New York, N.Y.: New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after his 3 pointer in the 2nd quarter as New York Knicks take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY on May 4, 2026. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
The 2012 edition of the famed Madden game was graced by Peyton Hillis. He earned that honor after a season where he rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. What followed was a season where he missed six games, he ran for less than half as many yards (587), and only found the end zone three times. In fact, after his double-digit touchdown season, he only found pay dirt six more times for the rest of his career.
This is just one example of what is known as “The Madden Curse.” A phenomenon where NFL players are destined for a terrible season (and, in the case of Hillis, a terrible career) whenever they are bestowed with the privilege of being on the cover of the sport’s most popular game.
Why am I bringing this up? The NBA has something of a curse of its own brewing. You’ve likely heard some variation of this stat: there has not been a back-to-back champion since 2018. We’ve had eight brand new teams hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the last eight years. Even more damning, no reigning champion has even made it back to the NBA Finals in their title defense.
The reason for this is mainly due to the introduction of aprons making it hard to maintain your core for very long, but that’s besides the point. Right now, the New York Knicks are the top dogs in the association, staring down the brutal Curse of a Champion. But do they have what it takes to end this nonsense once and for all?
What’s Changed?
The Knicks do have quite a bit of continuity. Eleven of their 13 top players in total minutes played from last year are back. However, one of the two guys missing from that group is Mitchell Robinson – the second-best offensive rebounder in the NBA (Steven Adams is the king of the crop) and the heart and soul of a team that has finished top-six in the advanced version of that stat in four of the last five years. And the other loss was his heir apparent: Ariel Hukporti.
Their big addition is Andre Drummond – a veteran journeyman who is also known as a chairman of the boards. He should be able to mitigate some of the loss felt by Robinson. And offensively, their perfectly-fine tuned machine should keep running smoothly.
The East has become more challenging. Both Robinson and Hukporti went to contenders, and the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and Cleveland Cavaliers all made trades in the last six months that should (theoretically) improve their teams. The San Antonio Spurs – the final boss for the Knicks this past postseason – are another year older and more battle-tested. The Oklahoma City Thunder are still a looming giant, and, for their sake, hopefully the injury gods aren’t so cruel this go around. The Los Angeles Lakers are re-tooled and frisky.
Can The New York Knicks Go Back-To-Back?
The big question for me is how much of last title run was real. According to Spotrac, the Knicks had the second-fewest dollars lost due to injury last season. Their postseason strength of schedule wasn’t exactly a Murderers’ Row, either. Before the Spurs (2nd in net rating), they beat the Atlanta Hawks, 76ers, and Cavaliers, who ranked 12th, 18th, and 9th in net rating, respectively.
These points aren’t intended to dismiss the scope of their accomplishments. All past champions have benefitted from luck in some form or the other, but that doesn’t change the fact that luck played a part, and that luck isn’t something you can consistently bank on.
Even more than that, the Knicks unlocked were in a special kind of flow state for the final 16 games of the postseason – winning 15 of those contests by an average margin of victory of 17.1. Their ball movement and variance in attack points was exquisite, while their defense moved together like five puppets on a string in harmonious fashion.
The New York Knicks have outscored their opponents by 272 points in the past 12 games
That's the best 12-game stretch from any team in NBA history, regular season or playoffs pic.twitter.com/BxQEJjDUca
Did the Knicks crack the code and find basketball nirvana? Is this just who they are now? Or was this just lightning in a bottle – brought upon by a perfect confluence of factors?
On FanDuel, the Knicks currently have the third-highest odds (best odds in the Eastern Conference) of winning the 2027 NBA Championship at +900 (an implied probability of 10%). I’m personally bullish on the Toronto Raptors and think they have the best blend of two-way balance on their roster of any East team, but even with that view, I still think they are only slightly better than the Knicks. And to me, I’d say that the oddsmakers are right to rank them as a top tier Eastern Conference team.
At the end of the day, it’ll come down to how well they can overcome the loss of Robinson, how much their continuity gives them an edge over the teams playing with new toys, how much of their postseason success carries over to next year, and if they can get another relatively clean bill of health.
If those storylines end up falling in their favor, I certainly wouldn’t be shocked to see the Knicks repeat as champions and put an end to this dreaded curse once and for all.
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 25: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers bats in the first inning during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Sheridan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JULY 28: Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Arizona Cardinals participates in a team practice ahead of the NFL season at State Farm Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Below you will find our dynasty rankings for the year’s NFL rookies. We of course need to take a long view in dynasty leagues, but we know that an offensive rookie who doesn’t get playing time in year one is going to have an uphill battle for fantasy relevancy. That means we want to pick players with at least a decent path to playing time, and it wouldn’t hurt if they are also on a team with a strong base offensively.
As evaluators we can love a player in college, but if he isn’t drafted early, giving him strong draft capital, he’ll need a lot of things to go his way before putting up consistent fantasy numbers. This means you can go off script a little when picking rookies, but you don’t want to wander too far from the first few rounds of the draft.
This year also is a little weak in offensive rookie depth overall, so if you do have a player you feel can make a jump despite poor draft capital, feel free to grab him, as there just aren’t a lot of strong prospects going in the 4th rounds of your rookie draft this season.
First overall pick
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Cardinals
His high ankle sprain is worrisome for this season, but he’s still the no-doubt No. 1 dynasty rookie pick. His ability should transition well to the NFL and despite landing on a down Cardinals team, he should see enough work to instantly be a fantasy asset when healthy. See if you can use his inauspicious start to trade for him or trade up to the No. 1 pick. He’s truly the cream of this crop.
When to draft Jordyn Tyson?
The Saints didn’t mind Tyson’s injury history, taking him 8th overall, with Carnell Tate as the only receiver ahead of him with pick No. 4. Tyson’s ability is great, but his injury history is scary, especially when you consider he suffered yet another hamstring injury during preseason and will miss at least the first few games of the year. We’ve seen players deal with recurring hamstring injuries that can plague them for years, but we’ve also seen players getting past the injury bug and put up strong, healthy careers.
I don’t love the overall talent in this bunch of rookies, so I’m willing to go after Tyson with the second or third pick despite the injury issues.
Rookie risers
Each training camp and preseason elevates few rookies into positions where they could see work early on. Here are some I’ve moved up my draft board.
Mike Washington, RB, Raiders
Washington has looked great so far and has shown that his odd college career won’t define him. His speed and elusiveness are NFL caliber and he’s already won the backup job to Ashton Jeanty. And if Jeanty’s ankle isn’t ready for Week 1, Washington could be a flex start from Day 1.
