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Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We have one final week of preseason to get through before its on to the final roster cut down, practice squad signings, and then game week! Let’s dive in to your final round of preseason questions!

RobHolland211: Hi Brian. Based solely on what we’ve seen this preseason, do you think we win the division again this year or do you think one (or two) of our NFC South foes have a chance of overtaking us?

I have a hard time basing much on the preseason. I think the Falcons are going to be dead in the water unless Michael Penix really bounces back. I do think the Buccaneers could win the NFC South, while I think the Saints will once again be competitive. But this division is still as unpredictable as ever to me.

GooseCreek: Brian, you are among a group of football enthusiasts gathered to discuss NFL rules you would like to add or change. After these discussions, a list of proposals will be sent to Troy Vincent, NFL Exec. V.P. of Football Operations for evaluation and referral to Commissioner Goodell.

What changes or additions are you advocating?]

I would push for an additional bye week and add more final roster spots and active GameDay roster spots. I think both of these will help increase the longevity of the rosters over the course of the ever expanding NFL season and subsequent increased travel with international games. Plus, it gives more young talents time and paychecks to develop in the NFL. Those are the only ones I am really all that passionate about, there were some really good answers to this question so share all your thoughts down below, CSR faithful.

@WTMealey: We might know the answer before the other article drops but anywho

How many players not currently on the roster will we claim on waivers and make the initial 53?

How many of our current players that we cut will end up on some other teams initial 53?

The Panthers do tend to churn the 53 man roster cuts, so I’ll go with 2 players they might add.

I think maybe 2 for the Panthers to make other 53 man rosters. I don’t expect Xavier Legette to be waived so he’s not on my list. This Panthers squad is a bit deeper than seasons past.

Randallpink11: Is Corey Thorton making the 53? I have seen several reports suggesting he does not. What does the mighty Brain have to say about it?

I don’t have a whole lot of doubt that he does make the roster. He made it last season and played some valuable snaps as part of the regular season defense before injuries. I have 4 guys ahead of him on the depth chart (Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade, Will Lee III). I would expect at least 5 CBs to make the roster and an additional 1 or 2 making the practice squad.

Revshawn: What would be the equivalent of natural disaster it would be if Haynes King is cut on the final cut day and he’s claimed by the Atlanta Falcons?

I appreciate a good bit, but its not outside of the realm of possibility the Panthers let King hit waivers and try to add him back to the practice squad. I think its more likely he sticks and Kyle Trask gets released, but I’m not staking my name to that claim just yet. But if waiving King happens, it will suck a little bit.

Good_Ol_Boy: Have you been impressed by our incoming rookie class in the preseason? Do you think any of them will be cut outright and not be put on the PS?

I don’t see much reason for the Panthers to waive any of their rookie draft class. I’d consider Will Lee III, Sam Hecht, and Zakee Wheatley pretty safe at this point. They may waive Jackson Kuwatch but I’d expect him to go back to the practice squad. If you’re talking UDFAs, I’m not getting into that one.

SmoothC: What order so you see the NFC south finishing?

I see the Bucs, Panthers, Saints, and Falcons as the order, with the top of the division once again super close in record. I could even see the Panthers slipping to 3rd or 4th by only a game or twos difference and tiebreakers. Still a real hard division to predict right now.

schrodingersblackcat: What’s your favorite Dolly Parton song (or other artistic contribution)?

What’s your favorite Tim Curry role?

Jolene and I Will Always Love You will always be classics for me. They may be easy answers but its just not difficult to me. As a side note, check out Dollywood if you never got the chance to.

For me, Tim Curry’s version of It will always be my favorite. Just a classic film in the horror genre.

SnarkyComet: How do you think our RB group will look on Week 1 vs the Bears? Like what percentage do you see the usage of each RB? With Hubbard coming off injury I’m anxious to see how/who we roll out there for the run game.

I know no one is 100% safe that’s not named Hubbard or Brooks so you can say 3rd RB if it helps. Or do you have a strong idea of who that third RB is?

I’m not overly concerned with Chuba Hubbard, it very much seems like Carolina is playing it safe with a soft tendon issue, and they really don’t need to trot Chuba out there during the preseason when he’s nursing an injury. I think Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks will split a healthy number of carries, but if Chuba is still hampered I don’t see any reason they won’t use Trevor Etienne. I’m way more worried about other positions than running back right now.

