COLLEGE PARK, GA — Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese picked up her eighth technical foul of the season on Aug.28, triggering an automatic one-game suspension unless the technical is rescinded.

Reese received the technical with 8:45 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Dream's matchup against the Portland Fire after Reese made contact with Carla Leite. Reese appeared to shove Leite while the two were battling for position in the lane.

The play that led to Angel Reese's 8th technical foul and a suspension for Sunday against the Lynx unless it is rescinded:pic.twitter.com/G8wsa09F37

— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) August 29, 2026

Under WNBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended for one game upon receiving their eighth technical foul during the regular season. Every additional technical comes with a $1,500 fine, while every two additional technical fouls received during the regular season will result in an additional one-game suspension.

The league has the option to rescind every technical or flagrant foul assessed during each game. But if the technical foul stands, Reese will serve out her suspension for the Dream's matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Reese previously exceeded the technical foul limit during the 2025 WNBA season while playing for the Chicago Sky and served out a one-game suspension on Sept. 5, 2025.

More: Caitlin Clark won't be suspended after 8th technical foul rescinded by WNBA

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angel Reese picks up 8th technical foul, set for 1-game suspension pending review

BOX SCORE 

The Commanders preseason is over.  

All three exhibition games are in the books, capped by Washington’s 41-3 loss on Friday night against the neighboring Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.  

This was Washington’s last official act with a 91-man offseason, with the NFL mandating it be trimmed to 53 players by Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.  

It’s hard to say how much the preseason finale weighs in overall player evaluation as part of a far larger body of work. This contest was waged between those lower on the depth chart, with few earmarked for the 53-man roster available in this one.  

That still doesn’t excuse how bad the Commanders were in this contest. They couldn’t do anything right in this one and got dominated in all phases that didn’t involved Tress Way punting. I mean, it was awful.  

We still mined this contest for insight. Let’s examine (with a microscope) four takeaways relevant to the 2026 Commanders:  

Luke McCaffrey in trouble? 

We knew the Commanders would hold most major contributors out of the preseason finale. They ended up deeming 41 players inactive. Yeah, you read that right.  

This was a situation where Commanders season-ticket holders should be happy this one was played in Baltimore. That miles-long inactives list included most of the names you’d expect, featuring plenty of star power and folks you see in the box score this fall.  

There might be some clues in those selected to play versus not and their odds of making the 53-man roster. Did it influence my 53-man roster projection, coming out late Friday night? It certainly did. Especially at receiver.  

Luke McCaffrey played — so did Van Jefferson – while Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown sat. 

Let’s read some tea leaves, shall we? 

Did McCaffrey draw the short straw to ensure enough targets with six receivers sitting? Is Washington shopping McCaffrey and wants to give team another look? Or is he firmly on the roster bubble? That last thing might be the case, as surprising as that might’ve sounded a few months back.  

This receiver corps is deeper than it was in 2025, especially with Stefon Diggs on board, Antonio Williams looking really good and Jaylin Lane secure as a punt return man who can handle kickoffs.  

Playing doesn’t mean you’re cut, not by any stretch, but it raises an eyebrow in McCaffrey’s case.  

Tyler Owens brings an edge 

Defensive back Tyler Owens is a thumper. We saw that against the Lions, when he demolished a running back while rushing the passer, but we’ve known that for a while.  

Owens reminded the forgetful on Friday night, with two huge hits early in the contest. That includes one right at the goal line:  

Owens brings a unique energy to the safety position and aggressiveness to his slot play. And let’s not forget his work on special teams play. This is a guy Washington needs deeper on the depth chart. With how he has played, Daronte Jones should be prompted to carve out a role for this physical presence.  

Bubble players don’t show well 

Commanders will form their 53-man roster based on a summer’s worth of work, not one preseason game right at the finish line. Friday’s contest won’t negate an otherwise solid preseason, but several fighting for a final roster spot seemed to falter at the finish.  

