Los Angeles Chargers depth chart: Who could make 53-man roster?

The Los Angeles Chargers are preparing for another season and have some roster decisions to make before cutdown day.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz will have to work together to finalize the 53-man roster. NFL teams must complete their cuts by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30. Players could be released in the days and hours leading up to the deadline.

The Chargers will have to account for several scenarios, especially for a franchise that’s been plagued by injuries and late-game mistakes.

In recent years, the Chargers have dealt with injuries across the offensive line. The Chargers already had some attrition there and will have to lean on second-round pick Jake Slaughter as their new starter, following the season-ending injury to Tyler Biadasz.

Kayode Awosika and Trey Pipkins III were among the contenders for the Chargers' starting left guard spot. Awosika was tabbed as the starter for the last preseason game and may have secured the starting role. He's made just 11 career starts. Pipkins is in his eighth season with the Chargers and has the ability to play both guard and tackle. He’s made 51 starts at tackle and just 15 as a guard.

Gregory Desrosiers will be a player to watch this weekend. He was among the standouts for the Chargers during the preseason finale but is currently listed as sixth on the depth chart. Desrosiers produced 118 yards and a touchdown on nine carries against the Rams. His longest rush of the game was 34 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"I try to just control what I can control and handle business. Everything will take care of itself," Desrosiers told CBS sideline reporter Jaime Maggio after the game

Justin Herbert is obviously the starting quarterback, but what the Chargers do with the rest of their quarterback room remains unknown.

Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei have both seen time on the field during the preseason. While both showed positives during the three-game sample size, the Chargers could still explore other available quarterbacks from other teams.

There are questions that remain on the defensive side of the ball, including the depth at linebacker. Marlowe Wax, a 2025 undrafted free agent, and Junior Colson, a 2024 third-round selection, could be players on the bubble.

Colson has a level of familiarity, having played at Michigan during Harbaugh's tenure. Wax was given the green dot on his helmet over Colson during the first preseason game, according to Chargers Wire, when both were on the field together.

Chargers depth chart

 Here’s what the Chargers’ depth chart looked like on the team’s website ahead of the final preseason game.

OFFENSE

LWR: Quentin Johnston,  KeAndre Lambert-Smith, JaQuae Jackson, Liam Clifford

RWR: Tre’ Harris, Brenen Thompson, Dalevon Campbell, Sincere Brown

SLOT: Ladd McConkey, Derius Davis, Devonte Ross

LT: Rashawn Slater, Trey Pipkins III, Isaiah World

LG: Kayode Awosika, Branson Taylor, Alex Harkey

C: Jake Slaughter, Josh Kaltenberger, Jacob Spomer

RG: Cole Strange, Trevor Penning, Logan Taylor

RT: Joe Alt, Travis Burke, Laekin Vakalahi

TE: Oronde Gadsden, Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, Evan Svoboda, Jerand Bradley, Johnny Pascuzzi

QB: Justin Herbert, Trey Lance, DJ Uiagalelei

RB: Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, Jaret Patterson, Amar Johnson, Gregory Desrosiers

FB: Alec Ingold, Scott Matlock

DEFENSE

DE: Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, Terry Webb

NT: Dalvin Tomlinson, Nick Barrett, Jahmeer Carter

DT: Teair Tart, TeRah Edwards, Jacobian Guillory

LOLB: Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Kyle Kennard, Andre Carter II

LILB: Denzel Perryman, Del'Shawn Phillips, Marlowe Wax, Lander Barton

RILB: Daiyan Henley, Troy Dye, Junior Colson, Emany Johnson

ROLB: Khalil Mack, Akheem Mesidor, Nadame Tucker, Garmon Randolph

LCB: Tarheeb Still, Deane Leonard, Rodney Shelley, Isas Waxter

SS: Tony Jefferson, Genesis Smith, Kendall Williamson, Devin Grant

FS: Elijah Molden, RJ Mickens, Noah Avinger, Myles Purchase

RCB: Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, Avery Smith, Eric Rogers

NB: Derwin James Jr., Nikko Reed

SPECIAL TEAMS

PT: JK Scott

PK: Cameron Dicker

LS: Josh Harris, Peter Bowden

H: JK Scott

KO: Cameron Dicker

PR: Derius Davis, Brenen Thompson, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Ladd McConkey, Devonte Ross 

KR: Derius Davis, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, KeAndre Lambert-Smith

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Chargers depth chart: Who could make 53-man roster?

