GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 22: Jonathan Mingo #81 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Zack Kuntz #47 after catching a 53-yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of the preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It appears that wide receiver Jonathan Mingo is a part of the 2026 Dallas Cowboys roster.
Word of this perceived confirmation began to swirl as Friday night’s preseason finale was about to kick off. You see, Mingo was seen without pads on as the game against the New Orleans Saints was set to begin.
Cowboys WR Jonathan Mingo is not in pads tonight. He's on this team.
If you are unaware as to how people can make this leap, players who do not play in the preseason (unless dealing with injury) generally do not because the team does not want to risk them. They are on the team.
It was almost two years ago when the Cowboys sent a fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers to acquire Mingo. Just this past week against the Arizona Cardinals he caught his first touchdown with the team, and even though it came in a preseason game it was Mingo’s first touchdown of any kind (regular or preseason game) in the NFL period.
He will in all likelihood have future opportunities to catch more with the Dallas Cowboys.
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.
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):
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
C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $18,000,000
LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $17,000,000
C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $15,000,000
C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $14,000,000
C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $13,500,000
C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $13,250,000
C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,604,000
C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $12,500,000
LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $12,000,000
RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $12,000,000
LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $12,000000
C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,600,000
C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $11,500,000
C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $11,500,000
D Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $11,000,000
LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $11,000,000
C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $10,625,000
D Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $10,500,000
LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames, $10,500,000
C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $10,000,000
C Tyler Seguin, Stars, $9,850,0000
C Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes, $9,750,000
D Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
D Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
RW Nikita Kucherov, Lightning, $9,500,000
C Brayden Point, Lightning, $9,500,000
D Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
RW Mark Stone, Golden Knights, $9,500,000
D Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
LW Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers, $9,500,000
D Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
C Mathew Barzal, Islanders, $9,150,000
C Trevor Zegras, Flyers, $9,125,000
D Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
LW Jake Guentzel, Lightning, $9,000,000
D Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
D Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
D Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
D Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
D Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
D Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $8,850,000
RW Timo Meier, Devils, $8,800,000
Highest-paid players in 2026-27 by salary
▶ Top 30, plus ties
C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $20,800,000
LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $19,100,000
C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $17,700,000
C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $17,000,000
C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $16,500,000
RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $15,700,000
LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $15,000,000
C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $14,250,000
C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $14,000,000
RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $14,000,000
LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $14,000,000
C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $13,000,000
D Thomas Harley, Stars, $13,000,000
C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $12,500,000
C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,150,000
D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $12,000,000
C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $12,000,000
LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $12,000,000
D Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $11,250,000
C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $11,080,000