Emmett Johnson, RB, Chiefs
The Chiefs are going to rely more on the run this season after Patrick Mahomes’ ACL tear and signing Kenneth Walker. They also drafted Johnson, who has already won the No. 2 job behind Walker. Walker is a great runner, but does miss games due to nagging injuries. I expect we’ll see Johnson get his shot sometime this season.
De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, 49ers
Stribling wasn’t draft evaluators favorite receiver, but there’s no doubt he has the physical attributes to play in the NFL and now it looks like he’ll have the opportunity. He still has Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey ahead of him on the target tree, but that tree is looking ancient and hollow right now. Stribling will get work this season and what he’s shown in preseason looks more than legit.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 01: A detail of the NCAA logo on a baseball prior to the game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas A&M Aggies in the Astros Foundation College Classic at Daikin Park on March 01, 2025, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Tuesday, college baseball took one step closer to implementing technology that can ensure more accuracy in the game.
The automated ball-strike system, known as ABS, was approved for use across all divisions of college baseball starting next season.
BREAKING: The automated ball-strike system has been approved for use in all college baseball divisions next season.
The Division I Baseball Oversight Committee and the Division II and Division III Playing Rules Oversight Panel voted to give teams the option, when available, of… pic.twitter.com/FeLIi8GcTt
Following NCAA approval in July, Tuesday’s statement was that the Division I Baseball Oversight Committee and the Division II and III Playing Rules Oversight Panels approved the usage of the technology.
Considered an experimental rule, individual teams will have the option to use the system as long as the technology is available at their facility.
The SEC experimented with ABS during their conference tournament in Hoover for the 2026 season. It was highly successful with a conversion rate of 56.2%. There were 105 challenges and 59 of those were overturned. Each team started the game with 3 challenges and retained them upon a successful attempt.
With umpiring being far from perfect, especially in the SEC, ABS feels like a no-brainer. It’s quick and barely slows down the flow of the game. The pitcher, catcher, or hitter can simply tap their hat/helmet a few times, the umpire announces the challenge, and the video board displays a box representing the strike zone and whether or not the ball touched the zone. The call is either changed or upheld and the game carries on all in the matter of 10-15 seconds.
LSU benefitted from ABS twice in the 9th inning of their final game of the year. With a loss meaning the end of their season, the Tigers were down 3-1 to Auburn and needing a rally. Derek Curiel was called for strike 3 with a 3-2 count, but immediately tapped his helmet and was correct.
Later that inning, Brayden Simpson was also called for strike 3 on a 3-2 count, which would have ended the game. He challenged and it was overturned, which awarded him a walk and he became the tying run on 1st base. LSU was unable to complete the rally, but neither of those players would have reached base if not for ABS.
I was told by a source close to the situation that while the technology will be allowed to be used through super regionals, it will not be available at the College World Series in Omaha. The reason for that was not explained, but as of now, they will revert back to full umpire control for the biggest tournament of the year.
The use of 18-inch bases was also approved for all three divisions of college baseball next year. As of now, 15-inch bases are the standard.
The double first base will now be required for all games. The SEC was first to experiment with that rule at the conference tournament in 2024. It became optional in 2025, then mandated for all Division I schools in 2026. Now, all of college baseball will be required to use it.
Division I baseball will use a 30-second timer for between batters, along with mound visits and offensive timeouts.
Other experimental rules that are on the table for all three divisions include a pitcher having two free disengagements with a third needing to result in a pickoff out or it would be considered a balk. It’s also possible that pitchers entering a game will face a three batter minimum, unless the inning ends.
Each of the last two possible rules are standard in the MLB.
Do you like these rule changes? Which ones do you look forward to and which would you rather not see in the college game?
Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier (22) rides a young fan's bicycle through the parking lot of Lambeau Field before a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Happy Friday one and all.
We have made it to the final game of the 2026 preseason, game four for the Cardinals.
I actually think what the Cardinals have been dealt by the NFL is a bit dirty. One of two teams to play four preseason games, then not getting their bye week until Decemeber.
So, let’s hope for health in this one, because really at this point, nothing else matters.
Enjoy the game.
Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026 Time: 5:00 p.m. AT Location: Lambeau Field — Green Bay, WI National TV: CBS (Channel 5 locally) National online streaming: NFL+, NFL Network TV announcers: Paul Calvisi (play-by-play) Sam Acho (analyst) Dani Sureck (sideline) Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Radio announcers: J.P. Shadrick (play-by-play), A.Q. Shipley (analyst) Spanish Radio: Latino Mix 100.3 FM KQMR Spanish Radio announcers: Jesus Quinonez (play-by-play) and Irving Villanueva (analyst) Betting line: Cardinals +1.5 per FanDuel Sportsbook
OXNARD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 3: Sam Howell #16 of the Dallas Cowboys rolls out to pass during training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields on August 3, 2026 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With final cuts just days away, it’s time to see how the Cowboys’ projected 53-man roster has changed since training camp opened.
We published a roster projection summary prior to training camp featuring projections from Joseph Hoyt of the DMN, Todd Archer of ESPN, and Jon Machota of the Athletic. At the time (July 27), the three projections gave us a good idea of where public sentiment stood regarding the 2026 Cowboys roster.
Today, we turn to three more projections. One from Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas, another one from Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News,and a final one from our own Dan Rogers of BloggingTheBoys, subbing in for Jon Machota.
With only a few days left until the cutdown, it might be interesting to take a step back, and look at how the Cowboys’ 53-man projection has developed since the start of training camp. This should allow us to see which players moved up or down the depth chart over the entire training camp (and two preseason games).
As our goal today is to compare and contrast the current projections with those earlier iterations, the tables are color-coded accordingly and the tally from the July projections is shown at the end of the table for each player.
Green = current projection represents an improvement over July
Yellow = current projection is less certain/represents a decline
July column = previous consensus
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott
3/3
Joe Milton
Joe Milton
Joe Milton
2/3
Sam Howell
2/3
Winner: Joe Milton Questions: Sam Howell
What changed: Milton and Howell were both 2-for-3 in our July projection summary, but Milton is now the 3-for-3 unanimous pick as QB2. I’m with Archer though, who explains why the Cowboys may keep all three:
“Maybe in a perfect world the Cowboys would rather go with two quarterbacks, but Milton and Howell have fared well and if quarterback is the most important spot on the team, then maybe it’s wise to keep three.”