Raiders coach throws receiver under bus, lets Fernando Mendoza off hook: ‘an excellent throw’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Chase Garbers wearing number 15 and holding a football, Image 2 shows Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels in a black hoodie and cap with a headset, holding play sheets
Las Vegas Raiders head coach shades a wide receiver while protecting rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

It’s no secret there were a few throws Fernando Mendoza would’ve liked to have back during the Raiders’ preseason finale against the 49ers.

Coach Klint Kubiak knows it but also suggested his struggles weren’t entirely his fault.

Mendoza went 7-of-14 passing for 57 yards, taking two sacks and being intercepted.

Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza likely will start the season as the team’s backup. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The interception happened near the end of the first quarter, when the rookie quarterback fired a pass over the middle of the field toward wide receiver Jalen Nailor.

Mendoza threw the ball high, forcing Nailor to leap, but the ball bounced off the receiver’s fingertips and resulted in an interception.

“I thought it was an excellent throw; he ripped it just like we asked him to, on time,” Kubiak told reporters. “Yeah, it was a little bit high; Jalen’s gotta make a play.”

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak defended rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza on Thursday night. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Raiders have their issues at wide receiver, as they’re thin at the position, but Kubiak’s comments toward Nailor likely point to the first-year head coach doing what he can to keep his rookie quarterback confident.

Mendoza’s preseason started strong in their opener against the Cardinals, but over the Raiders’ last two games, he showed why he’s a rookie. During the preseason, Mendoza was 25-of-45 passing for 240 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked four times.

Adley Rutschman may come back to haunt Yankees in weekend Sox showdown

Adley Rutschman was acquired by the Boston Red Sox during the MLB Trade Deadline on August 3.
Adley Rutschman was acquired by the Boston Red Sox during the MLB Trade Deadline on August 3.

Keep an eye on the catcher’s position this weekend in The Bronx. 

You’re bound to hear groans if Adley Rutschman performs well. 

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After all, the Red Sox beat out the catching-in-need Yankees for the three-time All-Star and former Orioles backstop before the Aug. 3 trade deadline

“It’s an important addition. He’s a leader behind the plate, he’s a three-time All-Star,” interim manager Chad Tracy said before the rivals kicked off a four-game series at the Stadium Friday night. “Prior to this thing [with his elbow], he had started to get going with the bat a little bit here. He’s also a very good at-bat. He doesn’t swing at balls. 

“He fits the mold of what we’ve done here, which is we grind at-bats, we swing at strikes, we put the ball in play. When he’s right, that’s what he does and on top of that, he’s a really, really good catcher who communicates well with pitchers.” 

Rutschman, 28, has yet to hit for the Red Sox, sporting a .146/.255/.244 slash line with a .499 OPS. But he is a quality player and will likely produce soon. Prior to the trade, he had a .764 OPS with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 67 games. 

“It’s been really fun. This team is tight-knit, they do a great job of someone new stepping up each night,” said Rutschman, who was back in the Red Sox lineup Friday night after missing the previous two games due to elbow soreness. 

Adley Rutschman was acquired by the Boston Red Sox at the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3. Getty Images

There was a chance he could’ve wound up a Yankee. Rutschman had never experienced the trade deadline before and tried to just focus on other things. 

“You never know what happens in baseball,” he said. “It’s one of the things that’s very uncertain. It’s part of it.” 

The Yankees have gotten very little from their catchers. Austin Wells has a .571 OPS on the season and, after a decent stretch, is in the midst of a 5-for-28 stretch with 12 strikeouts. He has only one extra-base hit in his last 12 games. 

Austin Wells has been struggling mightily for the Yankees at catcher. Getty Images

The Yankees tried to land Rutschman, but the Red Sox blew them away with an offer that featured minor league pitcher Anthony Eyanson, their No. 2 prospect, and two other top five prospects. This weekend, losing out on Rutschman could haunt them. 

He wasn’t sure what to expect from his introduction to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, but he was picking a good time to experience it with both teams fighting for playoff positioning. 

“Take it as it comes,” Rutschman said. “New experience.” 

Be prepared for the preseason with our Minnesota Vikings roster

EAGAN, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 01: Christian Darrisaw #71 and Delby Lemieux #62 of the Minnesota Vikings participate in a drill during Training Camp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on August 01, 2026 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

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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Cavs decide on Cam Whitmore’s future with the team

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 19: Cam Whitmore #1 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 19, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

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.

Saints vs. Cowboys: Preseason Week 3 Open Thread

OXNARD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 18: Dallas Cowboys players and New Orleans Saints players fight during joint practice at River Ridge Playing Fields on August 18, 2026 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images

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.