Linebackers Ale Kaho and Kain Medrano fit into that group, with struggles tackling and in coverage. Receiver Jaden Bradley, who has made some nice catches this preseason, fumbled returning a kick in the first half. Running back Robert Henry, who fumbled last week, had a misstep in pass protection. Interior linemen Julian Good-Jones was the third center to play, and wasn’t particularly good in that showing.

Running back Kaytron Allen isn’t on the roster bubble, but he lost a fumble on Washington’s opening drive. 

Trash this tape 

The phrasing above is definitely old-fashioned. No one uses actual tape/film anymore. And no one’s throwing a tablet in the trash. You simply select the game file, push the delete button and then hit confirm.  

I mean, the Commanders won’t really do it. There’s always something to teach from, but most of the active Commanders players won’t be making the team. Those who do will largely want to forget what happened on Friday night in Baltimore, which capped a rough week of Ravens dominance in a joint practice and then this game.  

If we are going to spin this segment forward, it only reinforces the fact the offensive line needs help from a depth perspective. There aren’t many reserves who look ready to play a regular-season game at this point. GM Adam Peters is gonna have to make a move a center, and maybe pick up another guard.

Bottom line: Those who continue on to the regular season can’t make the types of mistakes frequent in this contest, where little went right. 

The best part? It’s over. Now on to the regular season.  

The legacy of Stephen Curry hits the big screen in a documentary film titled "Portrait of an Artist: Stephen Curry," which captured the Golden State Warriors' superstar in the moments leading up to and throughout his NBA record-extending milestone of hitting his 4,000th career 3-pointer.

The documentary, distributed by Disney, is directed by Religion of Sports co-founder Gotham Chopra and will be released exclusively in IMAX theaters Oct. 9, 2026.

The film showcases what it was like for the four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP to reach the levels he did. In the film, Curry speaks on his upbringing, mindset and work ethic, explaining a few of the intangible traits that got him to become recognized as one of the greatest basketball players to grace the NBA.

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"We are pumped to show you all something the team has been working on," Curry said in his Instagram caption. "A new documentary that captures the journey to my 4,000th career three-pointer. Coming exclusively to IMAX theaters in October, the film explores the creativity, discipline, and mindset behind the game I’ve dedicated my life to. Basketball is a craft I love deeply, so being compared to an artist is something I take with a lot of humility. But creativity has always been at the heart of how I play."

The project called for 21 IMAX-certified cameras that were used as part of the state-of-the-art production to help capture the moment Curry drained the milestone-setting jumper against the Sacramento Kings during the 2024-25 season.

Curry hit his 4,000th career 3-pointer during a March 13 game at Chase Center in San Francisco in front of thousands of fans. It was the first time in NBA history a player reached 4,000 total 3-pointers made in a career.

He entered the matchup needing just two 3-point baskets to reach the unprecedented milestone. He did so. And the Warriors went on to win the game 130-104.

The film includes special appearances by other artists who have dominated their own respective fields including Viola Davis, Rick Rubin, Patti Smith and Jon Batiste. They all shared their thoughts on Curry's artistry.

"This film is all about capturing Steph Curry, an athlete and artist who is always chasing a new masterpiece,” Chopra said in a news release. “With the court as his canvas, we wanted to show the world the relentless creativity and discipline that drives one of the greatest to ever play the game. We are thrilled to be able to share this film in IMAX with audiences across the country."

It's the second film produced by Curry's multimedia company Unanimous Media, which he co-founded with multi-creative Erick Peyton in 2018. Unanimous Media produced Sony Picture Animation’s hit animated feature film “Goat,” which quickly became the top-movie in America in theatres after its debut in February 2026.

It was highly reviewed by critics and audiences alike, and the group is hoping audiences are fulfilled after watching their latest documentary.

"With ‘Portrait of an Artist,’ we wanted to tell a story that goes beyond breaking a record on the court, while exploring the creativity, discipline and mindset behind the journey,” said Curry and Peyton said in a joint statement. “This film is our way of capturing what it feels like to experience Stephen’s performance in real time, especially for those who haven’t had or may never have the chance. We’re proud to partner with Religion of Sports, IMAX and Disney/ESPN to share this experience with audiences on a global scale."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: IMAX documentary chronicling major Steph Curry milestone set for release

Four-star shooting guard Chase Lumpkin has narrowed his list of offers to six schools, he told Rivals. Moving forward, the 6-foot-4 rising senior out of McEachern (GA) will consider Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, and USC.