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Running Backs
Javonte Williams
Javonte Williams
Javonte Williams
3/3
Malik Davis
Malik Davis
Malik Davis
1/3
Jaydon Blue
Jaydon Blue
Jaydon Blue
3/3
Hunter Luepke
Hunter Luepke
Hunter Luepke
3/3
Winner: Malik Davis Loser: Phil Mafah Out: Israel Abanikanda, Jashaun Corbin
What changed: Phil Mafah entered camp on 2-of-3 projections, while Malik Davis felt like an also-ran at 1-of-3. But that changed dramatically, with Davis looking like a strong bet for the 53 and Mafah a likely PS candidate.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Wide Receivers
CeeDee Lamb
CeeDee Lamb
CeeDee Lamb
3/3
George Pickens
George Pickens
George Pickens
3/3
Ryan Flournoy
Ryan Flournoy
Ryan Flournoy
3/3
KaVontae Turpin
KaVontae Turpin
KaVontae Turpin
3/3
Jonathan Mingo
Jonathan Mingo
Jonathan Mingo
1/3
Camden Brown
Camden Brown
0/3
Winners: Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown Losers: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Anthony Smith, Traeshon Holden Out: Jordan Hudson, Tyler Johnson, Denzel Mims, Jaden Smith
What changed: Mingo got one roster vote in July, Brown got none; Mingo upped his to three, Brown to two. As such, they are both winners of camp, even if keeping six wide receivers would be an unusual luxury here. MVS, Smith, and Holden all made one pre-camp projection, so their stock clearly dropped. The remaining receivers were likely never more than camp bodies.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson
Jake Ferguson
Jake Ferguson
3/3
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Brevyn Spann-Ford
3/3
Luke Schoonmaker
Luke Schoonmaker
Luke Schoonmaker
3/3
Losers: Michael Trigg Out: Zack Kuntz, DJ Rogers, Mitchell Van Vooren
What changed: There was some palpable excitement for Michael Trigg heading into camp, and he did show up on one of three pre-camp projections, but injuries and a steep learning curve as a blocker likely stopped him from making the jump to the 53.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Offensive Line
Tyler Guyton
Tyler Guyton
Tyler Guyton
3/3
Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith
3/3
Cooper Beebe
Cooper Beebe
Cooper Beebe
3/3
Tyler Booker
Tyler Booker
Tyler Booker
3/3
Terence Steele
Terence Steele
Terence Steele
3/3
TJ Bass
TJ Bass
TJ Bass
3/3
Nate Thomas
Nate Thomas
Nate Thomas
3/3
Drew Shelton
Drew Shelton
Drew Shelton
3/3
Nick Leverett
Nick Leverett
Nick Leverett
0/3
Ajani Cornelius
Ajani Cornelius
1/3
Winners: Nick Leverett, Ajani Cornelius Loser: Trevor Keegan Out: Marcellus Johnson, Shiyazh Pete, DJ Wingfield, Chris Glaser, Sebastian Gutierrez
What changed: The question on the offensive line may be more about whether the Cowboys keep nine or ten guys, and perhaps less about which specific players they keep. But heading into camp, Trevor Keegan was a lock on all three projections, so he clearly lost some momentum throughout camp. Ajani Cornelius was 1-of-3 in July, and is now 2-of-3, so also an improvement. But Nick Leverett may be the biggest surprise here, as he didn’t show up on any of the July projections but looks like a strong 53-man candidate here.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Outside Linebackers
Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary
3/3
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Donovan Ezeiruaku
3/3
Von Miller
Von Miller
Von Miller
0/3
Malachi Lawrence
Malachi Lawrence
Malachi Lawrence
3/3
James Houston
James Houston
James Houston
2/3
Marist Liufau
Marist Liufau
1/3
Sam Williams
3/3
Winner: James Houston Questions: Sam Williams, Marist Liufau Loser: Tyrus Wheat Out: Isaiah Land
What changed: Will McClay once coined the term “swarming rotation” to describe the Cowboys’ approach to their edge rushers, which may be one reason the Cowboys could keep six players here, and the Von Miller addition added even more pressure. All three projections agree on the first five. The only disagreement is over the sixth spot. Sam Williams was a 3-for-3 lock heading into camp but drops to 1-for-3 here, Marist Liufau was 1-for-3 and “improves” to 2-for-3, but both of them are likely in a battle with Tyrus Wheat (2-of-3 in July) for that last spot. James Houston was 2-for-3 in July and became a unanimous projection, so for now, he emerges as the winner here.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Defensive Tackles
Quinnen Williams
Quinnen Williams
Quinnen Williams
3/3
Kenny Clark
Kenny Clark
Kenny Clark
3/3
Otito Ogbonnia
Otito Ogbonnia
Otito Ogbonnia
3/3
LT Overton
LT Overton
LT Overton
3/3
Jonathan Bullard
Jonathan Bullard
3/3
Jay Toia
0/3
Questions: Jonathan Bullard, Jay Toia Out: Adedayo Odeleye, Kevin Gilliam, Tommy Dunn
What changed: Note that teams can designate up to two players at the final cut down as “IR to return,” no longer requiring them to be on the roster for a day. For the Cowboys, Jonathan Bullard (groin and abdomen tendonitis) at DT and Julius Wood (concussion) at safety could qualify – and that may be the chance for Jay Toia to temporarily grab that fifth spot at DT.
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What changed: No real surprises here, except for Watkins including Curtis Robinson, which he explains with “special teams work helps Robinson in this area.“
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What changed: Derion Kendrick was 3-for-3 heading into camp, Caelen Carson was 2-for-3, but both are hanging on by a thread. Dan Rogers explains:
“How they stack after [Carson] is anyone’s guess, but for my guess, I’m going a little off script and predict that Derion Kendrick snags one of those last spots, but guys like Reddy Steward and Ameer Speed aren’t dead in the water just yet.”
Todd Archer adds perhaps the most intriguing wrinkle in the entire projection with his ‘veteran not on roster’ pick. This is the only position where Archer explicitly projects outside help. Our own RJ Ochoa writes:
“Archer is among the most plugged-in Cowboys insiders on the beat so when he says something like this we should listen. The four that he has on the team make sense, Devin Moore hasn’t popped but he is a draft pick, but that TBD is interesting.“
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Safeties
Jalen Thompson
Jalen Thompson
Jalen Thompson
3/3
Caleb Downs
Caleb Downs
Caleb Downs
3/3
Malik Hooker
Malik Hooker
Malik Hooker
3/3
PJ Locke
PJ Locke
PJ Locke
3/3
Markquese Bell
Markquese Bell
Markquese Bell
0/3
Winner: Markquese Bell Out: Julius Wood (possible “IR to return”), Alijah Clark, Zion Childress
What changed: Brian Schottenheimer’s recent comments about Bell as a special teams ace seem to solidify him as a 53-man roster lock. Bell was 0-for-3 on the projections prior to camp.