JakeNCVA: I’m all out of questions; other than ones that will have to wait until the regular season gets underway to get answers.

Great final comment to end the preseason mailbag, I’m exhausted with trying to project this and am just excited to see the real thing.

That’s all for this week, Panthers fans. Enjoy the preseason game!

The New Orleans Saints will head to Arlington to face the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL preseason. To break it down, David Halprin of Blogging The Boys joins us to preview this weekend’s matchup.

NJ: At this point, everyone knows the joint practice between New Orleans and Dallas was chippy as all get out. Before that joint practice and since then, the Saints haven’t really had any issues with scuffles. Has that kind of intensity and physicality been a consistent theme throughout the Cowboys’ offseason?

DH: I would say the intensity has been there through training camp, a certain amount of energy, but we haven’t had the scuffles we saw in that joint practice. Christian Parker is our new defensive coordinator and he has brought a swagger back to the defensive side of the ball, and that has led to some trash-talking during practices as a very poor Cowboys defense from 2025 gets a complete makeover. Brian Schottenheimer is also a high-energy coach so there has been some friendly banter and interplay between the offense and defense, but only OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku, who was thrown out of the Saints practice, was also told to leave a practice earlier in training camp for a similar fighting problem. That appeared to be a very isolated incident because we never saw much else like that until the joint practice. I don’t know what happened during the joint practice, but the fighting seemed out of the ordinary for how the Cowboys had conducted most of their practices.

NJ: Which Dallas position battle or group of players has the most to gain from the additional preseason reps against New Orleans?

DH: The Cowboys are sorting out quite a few position battles. One of the ones that has been watched a lot is who will be RB2 behind Javonte Williams. Jaydon Blue, Malik Davis, Phil Mafah and Israel Abanikanda are all fighting for reps, with Davis in the driver’s seat right now. The Cowboys are also closely looking at their depth at cornerback as they have a cluster of players all trying to get attention. This one may end up needing some outside help once cutdown day happens. There was a good battle at QB2 going on, but many feel like Joe Milton III has locked that up with a couple of excellent performances in preseason. There is also some competition going on along the backup offensive line.

NJ: What are you hoping to learn about the Cowboys from Friday’s matchup against the Saints, and what did you learn from training camp and the first two preseason games that you’d like to see the team build on?

DH: For most of the offseason, training camp and preseason, Cowboys fans have been eyeing the changes on defense and hoping they make the team better. Last year, the defense was horrible and totally scuttled the season. First-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker has changed the scheme and has overhauled much of the personnel on that side of the ball. So far, it looks like it is working as the defense has played much better. The continuation of that is what Cowboys fans need to see. We know our offense is powerful and can score points, last year they were great. It is all down to the defense if we are going to have success in 2026.

NJ: Who is one Cowboys player you think Saints fans should keep an eye on Friday—someone who may not be receiving much national attention but could make a strong impression?

DH: Wide receiver Camden Brown went undrafted as a rookie. He only had one strong college season in his senior year after he transferred, and wasn’t really on our radar after the Cowboys signed him. In training camp, he exploded. He just kept making plays and catching the attention of everybody. Then in the first preseason game he had two spectacular touchdown catches, and in the last game he added a 69-yard catch-and-run pass completion. He has come out of nowhere to the brink of making the roster. If he shines again on Friday, the Cowboys will have to keep him on the roster, it would be criminal negligence not to.

NJ: According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Cowboys (-126) are currently 2.5-point favorites over the Saints (+108) in Sunday’s matchup; what is your final score prediction?

DH: Predicting scores for preseason games feels like a losing proposition all around because you never know who will play for how long, and what the coaches want to look at that might not be the best strategy for winning the game. But since you asked, I’ll go with Cowboys 24 Saints 13.

Thank you again to David Halprin for joining us to preview this week’s matchup! You can check out the rest of his work here.

The third week of the NFL Preseason schedule typically does not include major storylines as everyone focuses on the depth players who are trying to make the roster more than the players who, in two weeks, will be starting and major contributors in the regular season. Roster cuts are coming due, with each team needing to drop 37 players in the hours between its preseason game and 6 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday.