D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
D Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $11,000,000
C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,000,000
D Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $11,000,000
D Rasmus Andersson, Golden Knights, $10,500,000
LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames, $10,500,000
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
Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $8,850,000
Moritz Seider, Red Wings, $8,550,000
John Carlson, Lightning, $8,500,000
Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $8,500,000
Ivan Provorov, Blue Jackets, $8,500,000
Rasmus Andersson, Golden Knights, $8,500,000
Mikhail Sergachev, Mammoth, $8,500,000
Brock Faber, Wild, $8,500,000
Miro Heiskanen, Stars, $8,450,000
Owen Power, Sabres, $8,350,000
Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $8,250,000
Jake Sanderson, Senators, $8,050,000
Victor Hedman, Lightning, $8,000,000
Thomas Chabot, Senators, $8,000,000
Philip Broberg, Blues, $8,000,000
Highest-paid goaltenders in 2026-27 by cap hit
▶ Top 30
Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $11,567,857
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning, $9,500,000
Thatcher Demko, Canucks, $8,500,000
Connor Hellebuyck, Jets, $8,500,000
Jake Oettinger, Stars, $8,250,000
Jeremy Swayman, Bruins, $8,250,000
Linus Ullmark, Senators, $8,250,000
Ilya Sorokin, Islanders, $8,250,000
Juuse Saros, Predators, $7,740,000
Dustin Wolf, Flames, $7,500,000
Sergei Bobrovsky, Maple Leafs, $7,000,000
Filip Gustavsson, Wild, $6,800,000
Lukas Dostal, Ducks, $6,500,000
John Gibson, Red Wings, $6,400,000
Adin Hill, Golden Knights, $6,250,000
Jordan Binnington, Blues, $6,000,000
Jacob Markstrom, Panthers, $6,000,000
Philipp Grubauer, Kraken, $5,900,000
Logan Thompson, Capitals, $5,850,000
Spencer Knight, Blackhawks, $5,833,333
Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets, $5,400,000
Tristan Jarry, Oilers, $5,375,000
MacKenzie Blackwood, Avalanche, $5,250,000
Darcy Kuemper, Kings, $5,250,000
Jet Greaves, Blue Jackets, $5,000,000
Joey Daccord, Kraken, $5,000,000
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres, $4,750,000
Karel Vejmelka, Mammoth, $4,750,000
Kevin Lankinen, Canucks, $4,500,000
Joonas Korpisalo, Rangers, $4,000,000
What is the NHL salary cap for 2026-27 and 2027-28?
Aug 28, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) celebrates his rushing touchdown during the first half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The New York Giants finish the 2026 preseason with a 2-1 record after a 23-6 win over the New York Jets.
In-game updates
Second half updates
The Giants drive the ball down to the goal line, then take a knee three times to end the game.
Jason Sanders misses his second kick. He previously missed an extra point and now misses a 54-yard field goal to keep the score 23-6. The Giants still haven’t let Ben Sauls see the field…
The Giants cut Jason Sanders because they didn't think his leg was strong enough anymore. He was so shaky that they were compelled to make Dominic Zvada a priority undrafted signing. If Sanders had better before the draft, the Giants may not have made Zvada as much of a priority.…
“Let’s Go Giants” chants sparking after the Giants get a sack and force a 3-and-out following the Zvada field goal. Trace Ford has made his presence felt.
Dominic Zvada hits a 53-yard field goal to extend the Giants’ lead to 13-6.
Dominic Zvada from 53. Good with about 10 yards to spare. 13-6.
The Giants force a 3-and-out to start the second half, just in time for Tyrone Tracy to jog back to the Giants’ sideline.
Tyrone Tracy is back on the Giants' sideline, obviously a good sign given the way he left the field. We'll see what the official word is from the team, but clearly not as worrisome as initially appeared.
GIANT Sack. Trace Ford flattens Cade Klubnik on a bad pass to knock the Jets well out of field goal range. The Giants call a time out to try to get something done in 35 seconds.
Trace Ford has put some quality stuff on tape the past two games. Sacks Klubnik there. Harbaugh calls timeout with 43 seconds left, Jets to punt.
You know Harbs is hoping for a long FG attempt from Zvada.
Catch No. 3 from Odell Beckham. Got open on a slant, but QB Brandon Allen threw behind him. Beckham had to slow down and ended up making the 17-yard catch in traffic.
The Giants sprint down the field on the back of big runs by Tyrone Tracy Jr. as well as a long catch by Odell Beckham Jr. for the touchdown. The Giants take the lead after the extra point from Dominic Zvada.
The Giants’ backup CBs rotate in, Cade Klubnick is 0-2 on the way to a 3-and-out.
Colton Hood and Korie Black now at CB on this second drive after Deonte Banks and Paulson Adebo started. Greg Newsome not playing tonight, he's been the best at the position this summer.
A promising drive is cut short by another turnover. Braxton Berrios has the ball punched out while he tries to pick up yards after the catch.
Braxton Berrios loses the fumble inside the 5 after a 16-yard catch from Winston. McCrary-Ball for Jets now has a pick and a forced fumble, punched it away from Berrios as he was fighting for more yards.
