is notable here, but he hasn’t done enough or nearly have the time remaining before cuts to make enough of an impact to beat out any of the other three here.
On defense, name the final defensive line players you predict to make the roster.
MIKE: Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbonnia, Jonathan Bullard and L.T. Overton inside, with Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence, James Houston and Marist Liufau on the edge. The interior feels mostly settled, but the tougher call is the edge group. Gary, Ezeiruaku, Miller and Lawrence feel safe, then I’d keep Houston as the pass-rush specialist and Liufau over Sam Williams because of position flexibility and special teams value.
JESS: I’m struggling with Jonathan Bullard right now. He’s missed almost the entire summer, and it seems like L.T. Overton is stepping up and capable of playing the same role. If they keep Bullard, it may just be those two, Williams, Clark, and Ogbonnia. If they cut Bullard, it’ll be for either Tommy Dunn or Jay Toia. It’ll also be one of those two guys if they keep a sixth DL.
TOM: Wait, what about the OLBs? I don’t see them in any of Jess’ projections. And I’m not at all certain how many will be carried at any of the positions. But here’s my choice for the guys that get their hands down:
I will say they keep both Overton and Bullard to go with the obvious ones of Williams, Clark, and Ogbonnia. I think they have to have at least six.
SEAN: Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, Otito Ogbonnia, Jay Toia, LT Overton, and Jonathan Bullard would be my six. Again, I agree with Jess about being up in the air about Bullard, but at the end of the day veterans with pass rush juice don’t get cut from teams looking to make some real noise (see: the Von Miller signing). Toia was super impressive against the Cardinals in the preseason game and worthy of his spot as well.
Name the linebackers you predict to be on the final 53-man roster.
MIKE: DeMarvion Overshown is the clear leader and green-dot defender, Dee Winters is obviously locked in after Dallas invested in him, and Jaishawn Barham is too intriguing as a rookie weapon to leave off the roster. Shemar James sticks because of athletic upside and development, while Barron gets the final spot because of his versatility and special teams value.
JESS: This one’s easy: Overshown, Winters, Barham, James, and Barron. If they keep six, throw in Curtis Robinson. But the pecking order at that spot feels pretty clear.
TOM: Inside, I concur on the top five. Now you have to figure out the OLBs. Gary, Ezeiruaku, Miller, and Lawrnece seem the four locks. I think they’ll keep at least five to keep throwing outside rushers at the opponents. I’ll give Houston the nod over Williams, but wouldn’t be surprised if they go the other way.
SEAN: Ah, the position that’s been turned on its head the most by the latest scheme and coaching change on defense. Starting with the pass rushers, we go Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence, James Houston, Tyrus Wheat, Von Miller, and Donovan Ezeiruaku. For the rest of the group, it’s Dee Winters, DeMarvion Overshown, Jaishawn Barham, and Shemar James for me.
For the obvious absentee here, It feels like Marsit Liufau is not only caught behind other more natural pass rushers on the edge, but the fact Dallas has some intriguing safeties that can play as hybrid coverage linebackers, while Liufau is also a liability in coverage, does not help him at all.
Give one name that you think will be a surprise player to make the 53-man roster.
MIKE: The surprise name I’d go with is Phil Mafah. Carrying five players at running back sounds heavy, but it could make sense for Dallas because Mafah brings something different from the rest of the room. He has more of that downhill, physical runner profile, and when he has been given chances, he hasn’t looked out of place. With the RB2 spot still carrying a small question mark, keeping Mafah gives the Cowboys another option if they want more size, short-yardage ability, and insurance behind Javonte Williams. It may come down to numbers elsewhere on the roster, but if Dallas decides the run game needs depth and variety, Mafah is exactly the kind of surprise player who could sneak onto the 53.
JESS: I can’t say this guy “will be” a surprise, but he could be. And that’s Marist Liufau. He provides versatile depth with his ILB experience and now learning at OLB. Not saying he’s great at either, but a strong special teamer who can be a body at two positions is not a crazy path to the roster.
TOM: This one is hard, but could the Cowboys go deep at QB and keep Sam Howell on the 53? I think they might not want to put him at risk of being signed away. If he has a good game against the Saints, that could become a real concern.
SEAN: I truly have no idea if this is a surprise or not, but my pick is safety Alijah Clark. Clark and Julius Wood have been paired together through training camp as the duo of dark horse safety candidates doing everything they can to make the roster, showing off of their versatility to try and do so. Clark has the experience, range and instincts at safety, and ability to play down on the second level in a pinch to be a player we’ll hear from again this season – though some fans may still find themselves asking about who Dallas really has here when the final roster is announced, if Clark is indeed on it.
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 3: Michael Lorenzen #24 of the Colorado Rockies pitches in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Coors Field on August 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I knew, when Chad Dallas was so good last night, that he would be on his way back to Buffalo today. Thanks for the 2.2 scoreless innings, here is a bus ticket back to Buffalo. That is is fifth option of the year, so if he’s back, he’s back to stay.