Is Kyle Shanahan’s most infamous draft tradition finally about to bear fruit?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 27: Jordan James #29 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against Cian Slone #48 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter of a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images

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.

35 Days Until Red Wings Opening Night: Detroit’s Best No. 35

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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? 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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Dolphins fans boo Tua Tagovailoa

The Dolphins don't have a big crowd tonight at Hard Rock Stadium, but they made a big noise nonetheless.

Dolphins fans let Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have it, according to multiple reports, booing him loudly as he came onto the field as the starter Friday night.

Tagovailoa spent his first six seasons in Miami after the Dolphins selected him fifth overall in 2020. He went to one Pro Bowl and played in one playoff game, ending his tenure there with 18,166 passing yards, 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.

The Dolphins released him March 9, and he signed with the Falcons in free agency.

Tagovailoa completed 3 of 4 passes for 54 yards, including a 37-yarder to Kyle Pitts on the Falcons' first drive. Atlanta scored a touchdown on Brian Robinson's 3-yard run.

Cale Makar signs richest deal in NHL history with $163.2 million Avalanche contract extension

A Colorado Avalanche player skating across the ice with a puck and stick.
Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche passes against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 4 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

There’s a new biggest contract in NHL history — again.

Avalanche superstar Cale Makar agreed to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension on Friday, the team announced.

The deal carries a $20.4 million average annual value and will make the two-time Norris Trophy winner the highest-paid player in league history and the first-ever to make more than $20 million annually.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar looks on during the third period of a game against the Minnesota Wild on May 13, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Makar still has one season remaining on the six-year, $54 million deal he signed in 2021.

His new extension will kick in for the 2027-28 season and keep him in Colorado through 2034-35.

“I am so excited and humbled to continue to wear the Avalanche sweater and represent this incredible organization and community,” Makar said in a statement.

Still only 27, Makar has already built the foundation of a Hall of Fame résumé.

The 2017 No. 4 overall pick has won two Norris Trophies, the Calder Trophy and the Conn Smythe Trophy while helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche passes against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 4 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Denver Post via Getty Images

He finished second in Norris voting last season after recording 20 goals and 59 assists across 75 games.

Makar has 507 points in 470 career regular-season games and is already the franchise leader among defensemen in goals, assists and points.

The NHL’s highest-paid-player benchmark has been reset repeatedly over the past year, and especially this summer.

Wild star Kirill Kaprizov set the mark with his eight-year, $136 million extension carrying a $17 million AAV in September 2025.

Last month, Ducks center Leo Carlsson pushed that mark to $18 million per year with a five-year, $90 million contract before Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini surpassed him just weeks later with a five-year, $94 million deal carrying an $18.8 million AAV.

Former Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa greeted by boos in return to Miami

Boo-a Tagovailoa? Miami fans already have.

Tua Tagovailoa's Miami Dolphins career ended unceremoniously. The 2020 No. 5 overall pick was released by the Dolphins earlier this offseason, ending a tenure that at times was explosive, and other times unstable.

Miami fans are clearly disappointed with the way the working relationship ended, if their cold reception in the Miami heat was any indication. As Tagovailoa and the Falcons took the field on Friday night, a smattering of boos broke out amongst those in attendance.

Tagovailoa's exit from Miami was anything but copacetic. The veteran passer said he'd welcome a change of scenery as the season wrapped up, foreshadowing the end of his Dolphins career.

The Dolphins, though, remained on the hook for $55 million of Tagovailoa's contract.

Tagovailoa signed with the Falcons on a one-year deal after Miami chose to release him, immediately entering a quarterback competition with 2024 No. 8 overall selection Michael Penix Jr. Through preseason, Tagovailoa hasn't had the chance to perform much, tallying just 5 passing attempts (3 completions) for 22 yards vs. the Denver Broncos in Week 2.

Tua Tagovailoa stats

Be he who laughs last, laughs loudest: Tagovailoa entered his taste of preseason action and performed well, completing 7-of-8 passes for 95 yards in the effort, but also lost a fumble.

Will Tua Tagovailoa start Week 1?

The Falcons have yet to decide on a Week 1 starter, though Tua Tagovailoa may have the inside track.