Typically is the keyword in that opening sentence. When it comes to the Miami Dolphins’ final preseason game, another storyline is set to play out. The Dolphins host the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night, and a familiar face will hit the field at Hard Rock Stadium, but he will wear white, red, and black instead of aqua and orange. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Miami’s 2020 first-round pick, was released this offseason and now returns as the Falcons’ signal caller.

Tagovailoa is expected to start in Friday’s game for Atlanta. He will be the first “franchise” quarterback for the Dolphins to return to South Florida with another team – Bob Griese and Dan Marino never left Miami and Ryan Tannehill never faced the Dolphins in Miami after he moved to the Tennessee Titans.

Tagovailoa highs and lows in Miami

In six seasons with the Dolphins, Tagovailoa threw for 18,166 yards with 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions. He led the league with 4,624 passing yards in 2023 and earned a Pro Bowl selection that year. He was the league’s completion percentage leader in 2024 and the passer rating leader in 2022. He is the team’s all-time leader in passer rating and completion percentage and ranks fourth in franchise history in passing yards and touchdown passes.

Injuries, particularly concussions, played a major role in the decline of Tagovailoa’s play, ultimately leading to his release. He succeeded when he could anticipate routes and use his accuracy to thread passes through tight defenses. Over the last two years with Miami, the timing seemed off, his arm lost strength, and his confidence seemed shot – both in himself and in his offensive line.

Salary cap impact of Tagovailoa’s release

It was time for a new start for Tagovailoa and for the Dolphins – even as his release costs Miami $55.4 million in cap space this season and another $43.8 million next year.

Are the Falcons getting the quarterback who can lead the league in major passing statistics or are they getting the quarterback who was eventually benched last year for a seventh-round rookie? To get an idea of what the Falcons have in Tagovailoa, I spoke with Jeanna Kelley from The Falcoholic, SB Nation’s Falcons team site. She provided a great breakdown of Tagovailoa’s time in Atlanta.

Tua’s roller coaster summer

Kelley: Tua’s performance has definitely been up-and-down this summer, but there are several caveats. One, Atlanta’s right tackle Kaleb McGary retired unexpectedly this offseason, and Jawaan Taylor was brought in as the probable replacement, but he was working through some injury issues early on that delayed his ability to really integrate with that unit. You know what it’s like when an offensive line hasn’t quite developed the chemistry they need to be effective, and in addition to adjusting to a new scheme and developing his timing and chemistry with his new receivers, that hasn’t made Tua’s life easier. 

Door open for Tagovailoa to start

If Tua’s able to play well, I think it would be bonkers to make a change when Penix is ready to play. 

Kelley: I do not think Michael Penix will be able to start Week 1. I believe he is healthy, but given how recently he was medically cleared and that he’s just had three days of practice, I feel like the season is creeping up too quicky for Penix to be ready, so I think Tua will be the starter. And if Tua’s able to play well, I think it would be bonkers to make a change when Penix is ready to play. 

Tua’s work ethic on display

Kelley: Tua’s biggest strengths, in my opinion, are his maturity, intelligence (general intellect and football IQ), and work ethic. If it is at all possible for Tua to put himself in a position to succeed — if that is actually something that is within Tua’s control — I believe with his mindset and work ethic, he will get it done. If it’s out of Tua’s control, though — for example, if he (and I truly, truly hope he does not) gets another concussion, then all bets are off. 

Fans frustrated but Tagovailoa the best option

Tua has not been perfect, but I still firmly believe he’s the Falcons’ best option Week 1 unless Michael Penix’s status changes dramatically

Kelley: Falcons fans are generally over the Tua experiment and would rather see either Penix regardless of whether he’s fully physically ready, or Jack Strand, the UDFA dynamo who’s shown out against guys buried deep on the depth chart, but needs quite a bit of development coming out of Minnesota-Moorhead. No, Tua has not been perfect, but I still firmly believe he’s the Falcons’ best option Week 1 unless Michael Penix’s status changes dramatically much faster than I expect. And Tua is such a good guy; I can’t help but hope it works out for him — if not in Atlanta long-term, given what they invested into Penix, then I hope he’s able to show enough this season to get another shot at a starting gig elsewhere. 