This list is a pretty good tell when it comes to players who will make the roster.
Giants players not in uniform during pregame warmups:
• RB Cam Skattebo • RB Devin Singletary • FB Pat Ricard • WR Malik Nabers • WR Jalin Hyatt (injured) • TE Isaiah Likely • TE Theo Johnson (injured) • TE Chris Manhertz • OL Andrew Thomas • OL Jermaine Eluemunor •…
It looks like Jaxson Dart won’t play, though some starters apparently will.
The Giants main starters (including QB Jaxson Dart) will have gone from Aug. 15 to Sept. 13 without any live game reps. Twenty-nine days.
It's something coach John Harbaugh said he was weighing as a major factor. But so too was how much benefit there would be for a drive or two… https://t.co/4gTR42xlUD
Dart and other starters will go without game action for nearly a month leading up to the Sept. 13 season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
The New York Giants face the New York Jets in the 2026 preseason finale Friday night at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff it at 7:30 p.m. ET in one of those awkward games where the Giants will be the visiting team in their own stadium.
Will head coach John Harbaugh play quarterback Jaxson Dart and at least some other frontline players? I wrote previously that he believes Harbaugh should. Giants fans who voted in our poll overwhelmingly agree.
With teams having to trim their rosters to 53 players by Sunday at 6 p.m., there are still a handful of roster spots to be won or lost. Who will step forward, or play themselves out of a job, Friday night?
Follow this thread for updates during the game, and to discuss the action with other Giants fans.
The Colorado Avalanche have locked defenseman Cale Makar in for the long term at a record-setting price.
The team announced on Friday, Aug. 28 that it signed the two-time Norris Trophy winner to an eight-year extension. His representative, Bartlett Hockey, posted that the deal is worth $163.2 million, with an annual cap hit of $20.4 million.
That will make Makar, 27, the highest-paid player in the NHL when the deal kicks in during the 2027-28 season. He's the league's first $20 million player and passes the $18.8 million average annual value in the extension signed by San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini.
The contract also blows away the $12.5 million average that former Avalanche teammate Bowen Byram, now with the Chicago Blackhawks, had received as the highest-paid defenseman.
Here's a look at the contract of Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar:
He'll make $163.2 million in the extension, which breaks the $136 million deal signed by Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov. He also becomes the first NHL player to average $20 million.
Makar has one year left on his six-year, $54 million contract. The new contract will expire in 2034-35.
The #GoAvsGo Cale Makar 8 year $20.4M Cap Hit Extension
Yr 1-3 $4M Base & 16.8M Signing Bonus Yr 4 $12.8M & $8M SB Yr 5 $4M & $16.8M SB Yr 6 $3M & $16.8M SB Yr 7 $2.8M & $16.8M SB Yr 8 $1M & $18.8M SB
Makar won the Norris Trophy as outstanding defenseman in 2022 and 2025 and has been a finalist the past six seasons. He was rookie of the year in 2019-20, plus won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during the Avalanche's 2022 Stanley Cup run.
He has hit the 20-goal mark four times, including 30 goals in 2024-25. Makar has 136 goals and 507 points in 470 regular-season games.
Khosla has bristled at the criticism of the relevant comments from his first press conference after the sale of the team was approved.
"Reporters will make every molehill into a mountain just to get column inches to write or video minutes," Khosla said on Twitter. "What’s wrong with admitting my 1976-78 period in Pittsburgh (CMU) got me excited about the NFL? I still watch their games doesn’t mean I won't unconditionally ALWAYS as owner, want the [Seahawks] to win and have every edge up, EVERY TIME over every other team!!!! Zero questions!!! At the other end is a set of teams I always want to lose every advantage. But happy to have the sports writer getting more column inches and fill their pages. You are welcome. Apologies in advance for my very transparent style."