Though Michael Penix Jr. has been cleared for game action, the 2024 first-round pick has not played in any of the preseason. That may give Tagovailoa all the wiggle room he needs to get another crack at a starting job.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa greeted by boos in return to Miami

Queta vs. González: Boston’s big man makes Celtics’ starting center decision more difficult in FIBA showdown

Oct 15, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) dunks the ball during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Boston Celtics teammates Neemias Queta and Hugo González sat on opposing benches during Friday’s Portugal vs. Spain FIBA World Cup Qualifying matchup.

Queta, who began his professional career with Benfica in the Portuguese Basketball League, and González, who debuted with Real Madrid in Spain at just 16 years old, took the floor as foes in Portugal’s 95-89 victory.

For Queta, the qualifier was a stage to showcase his incoming leap after signing a four-year, $56 million extension with the Celtics this summer. The 27-year-old scored 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting with nine rebounds and two steals in over 24 minutes, assisting Portugal en route to its nail-biting upset. Queta grabbed five offensive boards and repeatedly outmatched Spain’s bigs with speed and strength.

In the fourth quarter, Queta secured his most notable highlight by baiting Spain’s Aday Mara with a pump-fake three, spinning past Mara and flushing a thunderous right-handed dunk to break a 71-71 tie. That sparked a 7-0 run from Portugal, forcing Spain to take a timeout with 7:55 left in regulation.

González, nearly matching Queta with more than 23 minutes on the court, struggled offensively. He finished with only three points, knocking down just one of four 3-point attempts. Yet, in typical Hugo fashion, González found alternative ways to remain impactful for Spain, including a fourth-quarter lob deflection that prevented Portugal from taking an 84-76 lead with less than six minutes remaining. González stayed composed and rose for a second consecutive contest after Portugal secured the offensive rebound, keeping the deficit at six points.

Queta’s dominance was too much for Spain to bridge, leaving a beneficial impression with over seven weeks left until Boston’s regular-season opener on Oct. 20.

Last season, Queta inherited his biggest role yet and debuted as the Celtics’ starting center after the team parted ways with Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet. With the spotlight on him, Queta repaid the C’s with a career-best breakout, averaging 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks across 75 starts — all career highs.

Over the summer, while Queta continued his offseason work, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stopped by to visit him in Lisbon, Portugal — Queta’s birthplace and hometown. The visit meant a lot to Queta, who just three years earlier had been waived by the Sacramento Kings, leaving his NBA future uncertain.

“It’s surreal,” Queta told CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell in July. “A couple of years ago if you’d said that an NBA coach is coming to that specific gym just to see me and get to know me, I would’ve been like, ‘You gotta be kidding me.’

“Joe makes sure he wants to make that extra effort just to make sure you feel comfortable. I think that’s one of the reasons why he’s such a good coach. He worries about people, and that’s why I’d run through a wall for him.”

The past three years have been immensely rewarding for Queta. He’s gone from a little-known pickup signed by the Celtics to a two-way contract in September 2023 to an NBA champion to a first-year starter with a $56 million payday, all in the span of three years. He’s become one of the biggest developmental successes under Mazzulla’s coaching tenure, with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens leading the front office.

With the offseason free agency signing of Mitchell Robinson to a three-year, $47.3 million contract, coupled with the reimplementation of Jayson Tatum to the lineup full-time, the decision ultimately falls on Mazzulla, Stevens, and the rest of Boston’s brass. They can either keep Queta as the team’s starting big or run Robinson at the five when the Celtics open up against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 20.

Queta and Portugal will next take on Georgia on Monday, continuing their FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers campaign.

Gonzaga Has Three Committed Point Guards. Nathan de Sousa Is the Right One to Back Up Xaivian Lee

Nathan De Sousa in action during the basketball match PAOK vs Cholet for the first leg of the semi-finals of FIBA Europe Cup at PAOK Sports Arena in Thessaloniki, Greece on March 26, 2025. (Photo by Konstantinos Tsakalidis / SOOC / SOOC via AFP) (Photo by KONSTANTINOS TSAKALIDIS/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images) | SOOC/AFP via Getty Images

Xaivian Lee committed to Gonzaga on Wednesday, announcing it on his Instagram eight days after a California court granted him a fifth year of eligibility and the ability to enter the transfer portal.

The Zags have their guy at the point guard spot. What’s still uncertain is who their “backup guy” will be. And I’m of the opinion that the value of Nathan de Sousa has gotten lost in the excitement over Gonzaga’s other two recent point guard signings.

The Saga So Far…

If you’re all caught up with who’s eligible and why for the Zags or if you aren’t interested in a refreshing neener-neener sidenote on why Donovan Dent’s decision to sign on at LSU has proven deliciously ironic, please feel free to skip ahead, here.