The Bears’ initial 53-man roster will be announced in just a few days, and trying to project this one is rather difficult. Most of the main positions are mostly settled, but there are several players dealing with injuries, so trying to figure out how the Bears plan to maneuver those players so they can get everyone to their designated injury list is a bit more challenging.

Here’s my best guess as to how the 53-man roster looks on Sunday (* are explained in the comments for each group)

Quarterback (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum

Why burn words on the most straightforward group at any position on the team?

Running Back (4): D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Salvon Ahmed, Roschon Johnson

I think most projections here will be three running backs. I’m going to go with four thanks to Ozzy Trapilo (more on that later). I think Ahmed makes the team as the third running back and Roschon finishes out his contract playing largely on special teams.

Wide Receiver (6): Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, Kalif Raymond, Jahdae Walker, Zavion Thomas, Kaden Davis

Based on how the Bears have signed multiple veteran wide receivers, I get the idea they want to keep 6 on the roster. I think the top 5 are pretty straightforward, and I think with a strong camp, Kaden Davis makes the roster this year and the Bears see if Davis has finally found a home after being quite the nomad to start his career.

Tight End (3): Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Sam Roush

This one is about as straightforward as the QB room.

Offensive Line (9): Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Logan Jones, Luke Newman, Jordan McFadden, Theo Benedet

Alright, so with this one, you’ll see that Ozzy Trapilo is missing. The Bears are allowed to move two players directly to IR without playing the “put them on the original 53, and then move them to IR the next day and bring back someone you just cut” game. I say they do that with Trapilo. I think based on the struggles of Amegadjie and Wills, it’s just time to let them go and use Benedet as the swing tackle until Trapilo can return. When Trapilo gets back, if the offense is fully healthy, that’s when I would look at Roschon Johnson potentially getting released, but odds are, there will be more injuries to the team because, well, it’s the NFL.

Special Teams (3): Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, Beau Gardner

With Luke Elkin gone, this room is already set.

Defensive Ends (6/5): Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Daniel Hardy, Marcus Davenport, Jamree Kromah, Shemar Turner*

The defense is certainly trickier than the offense, but let’s take a shot. With this group, I think Turner is moved to the injured list but not with one of those two initial spots, which means he’s going to have to be placed on the 53 and moved the next day. I think the Bears initially keep 6 here with the idea that it’s actually a 5-person room. Sweat and Austin, of course, are here. Hardy is a great special teamer and has been getting rotations with the 1s. Kromah has flashed enough that I think they give him a shot, and I can’t see the Bears bringing in Davenport just to let him go before the season starts.

Defensive Tackles (5): Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter, Dayo Odeyingbo, Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg

For this exercise, we’ve moved Odeyingbo inside. The Bears really seem to want to try him as an interior pass rusher, so we will call him that for this purpose. I don’t know if Dexter is on the block or if the agent is just trying to drum up interest to try and get his client a bigger payday, but I think he’s here still on Sunday. Gallimore, of course, makes it, as does van den Berg. It does mean there is no room for Kentavius Street.

Linebackers (5): Devin Bush, TJ Edwards, D’Marco Jackson, Keyshaun Elliott, Ruben Hyppolite

I think this room is pretty straightforward. Noah Sewell is in the final year of his contract and hasn’t been on the field, and I just don’t see a spot for Jack Sanborn. Hyppolite could be gone, but I doubt the Bears go another direction after just one season. I think he gets another year to show improvement. The other four aren’t going anywhere.

Cornerbacks (5/6): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones, Dontae Manning*

Here we see Kyler Gordon missing because I think he, like Trapilo, gets moved immediately to IR when the initial 53 comes out. I think Manning is initially released but is brought back as the 6th CB once they can move Turner over to the injured list. I think Terell Smith misses making the team this year after countless years struggling to stay healthy.

Safeties (4): Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Xavier Woods, Elijah Hicks*, Skyler Thomas*

No Coby Bryant here, and a banged-up Elijah Hicks makes this an interesting group. I think the Bears initially keep Hicks on the 53 and release Thomas, but swap them 24 hours later, with Hicks moving to the injured list and Thomas coming back onto the 53.