Khosla's message appears over a reposting of a tweet from Barstool Sports with this observation: "What not to do during your opening press conference as the new Seahawks owner? Reveal you've been a Steelers fan your whole life and still watch all of their games."
The reaction to Khosla's comments was widespread. He chose to share the "little-known fact" while demonstrating his longstanding passion for football.
Of course he's now fully aligned with the Seahawks. The point isn't that he was a Steelers fan. It's that he decided, without prompting, to tell the world that he was and still is a Steelers fan, and that he still watches all of their games.
“So, actually, I was originally, and still am, a big Steelers fan also — a little-known fact — but I still watch all the Steelers games, too."
That's what he said. No one put words in his mouth. No one was grilling him over the legitimacy of his commitment to the Seahawks, and no one is. The reaction came from the basic reality that it probably wasn't the best thing to wear on his sleeve in the first press conference as the owner of the Seahawks.
And it wasn't just, you know, the rest of the world that came to that conclusion. Watch the video. Khosla's son, Neal, had just enough of a crack in his poker face to reveal that he was thinking something like, "Dad. Don't."
The strong reaction to the criticism now becomes the second chapter in the Book of Khosla. And the chapters will come one after another — especially since Khosla seems to be very active on social media.
At least he didn't close with, "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 22: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (5) lines up behind guard Jovaughn Gwyn (54) during the NFL preseason game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings on August 22nd, 2026, at U.S. Bank in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Baltimore Ravens are just one more game away from the 2026 regular season. Jesse Minter has won his first two preseason games as head coach; tonight, he’ll go for three in a row against the visiting Washington Commanders. Most of the 53-man roster is already set, but the Ravens still have to settle on their Week 1 starting center and fill a few key depth spots on both sides of the ball.
The Ravens’ preseason final kicks off at 6 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium. Follow along with all of the action on this page and join the discussion in the comments section!
Ja'Kobi Lane is not on the field with the rest of the Ravens' wide receivers in warmups. Seems like the third-round rookie is getting the starter treatment tonight 👀
Woodland Hills, - June 08:Rams Puka Nacua (12) at Rams practice on Monday, June 8, 2026. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) g | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
69% of fans are simply not worried about Nacua or Garrett missing any time, so far.
19% of the fans surveyed claimed to be worried about both players, while 12% are split between worrying about Nacua and Garrett respectively. So, if you add up all the worriers, you could make the argument that about 30% of the fan base is concerned about either or both players leading in to September.
If either one of these absences bleed into the regular season, panic may set in among the fan base and the organization, but that hasn’t happened, yet, as most expect the Rams and their stars to be good to go for Week 1.
If Nacua is suspended for Week 1, or misses time due to injury, that should impact all of L.A.’s offense. Whether you think that means Matthew Stafford has a bad day without Nacua, or that Terrance Ferguson goes off in Nacua’s place, you can make those bets and more on FanDuel!
If you can think of it, you can likely bet it. Bet responsibly and have fun with it. You never know, the next big winner could be you!
And keep an eye on who will be suiting up for Week 1, nothing is decided until it’s official, and until an official roster is shown, nothing is decided, but as it stands, Rams fans expect their starters to be good to go in Australia.
BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 10: Michael Burton #34 of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass during the Cleveland Browns Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now for the difficult part of being an NFL head coach: cutting players.
Training camp involves 90 players. On August 30, that roster has to be pared down to 53 guys.
It used to be in increments. On the first cut, the roster was down to 75. The cut to 62, and then finally to 53. It made for a lot of drama. But now? That’s a lot of athletes calling their agent to see if some other team put in a waiver claim for them.
Who to release, and who to retain?
There are rumors that the Browns coaching staff wants to keep all four of their quarterbacks. That is highly unusual because only one plays in every game. After the starter, Deshaun Watson, the remainder in the room are all developmental first-and second-year guys. Yikes. No wily, seasoned veteran to lean on, like when Baker Mayfield had Casey Keenum, or when Deshaun Watson was on suspension, the roster had Jacoby Brissett.