“Markquese Bell is one of our most trusted leaders on special teams. He’s a really good football player. He’s a good defender. But I think he’s a great special teams player.
And there’s guys like that, they play eight, nine, 10, 11 years sometimes, because they have a trait that is needed.“
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Specialists
Brandon Aubrey (K)
Brandon Aubrey (K)
Brandon Aubrey (K)
3/3
Bryan Anger (P)
Bryan Anger (P)
Bryan Anger (P)
3/3
Trent Sieg (LS)
Trent Sieg (LS)
Trent Sieg (LS)
3/3
No surprises on special teams.
So that’s where we stand with the roster a few days left until roster cuts. Summarized, the biggest individual movements and unresolved questions look something like this:
Nick Leverett: 0/3 → 3/3
Markquese Bell: 0/3 → 3/3
Jonathan Mingo: 1/3 → 3/3
Camden Brown: 0/3 → 2/3
Sam Williams: 3/3 → 1/3
Phil Mafah: 2/3 → 0/3
Tyrus Wheat: 2/3 → 0/3
The unresolved sixth OLB spot
Archer’s mystery veteran at CB
The roster isn’t changing everywhere, but where it has changed, some players have moved dramatically.
For me, the biggest surprise isn’t any of the rookies—it’s Markquese Bell, who went from 0-for-3 before camp to a unanimous projection for the 53.
Who is the most surprising name on the projected 53-man roster for you?
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - AUGUST 22: Miami Dolphins linebacker Cameron Goode (53) leaves the field following the preseason NFL game between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins closed out their 2026 training camp this week and host the Atlanta Falcons later tonight in the final preseason game of the year. We are closing in on the roster cut deadline, with teams required to drop from the 90-man preseason limit to the in-season 53-man roster size by 6 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, August 30.
Before last week’s loss to the New York Giants, I posted my first projection for the Dolphins’ 2026 53-man roster. A week later, it is time to update. I will be back on Sunday with my final projection with any changes after tonight’s game.
Miami Dolphins offense (24)
Quarterback (2)
Malik Willis Quinn Ewers
Cut: Cam Miller, Mark Gronowski
Changes: None.
This seems pretty straightforward now. Unless Ewers reaggravates his injury or Miller absolutely balls out tonight, there should not be a change to the quarterback plan.
Running backs (4)
De’Von Achane Jaylen Wright Ollie Gordon II Jarquez Hunter
Cut: Coleman Bennett, Donovan Edwards, Carlos Washington, Jr.
Changes: Add Hunter
Miami traded for Hunter on Thursday, a day after signing Bennett. They are clearly looking for additional depth at running back. Hunter could prove to simply be a body for Friday’s game, but the trade and the signing could signal concern that Gordon’s rib injury might slow him for a little while. Adding Hunter gives the team some flexibility at the position.
Fullbacks (0)
Cut: DJ Herman
Changes: Cut Herman
I think Herman has a pathway to the roster, but the Dolphins listing Sims as their starting fullback, even though he is a tight end, is a concern. The Dolphins signed free-agent linebacker Stephen Dix, Jr. and assigned him the same number (34) as Herman; that cannot be a good sign. Herman could be a practice squad option.
Tight ends (3)
Greg Dulcich Will Kacmarek Ben Sims
Cut: Ethan Conner, Seydou Traore, Jeremiah Franklin
Changes: Cole Turner from cut to injured reserve; Cut Ethan Conner after signing this week
No major changes here. Sims makes the roster as the primary fullback option if the Dolphins want to use him there. There is an assumption that Sims will be healthy and ready for the start of the year – otherwise, I will have to find a way to add Herman back to the roster. Kacmarek has had a good training camp and preseason, showing his ability to be a strong option as a sixth offensive lineman. Dulcich starts. Traore is added to the practice squad with the exemption for being an International Player Pathway member.
Offensive lineman (9)
Tackles Patrick Paul Austin Jackson Caedan Wallace
Guards Kadyn Proctor Jonah Savaiinaea DJ Campbell Josh Priebe
Centers Aaron Brewer Andrew Meyer
Cut: Gottlieb Ayedze, Jim Bonifas, Charlie Heck , Kevin Cline, Marques Cox, James Ester
Changes: Cut Charlie Heck; Jim Bonifas removed after Dolphins cut him this week
Heck gets cut here because I need the roster space – mostly because I had an extra player on the roster last week. My math was all over the place and I should have triple-checked my count. Heck is on the roster bubble, however, and could make it depending on what the Dolphins decide for the center position. Bonifas was listed as a cut last week, then the Dolphins moved on from him. Meyer’s position is not guaranteed at center, with Priebe possibly filling in as a backup at both guard and center – though I would not say Priebe’s roster spot is locked in, especially once Miami starts making waiver claims after other teams cut linemen.
Wide receivers (6)
Malik Washington Caleb Douglas Chris Bell Kevin Coleman, Jr. Jalen Tolbert Jalen Reagor
Cut: AJ Henning, Donaven McCulley, Terrace Marshall, Jr., Ryan Miller, Theo Wease, Jr.
Changes: Tutu Atwell removed after trade to Los Angeles Rams; Cut Ryan Miller after being a waiver claim by the Dolphins this week; Tahj Washington removed after being waived
No changes for the six players projected to make the roster. The locks are Washington and the three rookies (Douglas, Bell, Coleman). Tolbert is close to a lock, but the Dolphins could consider swapping him out in a waiver claim after the cuts. Reagor is a bubble player who hangs on for special teams purposes; Henning has played well enough to push ahead of Reagor, especially with a strong performance tonight.
Chop Robinson Josh Uche Robert Beal, Jr. Max Llewellyn Clelin Ferrell Cameron Goode
Cut: Seth Coleman-Lyles, Rodney McGraw, David Ojabo
Changes: Cut David Ojabo; Add Cameron Goode; Add Clelin Ferrell
Last week, I had Ojabo ahead of Ferrell, but I think Ojabo’s stock has continued to fall and now he is on the wrong side of the bubble. Of course, this is assuming Ferrell and Goode are both healthy enough to make it to the roster – or that they will be on the roster then placed on injured reserve once waiver claims begin. Goode makes the roster to provide an additional edge rusher with the injury to linebacker Trey Moore.