IR/PUP (4): Kyler Gordon, Ozzy Trapilo, Shemar Turner*, Elijah Hicks*

With this group, as I’ve mentioned in previous paragraphs, Gordon and Trapilo immediately move to IR, and Turner and Hicks get transferred to the injured list after initial cuts.

The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2026 season with plenty of young players looking for an opportunity, but the path from draft pick to NFL contributor is rarely straightforward. For Seattle’s rookie class, that process has already become more complicated. So far, Jadarian Price appears to be the only realistic option from the class to contribute immediately as a rookie.

Bud Clark is out for the season after suffering a broken ankle on Seattle’s first defensive snap against the Tennessee Titans. Julian Neal is also dealing with an injury that has yet to be fully explained by the team.

Those injuries matter, but they are only part of the story.

The bigger question surrounding Seattle’s 2026 draft class may be much simpler: how many of these rookies will actually earn a place on the 53-man roster?

Clark was one of the rookies with the clearest opportunity to carve out a role in Mike Macdonald’s defense. The second-round pick out of TCU brought the versatility and coverage ability Seattle was looking for in its secondary, and his ability to contribute in different packages made him an appealing fit for the defense.

Instead, his rookie season is already over.

Neal presents a different situation. The third-round cornerback out of Arkansas had a legitimate opportunity to compete for playing time at a position where Seattle has several questions behind its top options. His injury now removes another young player from that competition, at least temporarily.

That could have a significant effect on the roster battle at cornerback.

With Neal unavailable, veterans such as Trevon Diggs and Noah Igbinoghene become more important, while Seattle has fewer opportunities to evaluate its younger options. If Neal’s injury keeps him out for an extended period, the Seahawks may ultimately have to decide whether they have enough depth at the position or whether they need to look outside the building.

But losing Clark and Neal doesn’t mean the draft class itself is in trouble.

In fact, the more immediate concern is what happens with the rest of the rookies.

Seattle has several other draft picks (notably Michael Dansby and Andre Fuller) competing for roster spots, and some of them face a much steeper climb than Clark or Neal did. By the end of August, the Seahawks have to determine which rookies have done enough to justify occupying one of 53 roster spots.

That’s where preseason performance becomes particularly important.

Beau Stephens is one of the more interesting examples.

There was some discussion that Stephens could potentially emerge as a player capable of challenging Anthony Bradford for the starting job. I’m considerably less convinced that’s where the competition currently stands.

Stephens has shown flashes, but he hasn’t demonstrated the kind of consistent jump that would make me believe he’s ready to unseat an established player. And, to be fair, some of what we’ve seen is perfectly normal for a rookie.

There have been good reps followed by mistakes. Plays where his technique and athleticism stand out, followed by snaps where he looks like exactly what he is: a young player still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NFL.

That isn’t necessarily a bad sign.

Preseason is supposed to expose those inconsistencies, particularly for rookies. The important question is whether Stephens can turn those flashes into something more consistent as the evaluation period progresses.

For now, however, I wouldn’t frame him as the player who is going to take Bradford’s job, and that distinction matters when evaluating this draft class. The Seahawks don’t need every rookie to become a starter. They need enough of them to become useful NFL players.

Some will have obvious paths to playing time. Others may need to earn their roster spots through special teams, rotational snaps or simply demonstrating enough developmental potential for the coaching staff to keep them around.

That could be the first real test of Seattle’s 2026 class.

Clark is already lost for the season. Neal’s availability is uncertain. Meanwhile, several of the other rookies still have to prove that they belong on the roster in the first place.

That’s a very different challenge from simply finding immediate production.

And it is why the final week of preseason will tell us much more about this draft class than the draft grades ever could.

If several of Seattle’s remaining rookies emerge as legitimate contributors, Clark’s injury and Neal’s absence can eventually become footnotes in what could still be a successful class.

If, however, multiple picks fail to separate themselves from the veteran and undrafted competition, Seattle could finish the season with surprisingly little rookie production despite investing significant draft capital.

That’s the real concern right now.

The Seahawks don’t need this class to dominate in 2026. They need to identify which players can help them now, which players need more development and, perhaps most importantly, which players are worth keeping on the 53-man roster.