The commitment of Xaivian Lee ends (for now…) a migraine-inducing Gonzaga backcourt drama that began months ago, when former commit Jack Kayil elected to stay in the NBA Draft process, and former point guard Mario Saint-Supery signed a multiyear deal with Valencia Basket in mid-July, leaving Gonzaga’s backcourt effectively decimated.

The Zags had already added Nathan de Sousa on June 26, before Saint-Supery’s exit. De Sousa is a 23-year-old French point guard who spent the last five seasons with Cholet Basket of the LNB Elite. Then on Aug. 5, Gonzaga secured a commit from Javon Bennett, a 5-foot-10 fifth-year guard who started all 37 games for Dayton last season. Bennett committed after court rulings gave him a fifth year of eligibility. The following week, the injunctions that granted it in the first place were put on hold pending appeal by the NCAA.

To add weird insult to weirder injury, UCLA fifth-year transfer Donovan Dent, the other point guard Gonzaga had been linked to all month, committed to LSU, stepping out of the frying pan and directly into the fryer of Division I eligibility.

A Quick Note on the Situation at LSU…

The finger-licking irony for any Zag fan miffed with Donovan Dent for signing on in Baton Rouge is that LSU currently has just four players whose eligibility for the 2026-27 season isn’t in significant jeopardy. Four. Total.

Recent UCLA transfers Skyy Clark and Dent bring the count of eligible players to six but with an important asterisk, as that eligibility is currently being challenged on appeal by the NCAA.

The other six players that coach Will Wade signed this offseason (five legit European pros and former Utah Jazz signee RJ Luis) are still waiting on a first ruling to decide whether their professional status precludes them from a return to college. Luis’s preliminary injunction lasted exactly one day before the SEC itself approved a new policy that would prevent him and any other former pro from playing in the conference at all; a policy which comes with massive penalties for any school that violates that order.

That’s the roster situation at LSU. Dent signed on two weeks ago knowing all of it, securing a hefty bag for himself but betting his last season of competition on a team where two-thirds of the roster is looking less and less eligible by the day.

The Eligibility Math

This may all be a moot point in the first place. Javon Bennett’s eligibility was successfully stayed by the NCAA, so his only path forward is either to throw his name into another state-level suit or to keep his fingers crossed that the NCAA’s appeal process plays out lickety-split.

Nathan e Sousa’s case for eligibility in the first place is also probably significantly stronger than Bennett’s. De Sousa still needs the NCAA to process an international eligibility waiver, part of the same review of overseas pros keeping most of LSU’s roster sidelined. His case is more straightforward than coach Will Wade’s, though. What he was paid in France likely falls well below the compensation threshold that would classify him as a true, legitimate professional in the eyes of the NCAA and thus wouldn’t preclude him from college eligibility. The second problem is a travel visa. He told The Spokesman Review on Aug. 22 that he expected it within days and planned to be in Spokane this week. Based on his Instagram story, he’s still in Paris, watching the French national team in the FIBA World Cup 2027 European qualifiers.

Visa approval can be a bizarre and Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmare. There’s no way to check in on that timeline from the outside, so for now it’s a waiting game.

Back to Spokane

What it all boils down to is that Xaivian Lee is now the first of the three committed point guards who is both eligible and cleared to play (again, for now…).

Lee is a 6-foot-4 fifth-year guard from Toronto who played three years at Princeton and one at Florida. In the Ivy League, he averaged 17.1 points as a sophomore and 16.9 as a junior and took first-team all-conference in 2024 and 2025. Last season he put up 11.6 points and a team-high 4.2 assists as Florida’s starting shooting guard. Although the NCAA is still appealing the status of every class of 2022 athlete, Gonzaga, for the time being, has a point guard.

But Lee won’t play 40 minutes a night, and the Zags have struggled to maintain offensive continuity in the past when their table-setting lead guard takes a rest. Whoever steps in behind him has a crucial role to play. The assumption up til now has been that it falls to Javon Bennett, but the Zags have another good option available.

In Defense of Nathan de Sousa

“NDS” came off the bench in all 36 of his appearances for Cholet last season and averaged 10.2 points in 19.2 minutes a game. He posted a 42.6 percent assist rate and a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio while using nearly a quarter of Cholet’s possessions, which is a starter’s workload with a reserve’s minutes. Cholet finished fifth in a 16-team league at 19-11 in the regular season with him running the second unit.