To this point, Lumpkin has completed an official visit to Michigan and unofficially visited Alabama. He’s scheduled to take an official visit to USC this weekend, followed by an official visit to Alabama the weekend of September 19th.

Lumpkin is ranked as the No. 30 overall recruit in the 2027 class and the No. 8 ranked point guard, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an average of all three major recruiting media companies (Rivals, ESPN, 247Sports).

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In addition to his finalists, he also received offers from Auburn, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Ole Miss, Georgia, Tennessee, Oregon, Providence, UCLA, Indiana, Miami, Iowa, Vanderbilt, UConn, and others.

This summer on the Nike EYBL Circuit, Lumpkin averaged 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game for Jet Academy.

He previously spoke with Rivals about what he’s looking for in a school.

“I really need to go somewhere I can develop the most and get to the next level and become a pro player, where I’ve got belief in the coaching staff and they’ve got belief in me. I just want to get to the next level.”

Scouting Lumpkin

Rivals national recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw has evaluated Lumpkin multiple times in person this summer. Here is what he’s written about the highly regarded guard:

“Lumpkin is very confident on the ball. He has good feet and solid positional size in the 6-foot-4 range. He shot the cover off the ball, stepping into shots and knocking down catch and shoots. Also showed passing acumen, delivering on target and on time as a primary initiator. Lumpkin played a streamlined and confident game. He got to spots and put consistent pressure on the opposing team. Lumpkin finished with 29 points and 8 assists on 8 of 15 shooting in the Jet Academy win.

“Lumpkin was the breakout player of the weekend. The Jet Academy guard did a little bit of everything for his team, initiating offense, finishing plays, and generally creating advantages for his team. He showcased excellent vision on the ball, and he processed quickly and efficiently, whether that was getting the ball to his teammates or making shots on his own accord. Lumpkin got into the paint consistently, and he finished well at the rim.”

We finish off the 2026 preseason tonight, as the Minnesota Vikings head to Mile High to take on the Denver Broncos in the final preseason game of the year. Let’s get everyone caught up on everything they’ll need to be ready for tonight’s contest.

Date and Time: Friday, 28 August 2026, 8:00 PM Central time

Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Weather: Partly cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms, temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s, winds from the southwest at 5-10 miles/hour

Television Coverage: FOX 9 in the Twin Cities, local broadcast affiliates in various cities, NFL Network for the nationwide audience

Radio Coverage: Vikings Radio Network, SiriusXM Channel 225, SiriusXM App Channel 820

Bonus: KFAN (which, again, is doing a simulcast for both radio and TV this season) has promised that new Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell will be joining the broadcast from the sidelines for the entirety of the third quarter of today’s game. Of course, if you’re watching on the NFL Network broadcast, you won’t hear this, because you’ll be hearing the Broncos play-by-play team.

Line: Seriously, don’t bet on preseason games.

Chris’ Prediction: Nope, no prediction for this preseason game, either.

Three Keys

1) No injuries – We made it through the last game without any major ones. Here’s hoping that we can do the same tonight.

2) Quarterback snap distribution – I think I’ve mentioned this for all three games, but it’s still important. J.J. McCarthy missed some practice time this week with an ankle issue, but the team is apparently still hoping he can start tonight’s game. We’ll see whether or not that happens, as well as how long he plays. Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer will see time as well, obviously. (UPDATE: McCarthy will not play tonight after all, per sources.)

3) Last chance to impress – Less than 48 hours after this one concludes, teams around the NFL will be making their final roster cuts. That means this is the last opportunity for all of these young men to make an impression on the coaching staff and the front office before the turk comes to visit on Sunday at 5:00 PM Central time. Who will take advantage?