By keeping four QBs, this means the roster will release a tight end, a cornerback, or a defensive line player instead. A larger yikes.
Every Browns media outlet will give their list of what the final 53 will look like, as DBN did. Today, we are just going to predict who the final four guys the coaching staff will keep, and the four last bubble guys they bumped off.
Last four in
FB Michael Burton
Burton was used in the preseason more as another tight end/H-back than a traditional fullback, although he did line up occasionally in the backfield. He is strictly a blocker, but was thrown to a few times in the Patriots preseason game. Head coach Todd Monken likes having a fullback. The team was expected to draft one but didn’t, so Burton signed. By keeping him, the tight end room can become three players instead of four.
WR Luke Floriea
This one was tight. Floriea had a great preseason. So did Malachi Corley and Greg Larvadain. Maybe the coaching staff sees Floriea as their very own Wes Welker who will take some slot reps. Hard to tell, but the short white receiver played well when his number was called, and is a good blocker downfield.
S Donovan McMillon
McMillon is a missile on special teams on kickoff and punt coverage teams. And he does get defensive snaps as well. He is a willing tackler. His special teams play was commendable, which is enough to earn a roster spot in that role with potential upside defensively.
CB Michael Coats, Jr.
He was signed with a $100,000 guarantee and showed he can ball out as an undrafted rookie. Runs a 4.41. He has had an ankle injury during the first preseason game, and now a second leg injury has arisen. But he has shown quite a bit in training camp. If he can remain healthy, the coaching staff could believe that Coats can provide good depth plus value on special teams. He may not play right away, but once he heals, he should become an asset.
Last four out
TE Joe Royer
Yeah, the coaching staff had high hopes for Royer. He hasn’t been placed on any list – yet. He could end up on the final roster, and then be added to some sort of list, and then get back one guy they wanted to keep. It has happened before. Nobody but the front office seems to know what personal issues Royer is dealing with.
WR Malachi Corley
Just a numbers game, and Floriea had three to none. That is three touchdown catches to zero for Corley. If he clears waivers, the Browns will get him back to the practice squad and perhaps bring him up as a returner. The coaching staff really likes this guy. Plus, Greg Larvadain has offered more as a returner.
S Daniel Thomas
The question concerning the fourth safety was: is it going to be Chris Edmonds or Donovan McMillon? Edmonds is already gone, and there is no competition for Thomas to beat out McMillon. Too many players in the room, which most likely sends him to the practice squad. If the coaching staff retains five safeties, then Thomas would become that choice.
DE Sam Kamara
The Browns keep going back to Kamara like a security blanket since 2022, in that he can play outside or slide into the middle. He has been on the practice squad six times, released five times, and promoted to the roster on six different stints. This will even out all numbers to six with his release once again.
Who do you think are the last 4 in/out on the Browns initial 53-man roster?
Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza might start his rookie season as a third-stringer.
Coach Klint Kubiak has not said who his starting quarterback is, but it's widely expected to be Kirk Cousins. Kubiak was asked today whether, if Cousins is the starter, Mendoza or Aidan O'Connell will be the backup. And Kubiak said that decision has not yet been made.
"We've got three guys that are ready to play. It's going to be some hard decisions on who's 1, who's 2. That's not a decision we have to make today, but those are discussions that are ongoing," Kubiak said.
It's not often that the first overall pick in the draft starts his career on the third team, but Kubiak seems to be in no rush to get Mendoza on the field. It appears likely that Cousins is going to start the season with Mendoza on the sideline, and Mendoza may not get on the field early in the season even if Cousins goes down.
Gabriel started in this matchup and put up a solid performance. He completed 12 of his 15 passes for 186 yards with three touchdowns. Green took over at quarterback in the second half and completed five passes for 27 yards. Additionally, he had eight rushes for 66 yards. Both quarterbacks impressed in different ways and made an argument for why they deserve a spot on this roster.