It’s easy to see why the assumption would be Javon Bennett over Nathan de Sousa. He’s a known, box-score-proven guard who just averaged 15.8 points on a first-team All-Atlantic 10 season and beat BYU and Florida State doing it. De Sousa is an unproven 23-year-old walking in from a foreign pro league most fans have never heard of. That instinct makes sense on name recognition but falls apart once you look at what Xaivian Lee contributes on the floor and what might be needed when he’s off it.

Bennett’s last season at Dayton ran on volume. 12.7 shots a night across 34.5 minutes, 471 attempts on the year, the most on Dayton’s roster, to get to 15.8 points a game. Scale that down to the 12 or 13 minutes a backup point guard in Gonzaga’s system is likely to play, and it lands around five or six points, and that assumes he shoots exactly like himself against Pac-12 defenses that are a step up from the A-10 in size and physicality.

Five or six points isn’t nothing, but it also costs you the distribution the offense actually runs on. Lee puts up 6.1 assists per 40 minutes. Bennett puts up 3.4. The guard you’d bring in to cover a cold shooting night from Lee might be the more consistent outside threat, but he moves the ball at roughly half the rate, which is trading one problem for another.

Defense is the bigger problem. The knock on Lee through four years of scouting is that bigger, more physical guards move him off his spot, and at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds Bennett gives up height and weight to Lee himself and to the guards he’d be checking in Lee’s place. Pull Lee for a shooting slump, put Bennett in for a scoring nudge, and the perimeter shell gets worse in the process.

De Sousa doesn’t have either problem. He played those 19.2 minutes a night in a complementary role and still ran close to five assists a game, a rate that scales to better than 10 per 40, and he did it while playing hard-nosed, aggressive defense. Listings run from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-3 at 194 pounds, and the scouting language out of France consistently mentions his toughness and his passing feel.

What he does with the ball looks nothing like what Lee or Bennett do with it. Lee led the Gators with 4.2 assists per game in 27.4 minutes a night, creating off the dribble and pulling up for a clean look or kicking to the right man in traffic, the same face and demeanor whether it drops or rims out. Lee has always been all business. De Sousa, on the other hand, gets downhill, finds the roller, draws fouls at the rim, and then screams in a defender’s face about it. The Zags have not had a Nathan de Sousa in a long while, maybe ever. They’re two very different point guards, and two completely different looks when something needs to change.

Lee is the higher-usage engine, undoubtedly, built to create off the bounce and put the ball in the right hands when it needs to be there, with the thinner frame that comes with that game. De Sousa is built to guard up, keep the offense moving without needing touches, and absorb minutes against backcourts with more size than Lee can handle. Lee running it and de Sousa spelling him for up to 15 minutes a night plays to what each is built to do and lets the Zags switch looks and get some much-needed spark based on who’s across from them.

Final Thoughts

Xaivian Lee solves the no-point-guard problem. He doesn’t solve the logjam behind him. Javon Bennett’s game needs touches he won’t get in a bench role, and his size compounds the problem on the defensive side. De Sousa, however, has already shown he can do exactly what Lee doesn’t: body up larger guards and pump up the energy with his aggressive and chaotic style of play. He did it all while playing bench minutes for a professional club and without needing the offense to run through him.

The temperament gap makes it more interesting. Lee gets a shot up and jogs back down the floor, quiet about it either way. De Sousa’s temperament can best be described as “high energy” or “hustle guy” or “absolute maniac.” A team needs two speeds at that position sometimes. Lee and De Sousa give Gonzaga that. Lee and Bennett give Gonzaga a bad answer to a tough question of size, skill, and fit.

None of it may end up mattering, remember. Bennett’s eligibility is stayed, maybe for good, and Nathan de Sousa is still in Paris waiting on a visa and a waiver with no public timeline attached. But if this breaks the way it looks like it’s breaking, Gonzaga isn’t scrambling for a fallback behind Lee. They already have the guy who committed back in June, before any of this started. That’s a decent place to land in the last week of August.

Who are the NHL's highest-paid players in 2026-27? See full breakdown

NHL salaries keep going up, and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar became the third player to set a record this offseason.

Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov was going to enter this season with a record $17 million cap hit. But he was passed by Anaheim forward Leo Carlsson, who averages $18 million in the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90 million offer sheet that was matched by the Ducks.

The San Jose Sharks topped that with a five-year, $94 million extension ($18.8 million average) for Macklin Celebrini, and Makar topped that again with his eight-year, $163.2 million extension ($20.4 million average) signed on Aug. 28. He's the first NHL player with a $20 million cap hit and came in just short of the $20.8 million maximum.