Know the Foe: Mile High Report

Twitter/X/Whatever we’re calling it today: @DailyNorseman

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/thedailynorseman

That should be everything you need, folks! Remember, we’ll be keeping everything for today’s game right here. We’ll also be putting any highlights that get posted on social media over in the Feed, so keep your eyes over there as well.

Here’s hoping for a solid evening of football and that both teams come out of it without any significant injuries.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

The old saying used to be that you can’t tell the players without a program. Obviously, we don’t do paper programs anymore, but we can do the next best thing and provide you with an electronic means of giving you a way to quickly locate who’s who when it comes to the Minnesota Vikings roster this preseason, given that there are now 91 players on the roster to keep track of.

We have gone through the entire Vikings’ roster and ordered them in two different ways. Both roster sets are broken down into offense, defense, and special teams, but we’ve ordered one set by player number and one set by their last names. So, if you’re sitting here watching the game with us this afternoon. . .and you should be. . .and you find yourself saying something like, “Wow, that was a nice play by number 35,” you can quickly scan down and find that number 35 belongs to cornerback Jarod Washington rather than having to search all over for it if you don’t catch his name right away.

We hope you find this to be a helpful resource for this year’s three preseason contests. We’ll attempt to bump it before each one and update it if the Vikings make any roster moves in between games.

Minnesota Vikings roster by jersey number

Offense

• 1 QB Kyler Murray
• 3 WR Jordan Addison
• 4 WR Myles Price
• 6 WR Michael Briscoe
• 9 QB J.J. McCarthy
• 11 QB Carson Wentz
• 12 QB Max Brosmer
• 13 WR Tai Felton
• 14 WR Jauan Jennings
• 17 RB Jermar Jefferson
• 18 WR Justin Jefferson
• 19 WR Donate Fleming
• 21 RB Demond Claiborne
• 27 RB Jordan Mason
• 30 WR Trayvon Rudolph
• 31 WR Marcus Sanders
• 33 RB Aaron Jones
• 36 RB Zavier Scott
• 40 WR Terrill Davis
• 45 FB Max Bredeson
• 46 TE Matt Lauter
• 58 C Gavin Gerhart
• 60 G Joe Huber
• 62 OL Delby Lemieux
• 63 OL Tristan Leigh
• 64 C Blake Brandel
• 65 C Michael Jurgens
• 66 G Vershon Lee
• 67 OL Tomas Rimac
• 68 G Henry Byrd
• 71 OT Christian Darrisaw
• 72 OT Ryan Van Demark
• 73 OT Walter Rouse
• 74 G Donovan Jackson
• 75 OT Brian O’Neill
• 76 G Will Fries
• 78 OL Caleb Tiernan
• 79 G Joshua Gray
• 81 TE Marshall Lang
• 82 WR Jeshaun Jones
• 83 TE Bryson Nesbit
• 84 TE Josh Oliver
• 85 TE Ben Yurosek
• 86 TE Gavin Bartholomew
• 87 TE T.J. Hockenson
• 89 WR Dillon Bell

Defense

• 0 LB Ivan Pace
• 2 CB Isaiah Rodgers
• 7 CB Byron Murphy
• 8 S Jakobe Thomas
• 15 OLB Dallas Turner
• 20 CB Charles Demmings
• 23 CB James Pierre
• 24 S Jay Ward
• 25 S Kahlef Hailassie
• 26 S Theo Jackson
• 29 CB Marcus Allen
• 34 S Zemaiah Vaughn
• 35 CB Jarod Washington
• 37 S Tavierre Thomas
• 38 CB Da’Veawn Armstead
• 39 S Jacob Thomas
• 40 CB Bryce Phillips
• 41 LB Jake Golday
• 43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel
• 44 S Joshua Metellus
• 45 CB Tre Hawkins
• 48 LB Jacob Roberts
• 49 OLB Cam’Ron Stewart
• 50 DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
• 51 LB Blake Cashman
• 52 LB Josh Ross
• 54 LB Kenny Dyson
• 55 LB Eric Wilson
• 57 OLB Chaz Chambliss
• 59 LB Bangally Kamara
• 61 DL Jalen Redmond
• 69 DL Isaiahh Loudermilk
• 90 DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
• 91 DL Vilbert Smith
• 92 OLB Tyler Batty
• 93 DL Jonathan Harris
• 95 DL Caleb Banks
• 96 DL Jahvaree Ritzie
• 97 DL Domonique Orange
• 98 OLB Bo Richter
• 99 DL Elijah Williams