Clark won’t get the opportunity to answer that question this year.

Neal may have to wait before getting his chance.

For everyone else, the battle is just beginning.

Everyone wants to know whether Aaron Donald will be coming back to the Los Angeles Rams or not, and Andrew Whitworth feels that it’s only a matter of time. Whitworth explained to Ryan Fitzpatrick on their podcast that Donald has been putting on a football helmet and doing drills, and as far as Whitworth is concerned, Donald wouldn’t be putting on a helmet if he wasn’t serious about playing.

Whitworth is seemingly speculating, but his logic makes sense. Why put on a helmet if you don’t want to play football? There is also the possibility that Donald is wearing the helmet because it looks cool in workout videos, point being, until Donald makes an official decision, we don’t know what his plans are.

All signs point to Donald on some level is thinking our at least has thought about a genuine NFL comeback. All signs point to the Rams being so open to it that they are letting Donald work this all out on his own time. All signs point to we don’t have an official answer yet, and Donald could come back, he could not. But as far as Whitworth is concerned, Donald’s mind is made up and as long as the Rams are in contention, he’ll be back at some point.

Andrew Whitworth still confident Aaron Donald is coming back (ramswire)

“He’s barely said anything about his plans and hasn’t addressed it publicly, but signs have pointed to him returning to the Rams – including Sean McVay’s clear excitement when asked about that possibility. Andrew Whitworth has said before that he thinks Donald will play this season and during Prime’s broadcast of Browns-Patriots on Thursday night, Whitworth maintained his confidence in that belief.

“Oh, I think he’s playing,” Whitworth said. “I think you gotta figure out all the little parts that go into it. … Listen, if you put a helmet on and hit a sled, you’re playing football. I don’t care what you say, you’re going to figure it out.”

Rams’ Sean McVay not worried about possible Puka Nacua suspension despite Tutu Atwell trade (clutchpoints)

“Sean McVay said the Tutu Atwell decision is not related to any potential suspension that could come to Puka Nacua. He said they wanted Tutu for depth. He also said it won’t bump any WRs they wanted to keep off the roster either. They have plans to be flexible with the 53,” Atkins wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

With everything said and done, ifs and buts around a potential suspension have always been in discussion. Even ESPN’s Adam Schefter mentioned that Nacua could miss Week 1 of NFL action.

“Cases that I believe are now being reviewed include that of the Rams wide receiver, Puka Nacua, who could potentially face discipline for some of the off-season headlines that accompanied him and some of those incidents last year with another woman, what did and didn’t occur. We’ll leave that to the NFL to figure out what did and didn’t happen, but it’s possible that when the Niners and Rams play in Australia, it’s within the realm of options that Puka doesn’t play in that game,” Schefter reported earlier in August.“

Tutu Atwell can still provide a spark if the Rams use him in specific ways (ramblinfan)

“Rams fans know Atwell, and Atwell knows LA’s offense. That may be why the Rams pursued Atwell as the return piece in trading Hunter. But their current rookies already face the lack-of-use syndrome that plagued Atwell’s career in Los Angeles.

His return will only complicate the matter.

But LA just upgraded its roster, if for no other reason than to bolster its experience. And if the Rams are to survive any league-mandated suspension for Puka Nacua, Atwell will at least give them another target in the room.“

Hot Mic Picked Up NFL Referee’s Uncensored Comment Explaining How He Really Felt About Being At The Rams-Chargers Preseason Game [VIDEO] (sports.yahoo)

“While preparing for an upcoming play, the open microphone suddenly broadcast a weary voice saying, “Jesus, let’s get this over with.” Apparently, the grueling nature of the exhibition schedule had finally exhausted the refereeing crew’s patience.”

Rams might need Donald ‘sooner rather than later’ (nbcsports)

“Michael Holley and Mike Florio dive into Aaron Donald’s potential return from retirement and discuss the factors at play for the future Hall of Famer to come back.”

47 players who are locks to make the Rams’ 53-man roster (ramswire)

“Given the talent from top to bottom, it’s going to be a really challenging roster to make – especially for younger, unproven players. Even all of their rookie draft picks aren’t completely safe from being cut.