Defensive tackle (5)
Zach Sieler Kenneth Grant Jordan Phillips Zeek Biggers Matthew Butler
Cut: Keith Cooper, Jr., Alex Huntley, Fatorma Mulbah, Cam Rice
Changes: Cut Mulbah; Add Butler
The bubble watch last week had Mulbah on the roster and Butler being cut. They flip this week. Mulbah had a strong opening preseason game, but Butler has probably been more consistent all summer. Plus, Mulbah should be able to be stashed on the practice squad.
Linebackers (6)
Jordyn Brooks Jacob Rodriguez Tyrel Dodson Kyle Louis Ronnie Harrison, Jr. Willie Gay, Jr.
Cut: Stephen Dix, Jr., , Cam Riley, Jackson Woodard
IR: Trey Moore
Changes: Add Gay; Trey Moore off roster to IR
Last week, I wrote, “Harrison and Gay are in a position battle to claim the final spot among the linebackers.” That changes this week because of Moore’s injury; he likely will start the season on IR, opening the roster spot Gay needs. Woodard needs to stay with the team, probably on the practice squad, unless the Dolphins are concerned he would be claimed off waivers – which could push Gay back off the roster. Miami cracked the seal on trades on Thursday, sending wide receiver Tutu Atwell to the Los Angeles Rams; Dodson and Gay could both be trade candidates as Miami looks to churn the roster.
Cornerbacks (5)
Chris Johnson JuJu Brents Jason Marshall, Jr. Ethan Bonner A.J. Green III
Physically Unable to Perform list: Darrell Baker, Jr., Storm Duck
Cuts: Alex Austin, Miles Battle, Ahmari Harvey, Jai’Onte McMillan, Marco Wilson
Changes: Cut McMillan after waiver claim from Colts; Cut Wilson from roster
Johnson, Brents, and Marshall are locked onto the roster. Bonner probably is safe as well. Green slides on as the final depth option. Wilson falls off the roster because of spot math: linebacker Trey Moore is injured which makes me think the team will keep an extra defensive end (Cameron Goode) which former me to make a cut here. If you told me any of the cuts were to make the roster over Green, I would not argue with you.
Safeties (4)
Dante Trader, Jr. Zayne Anderson Michael Taaffe Major Burns
Cuts: Lonnie Johnson, Jr., Louis Moore
I am sticking with my projection last week, but I am not locked into Burns making the roster. If either Johnson or Moore have a stellar game tonight or Burns slips, there could be a change to the prediction come Sunday.
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Alfonsin Rosario had one of his better games at Triple-A, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a stolen base. The only other multi-hit game belonged to Cooper Ingle, who went 2-for-5.
Kyle Manzardo doubled and walked while Dayan Frias tripled and stole a base and Blake Perkins also doubled and walked. Kody Huff went 1-for-3 with two walks.
Starting pitcher Ben Lively allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Jack Jasiak allowed another two runs in 2.0 innings and Daniel Espino had a clean outing with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts (please call him back up for September).
Nolan Schubart is still going strong. The three true outcome slugger went 2-for-4 with two more home runs and two strikeouts. He now has 10 home runs at Double-A and 30 overall on the season with a 1.018 OPS at Akron.
Alex Mooney also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base while Jaison Chourio doubled, walked and stole a base and Luke Hill doubled and stole a base. Tyresse Turner also went 1-for-3 with a walk and a steal and Logun Clark went 1-fo-3 with a hit by pitch.
Starting pitcher Braylon Doughty had a rough outing, allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits in 3.2 innings while striking out three and walking three.
Michael Kennedy was excellent in long relief, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts and Adam Tulloch finished off the game with another 2.0 scoreless innings.
Lake County’s offense has continued to bail out its pitching. A couple days after having to score 19 runs to scrape out a win, the Captains had to score 11 to earn the victory Thursday.
Leading the charge was Anthony Martinez, who had a monster game by going 4-for-5 with a home run and four runs batted in.
Tommy Hawke also had a spectacular game, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two walks and two stolen bases.
Juneiker Caceres went 2-for-4 with a walk and Welbyn Francisca went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a walk. Jose Pirela homered.
Starting pitcher Joey Oakie made his High-A debut, allowing three runs on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.
Luis Flores followed with 2.0 scoreless innings, but then Logan McGuire was blasted for six runs on two hits and three walks with a hit by pitch in his 2.0 innings. Both hits McGuire allowed were home runs.
Cam Schuelke earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The top of Hill City’s lineup was spectacular on Thursday.
Guardians 2026 fifth round pick Lucas Moore went 3-for-4 from the leadoff position with three doubles and a walk.
Catching prospect Reiner Herrera continues to impress. He went 3-for-4 with his seventh home run at Single-A and after starting the season in the Arizona Complex League. Herrera also stole a base. He has 18 home runs in just 68 games this season.
Guardians 2026 15th round pick Alejandro Garza also had a good game, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a walk while Pedro Dalmagro homered.
Starting pitcher Miguel Flores had his best outing of the season, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. He walked two and struck out four.
The bullpen barely preserved the victory, however. Guardians 10th round pick Ryan Bilka gave up two runs after walking three in 1.1 innings and Aaron Savary was blasted for four runs on five hits in the final 1.2 innings to barely hold on for the win.
This Sunday features an MLB tripleheader across NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. First, at 12:00 PM ET, the Miami Marlins face the Washington Nationals in the MLB Sunday Leadoff game. Then, at 3:00 PM, the Houston Astros take on the New York Mets at Citi Field. Later, at 7:00 PM, Sunday Night Baseball heads to Wrigley Field as the Cincinnati Reds go head-to-head with the Chicago Cubs.See below for additional information on how to watch each game.
NBC Sports Philadelphia play-by-play voice Tom McCarthy makes his MLB Sunday Leadoff debut alongside four-time World Series champion Jeff Nelson, former Washington infielder Kevin Frandsen, and reporter Jordan Cornette for Sunday's Marlins vs Nationals game
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
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Who will win Reds vs Cubs today: Cubs moneyline (64%)
The Chicago Cubs own the best offense in baseball (5.19 runs per game), and they’ll be licking their chops today when they face Cincinnati Reds starter Rhett Lowder.
The right-hander owns a massive 5.14 xERA (10th percentile) and .266 xBA (16th percentile), while ranking in the 15th percentile in pitching run value.