Special Teams

• 5 P Johnny Hekker
• 16 K Will Reichard
• 42 LS Andrew DePaola
• 47 P Brett Thorson

Minnesota Vikings roster by last name

Offense

• 3 WR Addison, Jordan
• 86 TE Bartholomew, Gavin
• 89 WR Bell, Dillon
• 64 C Brandel, Blake
• 45 FB Bredeson, Max
• 6 WR Briscoe, Michael
• 12 QB Brosmer, Max
• 68 G Byrd, Henry
• 21 RB Claiborne, Demond
• 71 OT Darrisaw, Christian
• 40 WR Davis, Terrill
• 13 WR Felton, Tai
• 19 WR Fleming, Dontae
• 76 G Fries, Will
• 58 C Gerhart, Gavin
• 79 G Gray, Joshua
• 87 TE Hockenson, T.J.
• 60 G Huber, Joe
• 74 G Jackson, Donovan
• 17 RB Jefferson, Jermar
• 18 WR Jefferson, Justin
• 14 WR Jennings, Jauan
• 33 RB Jones, Aaron
• 82 WR Jones, Jeshaun
• 65 C Jurgens, Michael
• 81 TE Lang, Marshall
• 46 TE Lauter, Matt
• 66 G Lee, Vershon
• 63 OL Leigh, Tristan
• 62 OL Lemieux, Delby
• 27 RB Mason, Jordan
• 9 QB McCarthy, J.J.
• 1 QB Murray, Kyler
• 83 TE Nesbit, Bryson
• 84 TE Oliver, Josh
• 75 OT O’Neill, Brian
• 4 WR Price, Myles
• 67 OL Rimac, Tomas
• 73 OT Rouse, Walter
• 30 WR Rudolph, Trayvon
• 31 WR Sanders, Marcus
• 36 RB Scott, Zavier
• 78 OL Tiernan, Caleb
• 72 OT Van Demark, Ryan
• 11 QB Wentz, Carson
• 85 TE Yurosek, Ben

Defense

• 38 CB Armstead, Da’Veawn
• 29 CB Allen, Marcus
• 95 DL Banks, Caleb
• 92 OLB Batty, Tyler
• 51 LB Cashman, Blake
• 57 OLB Chambliss, Chaz
• 20 CB Demmings, Charles
• 54 LB Dyson, Kenny
• 41 LB Golday, Jake
• 25 S Hailassie, Kahlef
• 93 DL Harris, Jonathan
• 45 CB Hawkins, Tre
• 90 DL Ingram-Dawkins, Tyrion
• 26 S Jackson, Theo
• 59 LB Kamara, Bangally
• 69 DL Loudermilk, Isaiahh
• 44 S Metellus, Joshua
• 7 CB Murphy, Byron
• 97 DL Orange, Domonique
• 0 LB Pace, Ivan
• 23 CB Pierre, James
• 40 CB Phillips, Bryce
• 61 DL Redmond, Jalen
• 98 OLB Richter, Bo
• 96 DL Ritzee, Jahvaree
• 48 LB Roberts, Jacob
• 2 CB Rodgers, Isaiah
• 50 DL Rodriguez, Levi Drake
• 52 LB Ross, Josh
• 91 DL Smith, Vilbert
• 49 OLB Stewart, Cam’Ron
• 8 S Thomas, Jakobe
• 39 S Thomas, Jacob
• 37 S Thomas, Tavierre
• 15 OLB Turner, Dallas
• 43 OLB Van Ginkel, Andrew
• 34 S Vaughn, Zemaiah
• 24 S Ward, Jay
• 35 S Washington, Jarod
• 99 DL Williams, Elijah
• 55 LB Wilson, Eric

Special Teams

• 42 LS DePaola, Andrew
• 5 P Hekker, Johnny
• 16 K Reichard, Will
• 47 P Thorson, Brett

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are hard-capped at the first apron after making a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson earlier this week. Signing James Harden to a new deal that is expected to start just below $30 million pushes the Cavs closer to the apron. That means they either needed to move one of the players on the roster, find a trade partner for Cam Whitmore, or waive him outright.