With the preseason now finished and final cuts mere days away, we’re looking at which players are virtually guaranteed to make the team. Sean McVay and the coaching staff make it easier to discern locks from bubble players based on who plays (and how much) in the preseason, but playing time isn’t always a perfect reflection of a player’s standing on the roster.“

Takeaways from Rams-Chargers Preseason Week 3 matchup | ‘GMFB’ (nfl.com)

“GMFB” share their takeaways from the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers Preseason Week 3 matchup.“

Stetson Bennett’s absence in Rams preseason finale bodes well for his future with LA (dawnofthedog)

“The LA Rams played their final preseason game of the year on Thursday against the Chargers. Stetson Bennett started their first two games of the preseason, but on Thursday he didn’t step foot on the field once.

Instead the Rams chose to ride with rookie quarterback Ty Simpson in his place. On the surface this may seem like a bad sign for Bennett, but in reality it might be the greatest sign yet that he is winning, or has already won, the backup quarterback job for the Rams.“

Chargers vs. Rams Highlights | Preseason Week 3 (chargers.com)

“Watch the top plays and highlights from the Chargers’ Preseason Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams during the 2026 NFL season.”

McVay undecided on QB2 after third preseason game (nbcsports)

“After getting through the third and final dress rehearsal before the Rams kick off Week 1 in Australia, McVay said he won’t be “pigeon-holding” himself into any decision just yet. Rookie Ty Simpson and fourth-year vet Stetson Bennett have both performed well for the Rams this preseason, with Bennett sitting out Thursday’s game against the Chargers. The decision to sit Bennett on Thursday, coupled with the 62 snaps he saw in the preseason to Simpson’s 111, could be a signal as to which way McVay is leaning at this point, although he is on record saying we shouldn’t read too much into that. Regardless, the good news for McVay and Rams fans is that Matthew Stafford is healthy and will hopefully be under center for all 17 of the Rams’ games this season as he looks to defend his crown as the reigning league MVP.“

Comment of the Day:

“Ty is playing under so much pressure from the media after the storyline of the Rams “wasting” a pick on him. His mental toughness is amazing and it doesn’t appear to phase him in the least (so far).“-Unknown Football Fan

Feedpost of the Day:

Ryan Craig remembers the conversations.

The coaches who challenged him. The players who earned his respect. The lessons that stayed with him long after the rink emptied. For years, Craig kept notebooks filled with observations from his hockey life—conversations, ideas and small details that might prove useful somewhere down the road. At the time, they were simply pieces of a career spent learning the game from as many angles as possible.

Now, those lessons have led him to the most important opportunity of his coaching career.

On June 18, Craig became the fifth head coach in Vegas Golden Knights history, taking over a team that had come within two victories of another Stanley Cup championship. The timing was hardly ordinary. Vegas had just watched its season end in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, leaving a roster that had spent months chasing another championship with little time to process the disappointment before a new voice entered the room.

Craig understood that feeling. He had been there before.

His connection to the Golden Knights dates back to the franchise’s inaugural season in 2017, when he joined the organization as an assistant coach. Six seasons later, he helped Vegas win its first Stanley Cup. He then spent three seasons as head coach of the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson, where he developed his own identity behind the bench.

Now, after nearly a decade in the organization, Craig is back in Vegas—but this time, the responsibility belongs entirely to him.

“I think you get to work,” Craig told Alexis Bass of KLAS 8 News Now. 

That mentality has essentially defined his career.

Before he was drawing up systems or managing an NHL locker room, Craig spent 14 years trying to establish himself as a professional player. The Abbotsford, British Columbia, native played 198 NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets, along with 711 games in the AHL. He also captained nine teams during his playing career, including the 2015-16 Lake Erie Monsters, who captured the Calder Cup.

His hockey education began even earlier with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, where Craig spent five seasons. Kelly McCrimmon, now the Golden Knights’ general manager, was then the team’s owner and general manager. Craig twice led Brandon in scoring, served as captain for two seasons and was eventually named to the WHL East First All-Star Team.

The relationship between the two would eventually follow Craig to the NHL.

When Craig’s playing career ended, however, he faced the difficult decision every professional athlete eventually encounters: what comes next?

“Are you sure you’re done?” was one of the questions he heard most often.