The Jays signed Michael Lorenzen this afternoon. He had been DFAed by the Rockies on the 19th. Jonatan Clase has been moved to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man.
Lorenzen is a 34-year-old right-handed pitcher (he’s also played outfield in the majors). He’s played 12 seasons in the MLB, playing for the Reds, Angels, Tigers, Phillies, Rangers, Royals, and Rockies. Career he has a 4.40 ERA in 421 games, 144 starts and an 8.5 bWAR.
This year, with the Rockies, he had a 7.08 ERA in 26 games, 25 starts. In 115.2 innings he gave up a .338/.398/.535 batting line with a league leading 168 hits and league leading 91 earned runs with 49 walks and 82 strikeouts and a -1.9 bWAR. He was better last year, with a 4.64 ERA in 27 games, 26 starts.
All-in-all, I’d have kept Dallas. I think Lorenzen might be too much for even Pete Walker to fix.
Best known as the "Queen of Country," she built a life that extended far beyond the constraints of the music industry. Sure, Parton was a singer and songwriter. She was also involved in movies, shows, charity, business and so on. Despite being everywhere, she appeared to be one of the only people with a seemingly unanimous approval rating.
A larger than life figure, Parton seemed like one that would live forever.
Some have been quick to put her music on repeat. Others have watched old movies or picked up her baking mix from the store, but what about the football world.
So without further ado, here are some Dolly Parton-inspired fantasy football team names to pay tribute as we continue to mourn the loss of a legend.
Dolly Parton inspired fantasy football team names
Kupp of Ambition
Cooper Kupp might be the player he once was, especially in fantasy, but we'd be remiss if we didn't start this list off with a little Kupp of Ambition.
Working 9 to Jayden Daniels
Sorry, Dolly. If Jayden Daniels doesn't want the world to use his number, then we can't either.
Working J.J. McCarthy to 5
Fine, we'll make an exception, but only because J.J. McCarthy had it first and deserves to be included. If you're feeling really frisky, combine the two into one name. That would require you to draft McCarthy though, something we wouldn't recommend.
I Will Always Love You
Countless people across the globe learned this week that Whitney Houston only covered this song. We had to do it justice and leave the title intact. After all, there are enough players named "Love" to make it mean something in fantasy circles.
Sometimes the song titles don't need any tinkering. If you're in an auction draft, there's a chance that your team ends up on the cheaper side. And there you have it. Voilà.
Islands in the End Zone
Parton and Kenny Rogers had an iconic duet with this song in 1983. The hit deserved a football version and what better place to meet than the end zone?
All takin’ and got Higgins
A lyric from "9 to 5," Tee Higgins gets the honor of a much more positive version of "all takin' and no givin' from the classic song.
Coat of many draft picks
No one player makes a team. A song inspired by Parton's upbringing, "Coat of Many Colors," now has a fantasy draft connection to it.
Imagination Library Brooks
One of Parton's best contributions to society, her Imagination Library provides books to children for free until they reach age five. It just so happens that Jonathan Brooks' name fits perfectly here and can help spread awareness about a program that has helped millions.
Travelin’ Man Coverage
From her "Coat of Many Colors" album, Parton released the song "Travelin' Man." We couldn't get through this exercise without a nod to the defenders of the football world.
Steelers Magnolias
Perhaps you're daring and decide to draft multiple players from the Steelers' offense. Luckily for you, Parton played in the 1989 romcom, "Steel Magnolias." Not only can you pay tribute to the music legend, but also your favorite football team – or just the players you ended up with.
Jolene took my team
Parton begged Jolene to not take her man, so she did something far worse. She took her fantasy football team. Ouch.
The title track of her 1971 album, "Joshua" can fit multiple players and positions across the league. In this case, we opted to envision Josh Allen in the role.
Down on Music Burrow
Released in 1973, "Down on Music Row" tells the story of Parton's arrival in Nashville. The heart of the music industry in the "Music City," anyone that wants to become a star eventually walks that famed road. In this case, Joe Burrow combined football without compromising the title.
Nickels and Danny Dimes
Coins became the talk of the country this year after it was revealed the United States Mint was discontinuing production of the penny. It leaves nickels and dimes as the smallest coins still left in production, but that's also a song Parton released in 1978. A story about her singing for money, Daniel "Danny Dimes" Jones was playing for money last season. He earned a new contract from the Colts that will pay him millions. Indianapolis will hope he doesn't play like loose change though.
DreamMoore Resort
A Parton-owned resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, connected with Dollywood, there are plenty of Moore's across the league to get the job done here. And since "Resort" just gives off luxurious connotations, who wouldn't want a piece of this pie?
Good Lookin’ James Cookin’
Parton wasn't just involved with music, movies and business. She also had some cookbooks, including "Good Lookin' Cookin'" that she authored with her sister. If you're drafting James Cook, then you're almost certainly looking for a kitchen-inspired name. Well, here you go.