Cleveland landed on that final option for Whitmore, as he will be released according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Cavs acquired Whitmore in the deal for Watson to make the salaries line up.

Whitmore is a former first-round pick with the Houston Rockets. He spent last season with the Washington Wizards and averaged 10.5 points in 17.3 minutes per outing.

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With the move, the Cavs have 13 players on the active roster. Teams must carry a minimum of 14 players, not counting two-way deals. This would mean the Cavs will need to sign someone else before the start of the season.

Given the lack of space under the first apron, the Cavs will only be able to sign someone with no years of service time barring other moves. The minimum contract for someone with no years of service is $1.36 million, while the minimum for someone with one is $2.19 million.

There’s only a select number of players that fit into the no years of service category. Cleveland will likely be looking at someone they have the draft rights to, such as Khalifa Diop, or a recent undrafted player.

We’ll see what direction the Cavs go to round out the roster. As of now, it’s safe to assume that the majority of the roster is set heading into the start of training camp in just about a month.

The New Orleans Saints will close out the 2026 preseason tonight in Dallas against the Cowboys. The Saints are looking to bounce back after being shut out in Los Angeles aftee last Saturday’s matchup with the Rams and finish the preseason with a win.

Kickoff:

Friday, August 28th- 7:00pm CST / 8:00pm EST

Location: 

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

TV Broadcasts:

WVUE FOX 8 New Orleans (Live)

Featuring: Joel Meyers, Sean Kelley, and Jon Stinchcomb

YouTube TVNFL Sunday Ticket:

Preseason games not included in the package

Radio:

WWL 870AM/105.3FM New Orleans

Featuring: Mike Hoss, Deuce McAllister, and Steve Geller

Online Streaming:

 ESPN Unlimited (Subscription Required)

iOS/Android Streaming:

ESPN Unlimited (Subscription Required) 

Odds: 

Saints 2.5-point underdog, O/U 37.5

Opponent Blog:

Blogging the Boys

Here’s to a good game and no injuries as the regular season opener against the Detroit Lions is just a little over 2 weeks away.

It is one of the more frustrating patterns of the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era — the 49ers spend a relatively high pick on a running back, they struggle for playing time and they inevitably move on. However, entering the 2026 season, there is reason for optimism that this could be the year that Shanahan’s commitment to investing draft capital in the running back position bears fruit.

In the first four years of the Shanahan-Lynch regime, the 49ers only spent one draft pick on a back, doing so in their first year in 2017 when they took Joe Williams in the fourth round. Williams never played a snap.

But since 2021, the 49ers have spent six draft picks on the position, the latest being a third-round selection used on Kaelon Black this year.

Most of those picks have had limited success, though Elijah Mitchell led the 49ers in rushing as a rookie in 2021 before injuries derailed his progress with the team over subsequent seasons.

Trey Sermon, a third-round pick that same year, lasted only one season, while 2023 third-rounder Tyrion Davis-Price’s career with the team was similarly short-lived. After encouraging signs in his rookie season, 2024 fourth-rounder Isaac Guerendo could soon see his time as a 49er come to an end, but the two most recent running back selections by the 49ers offer hope that Shanahan and San Francisco could be vindicated in continuing to throw draft resources at that area of the roster.

Black and James provide reason for hope

The 49ers need backs who can take some of the pressure off the now 30-year-old Christian McCaffrey, who has dealt with ‘tightness’ for much of training camp and preseason.

And both Black and 2025 fifth-round pick James have provided evidence they are ready to do just that.