Both of their deals kick in during the 2027-28 season.

The NHL salary cap has been spiking since the flat cap COVID era, allowing for the rapid rise in individual contracts. The offer sheet to 21-year-old Carlsson also helped fuel the increase. The top average in 2022-23 had been $12.5 million by Edmonton's Connor McDavid, who now has been passed by seven different players

Here's a look at the highest-paid NHL players by cap hit, salary and position (figures from puckpedia.com):

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson will average $18 million in his five-year contract.

Highest-paid NHL players in 2026-27 by cap hit

Note: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will average $20.4 million and Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will average $18.8 million, starting in 2027-28.

Top 50 plus ties

  1. C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $18,000,000
  2. LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $17,000,000
  3. C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $15,000,000
  4. C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $14,000,000
  5. C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $13,500,000
  6. C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $13,250,000
  7. C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,604,000
  8. C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $12,500,000
  9. LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
  10. RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $12,000,000
  11. RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $12,000,000
  12. LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $12,000000
  13. C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,600,000
  14. C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $11,500,000
  15. C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $11,500,000
  16. D Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
  17. RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
  18. D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
  19. D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
  20. LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $11,000,000
  21. LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $11,000,000
  22. C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $10,625,000
  23. D Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
  24. D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
  25. RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $10,500,000
  26. LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames, $10,500,000
  27. C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $10,000,000
  28. C Tyler Seguin, Stars, $9,850,0000
  29. C Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes, $9,750,000
  30. D Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
  31. D Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
  32. D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
  33. RW Nikita Kucherov, Lightning, $9,500,000
  34. C Brayden Point, Lightning, $9,500,000
  35. D Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
  36. RW Mark Stone, Golden Knights, $9,500,000
  37. D Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
  38. LW Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers, $9,500,000
  39. D Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
  40. C Mathew Barzal, Islanders, $9,150,000
  41. C Trevor Zegras, Flyers, $9,125,000
  42. D Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
  43. LW Jake Guentzel, Lightning, $9,000,000
  44. D Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
  45. D Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
  46. D Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
  47. D Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
  48. D Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
  49. D Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $8,850,000
  50. RW Timo Meier, Devils, $8,800,000

Highest-paid players in 2026-27 by salary

Top 30, plus ties

  1. C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $20,800,000
  2. LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $19,100,000
  3. C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $17,700,000
  4. C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $17,000,000
  5. C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $16,500,000
  6. RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $15,700,000
  7. LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $15,000,000
  8. C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $14,250,000
  9. C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $14,000,000
  10. RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $14,000,000
  11. LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $14,000,000
  12. C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $13,000,000
  13. D Thomas Harley, Stars, $13,000,000
  14. C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $12,500,000
  15. C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,150,000
  16. D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
  17. D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $12,000,000
  18. C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $12,000,000
  19. LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
  20. LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $12,000,000
  21. D Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
  22. RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
  23. RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $11,250,000
  24. C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $11,080,000
  25. D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
  26. D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
  27. D Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $11,000,000
  28. C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,000,000
  29. D Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $11,000,000
  30. D Rasmus Andersson, Golden Knights, $10,500,000
  31. LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames, $10,500,000
  32. C Trevor Zegras, Flyers, $10,500,000

Highest-paid defensemen in 2026-27 by cap hit

Note: Makar will average $20.4 million and Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram will have a $12.5 million cap hit, starting in 2027-28.

Top 30 plus ties

  1. Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
  2. Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
  3. Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
  4. Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
  5. Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
  6. Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
  7. Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
  8. Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
  9. Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
  10. Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
  11. Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
  12. Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
  13. Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
  14. Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
  15. Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
  16. Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
  17. Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
  18. Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $8,850,000
  19. Moritz Seider, Red Wings, $8,550,000
  20. John Carlson, Lightning, $8,500,000
  21. Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $8,500,000
  22. Ivan Provorov, Blue Jackets, $8,500,000
  23. Rasmus Andersson, Golden Knights, $8,500,000
  24. Mikhail Sergachev, Mammoth, $8,500,000
  25. Brock Faber, Wild, $8,500,000
  26. Miro Heiskanen, Stars, $8,450,000
  27. Owen Power, Sabres, $8,350,000
  28. Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $8,250,000
  29. Jake Sanderson, Senators, $8,050,000
  30. Victor Hedman, Lightning, $8,000,000
  31. Thomas Chabot, Senators, $8,000,000
  32. Philip Broberg, Blues, $8,000,000