The Cubs have been on fire at the dish this week, led by Ian Happ, who’s sporting an insane 1.335 OPS with 10 RBI. As a club, Chicago leads the majors in runs (39), SLG (.512), and OPS (.858) over the last seven days.
Take the Cubs up to 67%.
COVERS INTEL: The Cubs are batting .301 (third in MLB) with a .373 wOBA (second in MLB) against the sinker, which is Lowder’s most utilized pitch (29.2%).
Reds vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (50%)
We know Lowder has been lousy, but David Peterson has been just as bad for Chicago.
The southpaw has a 4.84 xERA and .271 xBA, with a pitching run value in the ninth percentile. The Reds’ offense is also much more respectable against left-handed pitching, as they sit eighth in MLB in OPS vs. southpaws (.731).
The Cubs have cashed the Over in eight of Peterson’s last 10 appearances, while the Over is 2-0 in their two prior games against Lowder this season.
The Over is the play up to 52%.
Reds vs Cubs home run prediction: Ian Happ (19%)
What a week it’s been for Happ.
The Cubs outfielder leads the majors with 10 RBI over that span while batting .350 with a ridiculous 1.335 OPS and three dingers to boot.
Happ has hit eight of his 23 home runs against either the sinker or the slider — Lowder’s two main offerings.
Happ’s on fire and we’re getting a great price on him to go yard again. Play him up to 21%.
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 8-7, +0.06 units
Over/Under bets: 7-8, -1.57 units
Reds vs Cubs weather
Wrigley Field will see clear skies with temperatures in the mid-70s and light winds pushing in from right field.
Reds vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Cincinnati (37¢) | Chicago (64¢)
Run line: Cincinnati +1.5 (56¢) | Chicago -1.5 (47¢)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (46¢) | Under 8.5 (55¢)
Reds vs Cubs trend
The Cubs have covered the run line in 28 of their last 45 games (+16.10 Units / 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Cubs.
How to watch Reds vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
First pitch
2:20 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN Unlimited
Reds starting pitcher
Rhett Lowder (5-8, 5.13 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
David Peterson (7-7, 5.17 ERA)
Reds vs Cubs 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.
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - AUGUST 27: A cargo inland vessel near Dusseldorf with low Rhine water level on August 27, 2026 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Rau/Photothek via Getty Images) | Photothek via Getty Images
Hickory was rained out.
Andrew Susac went 0.2 IP for Hub City, walking three and allowing four runs.
Paxton Kling was 2 for 3 with two walks and two stolen bases. Gleider Figuereo had a hit. Maxton Martin had a hit. Eduardo Mejia had a hit and a walk. Chandler Pollard had a hit.
Eric Loomis threw a scoreless inning for Frisco, striking out two and walking one. Leandro Lopez struck out three and walked one in three shutout innings. Josh Trentadue struck out two and walked one in two scoreless innings.
Round Rock starter Winston Santos allowed one run in 3.2 IP, striking out six and walking two. Ben Peoples struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings. Michel Otanez struck out two in two shutout innings. Emiliano Teodo allowed five runs in 0.1 IP, walking two. Joe Russ allowed four runs in 1.1 IP, walking two and striking out one. Marc Church allowed a run in 0.1 IP, walking two.
Ty Simpson started at quarterback for the Rams on Thursday night and Stetson Bennett did not play, but head coach Sean McVay said after the game that those decisions had nothing to do with which of them will be the No. 2 quarterback to start the regular season.
McVay said the call was made as part of the process of "continuing to get [Simpson] experience" heading into his rookie season and that the team isn't ready to name either player as the primary backup to Matthew Stafford.
"Obviously, we've got the reigning MVP of the league, and then we got two guys that we feel really good about," McVay said, via the team's website. "And if you say, 'hey, what does that really mean?' That's what it means. We feel really good about those two guys. Not pigeon-holing myself into any sort of decision other than I feel really good about Stetson Bennett, feel really good about Ty Simpson."
The Rams play their opener against the 49ers in Australia in two weeks, so a decision will be coming in the near future.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 21: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees reacts in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 21, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to rivalry weekend. The Yankees will take on the Red Sox in the Bronx after dropping two of three to the Astros. After scoring 16 runs in the first two games of the series the bats only got a single run in the finale.
On the other side, Boston has been rolling since the All-Star break, going 27-12. Since the season got back underway, they have a team OPS of .796, and in the month of August that number currently sits at .810. The Red Sox swept the Giants at home before taking two of three from the Marlins down in Miami most recently.
After a day off, Boston’s pen is rested and ready. However, they are a little banged up as former Yankee Garrett Whitlock, who is having an exceptional season with a 2.05 ERA and an impressive 0.89 WHIP, and Justin Slaten, a trusted arm, are both currently on the injured list.
Expect to see a healthy dose of the toxic lefty Aroldis Chapman, who is having a great season with 30 saves and a 1.81 ERA, along with another former Yankee in righty Greg Weissert, who is 3-2 with a 3.93 ERA. Boston’s early-game lefty reliever is Erik Miller, who is sporting a 2.09 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP, and they often call on righty journeyman Tyron Guerrero, who has 17 holds and a 1.07 WHIP this year.
The Yankees’ pen took a big blow this week when it was announced that Fernando Cruz was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear. Heading into the weekend, closer David Bednar should be fresh after not being used in the Astros series. Most of the regulars should be ready after Justin Topa grinded out the last bit of last night’s game. Going four games in three days is always tough, and with a trip to the West Coast looming, I would expect the bullpen to shuffle a good bit over the weekend.
This weekend series features a twin bill on Saturday, which is a makeup for the game that was rained out back in June. This will be the last time these two teams meet until a possible October showdown. Currently, Boston holds a 5-4 advantage in the season series, further adding to the need for the Yankees to win this series. Now, let’s dive into the pitching matchups.
Friday: Cam Schlittler vs. Patrick Sandoval (7:15 p.m. ET)
It is not hard to gush over how great Schlittler has been this season and boy, do the Yankees need him to be that guy tonight, coming in with an impressive 11-6 record, a 2.17 ERA, and a 0.96 WHIP to top it off. In three starts against Boston this season, Schlittler is 1-1 with a 0.96 ERA across 18.2 innings. This will be Schlittler’s fifth start in August. So far in the month, he has a 1-0 record with a 2.95 ERA, and over his last three outings he has only given up a single earned run each time out. The young ace will look to set the tone in game one and simply do what he has done when he faces his hometown team.