Although Gabriel is clearly the more impressive quarterback of the two, it is more likely that the rookie Green will end up getting a roster spot. Gabriel has the higher floor of the two quarterbacks, but Green is younger and possesses the physical tools that could make him an intriguing player for the team to develop. When looking at the third quarterback on the roster, it is better to look at who has higher upside and could develop into something really valuable for the team in the future.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Did Dillon Gabriel or Taylen Green do enough to prove they deserve a roster spot?
The Sens Nation Podcast with Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy
If the Senators go with a defenseman as their next captain, who should it be, Jake Sanderson or Thomas Chabot?
In this episode of Sens Nation, the official Ottawa Senators Podcast of The Hockey News, THN Ottawa Site Editor Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy examine the case for both players, including leadership, loyalty, contracts, stability and safeguarding against another captain eventually wanting out.
They also discuss Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request, whether players should lose some no-trade protection after asking to leave, and how Steve Staios handled Ottawa’s difficult Brady Tkachuk trade.
Plus:
• Could Fabian Zetterlund complete a line with William Eklund and Tim Stützle?
• Is Warren Foegele a dark-horse top-six option?
• The five greatest Ottawa-born and raised players in Senators history
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 21: Que Robinson #51 of the Denver Broncos tackles Pierre Strong Jr. #22 of the Green Bay Packers during a preseason game at Empower Field At Mile High on August 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Strong was traded to the Browns after his first season, and his his workload slightly increased from 10 carries as a rookie to 63. During his Cleveland stint, Strong mostly served as a passing downs specialist while averaging a respectable 4.5 yards per carry and 8 yards per reception, and there’s definitely some big play ability and elite agility in his repertoire. This was on display in last week’s preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos; while wearing green and gold, Strong averaged 4.6 yards per carry on eight carries and ripped off a 68-yard kickoff return.
I actually like Strong better than Marshawn Lloyd as both represent the potential “lightning” to Josh Jacobs’ thunder, and while Lloyd is quite a bit larger, Strong is the better athlete, and despite his small size, he’s been more durable.
The Josh Jacobs problem
Matt LaFleur may be a very successful offensive football coach, but I still think he runs the ball too much. I don’t mind running the ball, and in 2024 when Josh Jacobs was ripping off 4.4 yards per carry and scoring 15 touchdowns, it was mostly fine. Unfortunately, since that time the Packers’ offensive line has declined as a run-blocking unit, and it’s possible that seven years of physical punishment has started to wear on Jacobs. And now, with Jacobs charged with assault and a pretty nasty video tape of the incident allegedly out there, there is an opportunity for the team to move on from Jacobs before he falls off a cliff (and also to get an alleged abuser off the team).
Back in 2022 Josh Jacobs led the league in rushing yards with 1653, and was also elite in exceeding his expected rushing total. The NFL’s NextGenStats page has a series of metrics which tracks how many more yards a back gains than expected based on the blocking on the play, the quality of the opponent, and several other factors. (This advanced metric was born out of the NFL’s Big Data Bowl contest in 2020)
Jacobs gained 0.47 yards over expected per attempt that year, which ranked 11th among qualifiers. That may not sound overly impressive, but maintaining that level of production of his robust total of 340 carries is impressive. Of the ten backs that ranked higher, only Cleveland’s Nick Chubb was even in the ballpark with 302 carries.
It’s possible that this is just a matter of health, and that after an offseason of rest and recovery he would be back to his old self again. But, running back is a young man’s game, Jacobs is expensive for a running back, and Jacobs turned 28 in February. He also uses a punishing running style and he has exceeded 200 carries in every season of his career (and 300 twice). He is not a great bet to age gracefully, and weird, bad offseasons don’t help.