Black rushed for 61 yards on 12 carries in preseason, an average of just over five yards a carry, but even more intriguing is the play he demonstrated in pass protection. If a younger back is going to eat into McCaffrey’s snaps, they must be able to hold up in pass protection, and the 49ers’ faith in Black’s ability to do so should be boosted following preseason.

James did not earn any carries as a rookie until the 49ers’ blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Having fractured his ribs on the second day of training camp, James’ only appearance of preseason came on Thursday as the Niners rounded off their exhibition schedule against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he gave San Francisco reason for encouragement.

James displayed nice burst to the second level and contact balance on a 17-yard run that accounted for the bulk of his 35 yards on eight carriers, and he also demonstrated his abilities as a pass-catcher on a well-designed screen pass that went for 20 yards.

“It was good to see him out there,” Shanahan said afterward. “He missed a ton of camp, too, with his injury, and had the same thing last year where he missed all of training camp. So he only got to play in that one game for us, got a couple carries versus Seattle at the end of the year last year. So I was really excited to watch him tonight, and from what I saw out there live, I thought he ran real hard and ran real well.”

It may be a limited sample size in an exhibition game, but James coming back from injury and flashing as both a runner and a receiver theoretically improves his odds of getting on the field, even if Black likely has the edge as the second-string running back at this point.

The 49ers aren’t likely to ask Black or James to try to replicate McCaffrey’s all-encompassing impact on the 49er offense. Very few backs in the NFL can have the influence McCaffrey has on both the run game and the passing attack.

But as even more miles are put on the legs of a future Hall of Fame starter with a checkered injury history, the need for fresh backs who can take on more of the load increases.

Leaning on Black and James to alleviate the strain on McCaffrey is a gamble given they have zero regular-season carriers between them. However, the flashes in preseason have been enough to suggest that, between them, they can help McCaffrey get the necessary rest and keep the 49er offense on the tracks when he is off the field.

The Niners have waited a long time for Shanahan’s commitment to drafting backs to have a tangible positive impact on the team. There are no guarantees of preseason play translating into regular-season results, but there’s cause to be hopeful 2026 could be the season in which that wait ends.

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We're counting down until the Detroit Red Wings begin the 2026-27 season, and with each passing day, we’ll be taking a look back at the best player in franchise history to wear that day’s jersey number.

The Top No. 35 In Red Wings History: Jimmy Howard

While a handful of players have worn No. 35 for the Red Wings, most recently Ville Husso, the obvious choice for the most notable player in franchise history to wear the number is goaltender Jimmy Howard.

Howard, whom the Red Wings selected in the second round (64th overall pick) of the 2003 NHL Draft, ranks third in franchise history in games played (543), wins (246), save percentage (.912), and is first overall in team history with 13,970 total saves made. 

Having played college hockey at the University of Maine, Howard began his professional career with the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins in 2005-06, going 27-6-2.

He would also make his NHL debut with the Red Wings that season, ultimately appearing in four games and posting a 2.98 goals-against average with a .904 save percentage. Notably, he became the first and only goaltender to date to face a penalty shot in each of his first two NHL contests. 

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After the Red Wings did not re-sign Ty Conklin following the 2008-09 season, Howard entered Training Camp that fall penciled in as the No. 2 goaltender behind Chris Osgood, but it wouldn't be long before he'd eventually claim the starter's role. 

In his first full NHL campaign of 2009-10, Howard went 37-15-10 with a 2.26 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage, and three shutouts. He also garnered consideration for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.

Can John Gibson Repeat His Performance In 2026-27 For Red Wings? During their strong first three quarters of the 2025-26 NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings were getting elite-level goaltending from John Gibson. Can he repeat that performance next season?

Upon his retirement from the NHL following the 2019-20 campaign, he'd amassed a record of 246-196-70 with a 2.62 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and 24 shutouts.

He also posted a record of 21-26 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the Red Wings never advanced beyond the second round with Howard in goal, he did help them to within one victory of a Conference Finals berth in 2011 and 2013. 

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