Sandoval, a lefty, takes the hill for Boston to counter Schlittler. This will be Sandoval’s ninth start of the season coming off his rehab for Tommy John surgery. In his eight starts since returning, he has posted a 1-2 record with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. Sandoval primarily throws a slider, changeup, and sinker, profiling as the crafty lefty who relies on deception and movement. The Yankees might be able to take advantage of the rust, as Sandoval has walked 18 batters in 39.2 innings thus far.
Saturday Game 1: Carlos Rodón vs. Jake Bennett (1:05 p.m. ET)
The Yankees will send Rodón out for game one of the doubleheader. He has made two starts since coming back off the injured list due to elbow inflammation. The veteran lefty went 4.0 innings in each outing, giving up an earned run in each and throwing 66 and 76 pitches, respectively. As Peter detailed back on Monday, Rodón has been using his sinker more since he returned. Injuries have limited him to 11 starts, but in those starts Rodón has posted a 3.15 ERA, with 58 strikeouts across 54.1 innings. Rodón pitched five scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox on June 28, allowing just one hit and four walks while striking out six.
Boston sends their second straight lefty to the hill in Bennett for game one. Bennett faced the Yankees back on June 27. He picked up the win while allowing just one run over 6.1 innings in that game. The Red Sox rookie has an 8-6 record with a 3.49 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 15 appearances on the season. The 6-foot-6 southpaw has a low three-quarters arm slot with a high leg kick, with an arsenal that features a four-seamer, sinker, changeup, and cutter.
Saturday Game 2: TBA vs. TBA (7:15 p.m. ET)
As of Thursday night, neither team has announced a starter for the second game of the doubleheader. It is expected that the Yankees will activate and roll Max Fried following his recovery from a recurring bone bruise, while Boston has indicated they might do a bullpen game featuring a heavy dose of righty Brayan Bello, who has fared well in a bulk role since losing his rotation spot.
Sunday: Will Warren vs. Ranger Suárez (1:35 p.m. ET)
The Sunday matinee features the ever-present William Warren. Warren might not be your favorite pitcher on the team, but you have to respect his availability and how hard he fights each outing. Warren has made 25 starts on the year and has posted an 8-6 record with a 4.39 ERA and 126 strikeouts. In his last start, he went 5.0 innings and gave up two earned runs against the Astros. It is very possible the tiebreaker for the season series with Boston comes down to Warren’s right arm.
If Sunday’s game has that much storyline, the Red Sox counter with offseason signing Suárez. The veteran lefty has been average at best so far in August, giving up nine earned runs in 18.1 innings of work. However, in his last start he worked 5.0 innings of one-run ball against the Marlins. Suárez has faced the Bombers twice in 2026. In his first start back in April, he lasted only 4.2 innings and gave up four earned runs, taking the loss. Suárez looked much better against the Yankees the second time around in June when he tossed 6.1 innings of one-run ball.
All these lefties make me feel like a Heliot Ramos, earn your pinstripes series is loading and ready to launch. What do you predict for this weekend? Who takes the season series?
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), and center Cade Mays (64), left, practice next to offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (70), and quarterback Luke Altmyer (2) during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, July 30, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Detroit Lions enter their final preseason game with likely most of their roster spots decided, but one that may still be up in the air is the backup quarterback job.
Entering training camp, there likely wasn’t going to be much drama at the position. However, Teddy Bridgewater’s abrupt retirement midway through camp forced the Lions to pivot. While undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer has been with the team all offseason, suddenly thrusting a 23-year-old into the backup position wasn’t something the Lions were willing to do unopposed. So they quickly added nine-year veteran Josh Dobbs to the room.
But thus far in camp, Altmyer has continued to get the bulk of the backup reps. And what seemed like a far-fetched approach—letting Altmyer be the backup to veteran Jared Goff—now seems closer to reality than ever.
On Thursday, Lions coach Dan Campbell asked what he needs to see from Altmyer to have the confidence that he can handle such a critical role.
“Consistency. Just play good smart football,” Campbell said. “We don’t need some wild throws, whatever. Be able to run the offense, be efficient, make smart decisions, even if that means that you’re punting the ball. That’ll be the most important thing. We don’t want the wild plays and then there’s an ill-advised throw across the middle for an intercept—those won’t get it done. So just be smart, take what’s there, run the offense and that’ll go a long way.”
But under Dan Campbell, the Lions have seemingly preferred to have a veteran set of eyes behind Goff. Be it Bridgewater, David Blough, or Kyle Allen, the Lions almost always wanted a seasoned player among the quarterback reserves, with the lone exception being 2024 (Hendon Hooker, Jake Fromm).
Campbell admitted they prefer to have experienced players at quarterback, but that won’t trump overall talent when it comes to cut-down day.
“I mean, you would like that because those guys have played, there are real reps. They’ve been under real fire in real football games and that is important. But that’s not the end all be all, either,” Campbell said. “If you think there’s somebody to work with here and that he’s shown enough progress and he’s only going to get better, then we don’t close our eyes to that either.”
Further complicating the Lions’ decision is the amount of roster gymnastics they could try to perform to keep both players around. Because Dobbs is a veteran, the Lions could opt to cut him, not subject him to waivers, and bring him back later either on the practice squad or 53-man roster. But at the same time, how likely is it that Altmyer would get claimed on waivers if Detroit opted to cut him? Last year, there were only 27 total waiver claims after initial NFL roster cuts, and just one of them (Tommy Devito) was a quarterback. So the Lions could keep Dobbs on the roster, and bring back Altmyer assuming he clears waivers.
Regardless, the Lions won’t make that decision until after Saturday’s preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts. It’s unclear how the Lions will share the load between Altmyer and Dobbs on gameday, but their performance could be the tipping point for a difficult decision.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 27: CJ Dippre #81 of the New England Patriots catches a pass during the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on August 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New England Patriots played a horribly boring and just downright horrible game on Thursday in Cleveland to close out their preseason. Even though their 37-13 loss to the Browns was disappointing very much from start to finish, there are always lessons to be learned.
Let’s get into what the Patriots’ final preseason contest of 2026 taught us about the team.
Depth concerns
The Patriots didn’t play any starters on Thursday night, and, truthfully, they probably didn’t play many backups either. The lack of depth was still startling. They were outmatched at pretty much every position on the field, and blown out by a team that could be one of the worst in football this year. The Browns also didn’t start anyone of consequence, so it’s not like they were facing tougher competition.