Committee Time
While I’m not a huge fan of Marshawn Lloyd, a committee of Strong, Lloyd, and Chris Brooks would probably be fine. Brooks is an outstanding blocking back and a good enough receiver. He’s very useful and he’s capable of rattling off 5 yards a carry against light boxes while keeping your QB upright. I love Chris Brooks as a player, just not at 200 carries.
In the unlikely event the Packers did move on from Jacobs, I could see the case for bringing in another power back, but even if they didn’t, they could probably get by with Lloyd/Strong/Brooks just fine, and with one additional hidden benefit. Matt LaFleur would be somewhat likely to run less without a proven workhorse, and so the number of passes the team throws would likely increase. Given that Jacobs isn’t what he once was anyway, this could actually provide a massive benefit to the team.
Jacobs is one of Matt’s favorite toys, but it’s not working so well anymore. The remaining running backs have enough combined skills to make up for most of what Jacobs does at this point in his career. I don’t think they will move on, but if there really is a video out there, they’re playing with fire for no good reason. Use tonight’s game to check out the backups.
The bad news for Carolina? They got absolutely steamrolled by the Texans in Wednesday’s joint practice, looking like a total trainwreck on both sides of the ball in a performance coach Dave Canales rightfully dubbed “lopsided.”
The glorious news for Panthers bettors? Not a single one of those starters will touch the turf in Friday’s preseason finale.
That massive roster flip is exactly why our best Texans vs. Panthers predictions is backing Carolina to take care of business.
Check out our latest NFL picks for more preseason betting analysis.
Texans vs Panthers prediction
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Who will win Texans vs Panthers: Panthers moneyline
Kalshi probability: 49%
Both coaches plan to rest their starters in the final preseason game, allowing the second- and third-string units to resolve any remaining depth-chart or roster-spot battles. That’s bad news for a Houston Texans team whose starters have won the first quarters of their two preseason games by a combined 20-3 margin. Houston has lost the second halves of its games by a 36-0 margin this preseason and has been outscored 44-3 after the first quarter.
The Carolina Panthers have been just the opposite. The starting unit has managed just one first-quarter touchdown in three games while the starting defense has allowed 13 points. Carolina’s reserves have then scored 74 points after the first quarter ends and 37 in the second halves.
TOP PICK Texans vs Panthers Over/Under pick: Over 36.5
Kalshi probability: 49%
As good as the Panthers’ offense has been after the starters depart, the Carolina defense has made opposing reserves look just as good. The Panthers have given up as many second-half points as they’ve scored — 37 — and have surrendered 63 after the first quarter. The Houston defense is also shaky, blowing a 17-0 lead against Oakland.
While Houston won’t have any starters in the game, there will be plenty of star power catching passes from the backup quarterbacks. The team has added Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard, then traded for Kayshon Boutte. The trio have combined for 22 NFL seasons, 381 games, 823 catches, and 52 touchdowns, and all will be making their preseason debut with Houston.
COVERS INTEL: Brett Rypien—forced into duty after Graham Mertz's season-ending injury—has been an absolute disaster, turning the ball over twice without leading a single scoring drive. Playing for his job as Houston weighs carrying just two QBs, fading Rypien and backing the Panthers is pure cash.
Texans vs Panthers trend to know
The Panthers have gone Over in all three of their preseason games. Combined, the Over is 4-1 in the two teams’ five preseason games.
Temperatures will be in the 80s with a chance of a heavy thunderstorm, which could create wet conditions and potentially impact the passing and kicking games.
How to watch Texans vs Panthers
Location
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Date
Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
Kickoff
7 p.m. ET
TV
KTRK, WSOC
Texans vs Panthers 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.
COVERS INTEL: Brett Rypien—forced into duty after Graham Mertz's season-ending injury—has been an absolute disaster, turning the ball over twice without leading a single scoring drive. Playing for his job as Houston weighs carrying just two QBs, fading Rypien and backing the Panthers is pure cash.