Highest-paid goaltenders in 2026-27 by cap hit

Top 30

  1. Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $11,567,857
  2. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning, $9,500,000
  3. Thatcher Demko, Canucks, $8,500,000
  4. Connor Hellebuyck, Jets, $8,500,000
  5. Jake Oettinger, Stars, $8,250,000
  6. Jeremy Swayman, Bruins, $8,250,000
  7. Linus Ullmark, Senators, $8,250,000
  8. Ilya Sorokin, Islanders, $8,250,000
  9. Juuse Saros, Predators, $7,740,000
  10. Dustin Wolf, Flames, $7,500,000
  11. Sergei Bobrovsky, Maple Leafs, $7,000,000
  12. Filip Gustavsson, Wild, $6,800,000
  13. Lukas Dostal, Ducks, $6,500,000
  14. John Gibson, Red Wings, $6,400,000
  15. Adin Hill, Golden Knights, $6,250,000
  16. Jordan Binnington, Blues, $6,000,000
  17. Jacob Markstrom, Panthers, $6,000,000
  18. Philipp Grubauer, Kraken, $5,900,000
  19. Logan Thompson, Capitals, $5,850,000
  20. Spencer Knight, Blackhawks, $5,833,333
  21. Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets, $5,400,000
  22. Tristan Jarry, Oilers, $5,375,000
  23. MacKenzie Blackwood, Avalanche, $5,250,000
  24. Darcy Kuemper, Kings, $5,250,000
  25. Jet Greaves, Blue Jackets, $5,000,000
  26. Joey Daccord, Kraken, $5,000,000
  27. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres, $4,750,000
  28. Karel Vejmelka, Mammoth, $4,750,000
  29. Kevin Lankinen, Canucks, $4,500,000
  30. Joonas Korpisalo, Rangers, $4,000,000

What is the NHL salary cap for 2026-27 and 2027-28?

2026-27

  • Upper limit: $104 million
  • Lower limit: $76.9 million

2027-28

  • Upper limit: $113.5 million
  • Lower limit: $83.9 million

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are the NHL's highest-paid players in 2026-27? See full breakdown

Warriors prepared to offer Steph Curry insane amount to retire in Golden State

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Golden State is prepared to offer Steph Curry a two-year extension and let its franchise icon dictate all of his final contract terms, Image 2 shows Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball

The Golden State Warriors are prepared to give Stephen Curry something even more valuable than a maximum contract: maximum control.

Beginning Saturday, Curry can sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension that would keep him with Golden State through the 2028-29 season. Added to the approximately $62.5 million he will earn this season, the deal would represent a commitment of more than $199 million over the next three years and carry Curry through his 41st birthday.

Golden State is apparently willing to let him decide whether that is the right arrangement.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors looks on from the crowd during the Golden State Valkyries game against the Dallas Wings at Chase Center on Monday, August 17, 2026, in San Francisco, California. Getty Images

ClutchPoints’ NBA Insider Brett Siegel reported that the Warriors are prepared to offer Curry the full maximum, accept a discounted deal that preserves roster flexibility or let him delay negotiations until he enters unrestricted free agency next summer.

“They’re going to go to Steph and say, ‘What type of deal do you want?’” Siegel said.

That is effectively a blank check, but Curry’s answer will shape far more than his personal earnings.

The Warriors reportedly have no intention of trading Curry. The franchise icon has not requested a move and remains expected to retire with the only NBA team he has known. Paying him is the easy part. Building a contender around that salary is considerably more complicated.

Golden State has explored blockbuster moves for Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown without landing any of them. Its aging roster also lacks a proven young successor capable of carrying the franchise once Curry leaves.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrate during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

A full extension would reward the greatest player in team history but consume resources that could otherwise help Golden State chase another star. A discount would create additional flexibility, although it would require Curry to trust ownership to turn his financial sacrifice into meaningful help.

Waiting could be the most revealing option. Curry could preserve the Warriors’ spending power next summer, evaluate their roster plan and potentially negotiate a longer contract in 2027. A delay would not necessarily indicate that he wants to leave, but it would invite questions about whether he still believes another championship is possible in Golden State.

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. Getty Images

Curry’s age and recent health also make the commitment unusual. He played only 43 games last season after a knee issue cost him approximately two months. The Warriors nevertheless appear willing to absorb that risk because Curry’s value extends beyond ordinary roster calculations.

He delivered four championships, transformed the franchise and remains its commercial identity. Golden State is prepared to mortgage part of its future to ensure he never wears another uniform, even as ownership prepares for life after Curry.

The only unresolved question is how large Curry wants that mortgage to be.