It just illustrates the point that head coach Mike Vrabel had made last week about New England’s depth. When looking at the starter level, the Patriots have gotten significantly better as a team. If you start to look down the depth chart, that falls apart pretty quickly. It is like that for a lot of teams, but the Patriots need to continue to string good drafts together and find competent UDFAs to help fill out that depth. The hope is that they can do that moving forward, because it was tough to watch some of the guys out there on Thursday.
RB3 competition heating up
Hassan Haskins isn’t going to be returning kicks any time soon, but he did look good running the ball. He ran tough and picked up yards even while getting hit behind the line of scrimmage. Conversely, Lan Larison had two straight drops when he was on the field, and, while JaMichael Hasty had a few nice runs, I don’t think he’s the guy who the Patriots want as their third back either.
This all might be moot, because Jam Miller didn’t even have a carry, which could signal that the Patriots already know that he’s the RB3, and they didn’t really need to see anything else from him on Thursday night. If I had to put money on it, I’d put my money on Miller, but I guess we’ll find out this weekend.
Gabe Jacas, error repeater
The Patriots knew that they might not be getting the best out of Gabe Jacas early on with him missing time in the spring and at the beginning of camp, but I can’t imagine they thought he would look quite this bad in actual game action. What worries me is not the lack of production when it comes to rushing the quarterback, or even stopping the run, but the fact that he keeps making the same mistakes. He is continually burned on bootleg, RPO, and option plays, and instead of holding the outside integrity, he comes flying in and gives up the edge.
It’s happened in every game that he’s played in. At a certain point, you need to ask whether or not he’s ever going to figure it out. I know we’re not even into the regular season of his rookie year, but I would love to see more from him particularly against replacement-level opponents. Until he figures it out, the Patriots simply cannot put him out on the field on a regular basis — which is not good news considering that he currently projects as the team’s third edge.
For the love of god, please sign Christian Gonzalez
The depth shouldn’t even matter when we’re talking about Christian Gonzalez, but my goodness, it was even worse than anyone could have expected. Kindle Vildor looked awful, Karon Prunty played okay, but had trouble finishing his tackles. Meanwhile, Kobee Minor and Marcellas Dial Jr. both had horrendously bad plays that led to touchdowns. Again, this should have next to no impact on the Patriots signing one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, but it certainly can’t hurt.
Not sure what exactly the hold up has been for the Patriots, or why they wouldn’t be willing to extend one of not only their best players, but one of the best players in the league, but there is no excuse to them not getting something done.
Dominated at the line of scrimmage
The Patriots obviously didn’t play any starters, or even a lot of second-stringers, but they were completely dominated on both sides of the line. I thought that Caleb Lomu was able to hold his own when he was in there, but I didn’t see much from anyone else on the offensive line. On defense, they got almost no pass rush and couldn’t stop the run either. It was as bad of a night as you could imagine, with no one showing much of anything.
I really like the starters that they have on both sides of the ball, but, as soon as guys start going down, there isn’t a lot of depth behind them.
Do we have a punter competition?
New England brought in a new punter, Matt Haack, because Bryce Baringer got banged up in the game against the Eagles last weekend. Haack had four punts in his Patriots debut, with thrree of them pinning the Browns inside the 20, including a 63-yarder that was downed at the 2.
Baringer looked pretty solid in camp, and it’s clear that kicker Andy Borregales is comfortable with him as his holder. That said, Borregales went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts on Thursday night, and the punts looked great from Haack as well. I think there’s going to be a conversation about which punter to keep starting the season, especially with Baringer a little banged up.
Kyle Williams might be a one-trick pony, but it’s a heck of a trick
There was a whole lot of concern at the beginning of camp about Kyle Williams. He wasn’t getting enough time with the starters, and people were worried that he was on a worrisome trajectory. Well, he might not be a WR1 at this point in his career (or maybe ever), but he had consistently shown that he does one thing extremely well: he is untouchable on a go-route, especially with no safety help.
This single skill should be enough to earn him a few looks a game from Drake Maye, one of the best deep ball throwers in the NFL. I am hoping that he will eventually add more tools to his bag, but having the ability to quickly win off the line and consistently beat coverage deep is a valuable skill, and one which I believe is going to be an important part of the Patriots offense this year.
Namdi Obiazor makes a few plays
On a night where most guys looked terrible, sixth-round draft pick Namdi Obiazor looked at least pretty good. Starting linebackers Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss weren’t dressed, and neither was the injured Khalil Jacobs, leaving Obiazor to look like the best linebacker on the team on Thursday.
Granted, that might not be a high bar, but the youngster nonetheless was one of the few defenders to show up on Thursday. It also helps that he plays a bunch of special teams. This, plus his potential to develop into a player on defense, would be a big boost for a team who doesn’t have any noteworthy long-term depth behind Spillane and Elliss.
Behren Morton is unimpressive
I have mostly liked what I’ve seen from Behren Morton in training camp, and when he has been given reps, he has made pretty good decisions. He looked pretty poised for a rookie, and looked to be a good candidate to eventually become a backup to Drake Maye. All of that went out the window on Thursday.
Morton looked frazzled, made some really bad decisions, and missed on a few throws that could have been big plays — all while going against players who mostly will be out of a job come Sunday night. Ultimately, I think he’s a good guy to keep on the practice squad to see if you can develop him into a usable backup, but, after seeing what I saw Thursday, I’m not going to be super upset if someone claims him off of waivers if the Patriots cut him this weekend.
Cutdown day is looming
The Patriots have to trim their roster from 91 all the way down to 53 by Sunday afternoon, and they have some tough decisions to make. The first few they are going to have to make involve injuries. Will Harold Landry and/or Brenden Schooler be ready to start the season, or be ready to play in the first few weeks? If not, they are going to have to put them on injured reserve and bring them off when they’re ready. Bryce Baringer is in the same boat; it didn’t sound serious, but they are going to have to make a decision, and putting him on IR could give them a few weeks to figure out whether or not it’s working with Matt Haack.
Lastly, as mentioned before, they have to figure out what to do with the depth. Is it possible that they cut below 53 and claim or sign a few guys who get released? Or do they find another way to fill out their roster? All these questions will be answered by Sunday, and, of course, just because someone is on the practice squad doesn’t mean they won’t play this year. It is still a good line of demarcation for the season, and should signal to everyone that real football is right around the corner.
Of course, in order not to miss any Patriots moves, please make sure to regularly visit our roster cuts tracker.
COVERS INTEL: The Cubs are batting .301 (third in MLB) with a .373 wOBA (second in MLB) 