Craig was sure enough to move on, but he wasn’t ready to leave hockey behind. Instead, he transitioned into coaching, carrying with him years of experience from inside locker rooms and under coaches he had come to respect.

When asked what his younger playing self might tell him about becoming a coach, Craig pointed to the qualities he admired most in the coaches he played for: preparation, organization, relationships and accountability.

“I don’t know what goes into it until you live it,” Craig said.

Now, he is living it.

Craig spent six seasons as a Golden Knights assistant from 2017-23, helping the franchise reach the playoffs five times before lifting the Stanley Cup in his final season. His next challenge came in Henderson, where the Silver Knights improved their win total in each of his three seasons.

Henderson went from 28 victories in 2023-24 to 29 in 2024-25 before Craig’s team broke through last season with 39 wins and 90 points, both franchise records. The Silver Knights advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs before falling to the Colorado Eagles.

The experience gave Craig something particularly valuable as he prepares for his first NHL head-coaching season: an opportunity to learn how to run a team rather than simply contribute to one.

It also allowed him to remain closely connected to Vegas. The Golden Knights and Silver Knights share the same city, practice facilities and organizational identity, creating a development pipeline Craig understands from both sides.

That familiarity extends to the players he will now coach. Craig already has relationships with many members of the Golden Knights’ roster, while others have become priorities as he works to establish new ones.

He began that process almost immediately after his hiring, but he also understood that his players needed time.

Many had just finished playing in the Stanley Cup Final.

“I had to be conscious of those guys just finished playing,” Craig said. “…You want to give them their space.”

That balance—knowing when to push and when to step back—will be an important part of Craig’s new job.

The summer has been about conversations. Training camp will be about action.

“Now we’re getting into the time here where it’s almost action,” Craig said. “It’s time to get to work on the ice.”

That may be the clearest way to describe where Craig stands now. For nearly a decade, he has collected experiences throughout the Golden Knights organization, learning as an assistant, developing as an AHL head coach and drawing from a playing career that included both the NHL and a Calder Cup championship.

He has watched the Golden Knights grow from an expansion franchise into a perennial contender and experienced the organization’s first Stanley Cup championship from behind the bench.

Now he has to lead the next chapter.

The preparation is over. The notebooks can stay on the shelf.

It’s Ryan Craig’s team now. 

The opportunities to impress this coaching staff have dwindled with one preseason game left before the 53-man roster cutdowns. Friday’s game against the Carolina Panthers represents the final opportunity for players to put compelling tape together and earn a spot on this roster.

Given the number of injuries this training camp, there are more roster spots available than anticipated. Notably, the fourth defensive end, third and fourth running back, fifth and sixth receiver, and multiple linebacker spots are up for grabs. All it takes is one to two elite plays for a fringe player to compel Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans to keep them on the team.

Below, you’ll find the eight players who are on the outside looking in of the roster who can secure their spot with a good performance. A few have climbed the depth chart thanks to injuries elsewhere, including Solomon Byrd, yet they still have to prove they’re a better fit than whoever becomes available once rosters are trimmed.

Injured honorable mentions:

• Jawhar Jordan, RB
• Dominique Robinson, DE
• Collin Wright, CB
• Jake Hansen, LB
• Brevin Jordan, TE

Solomon Byrd, DE

The seas have parted for the former 2024 seventh-round draft pick. He’s been cut in successive offseasons, but finally has a chance to make the roster. Injuries to Dylan Horton and Dominique Robinson elevate him to he DE4 role. He’s looked stout against inside runs and play actions, but has struggled against outside zone where he loses contain. A big performance against the  Panthers can seal a roster spot for him. 

British Brooks, FB/RB

The veteran fullback has out with an injured wrist all training camp. The offense has fully adapted without his presence and TE Cade Stover has assumed the role. He must demonstrate him impact on the entire offense by proving the run game is incrementally better with him than without. Not a tall task given how poor the run game has looked, but he only gets one shot to do so. 

Texans running back British Brooks on Texans All Access told @jharrisfootball & @TexansVoice that he lost 17 lbs this offseason on top of weight lost at the end of last season:

“I think coming off the rookie injury I played a lot heavier than what I was the year before & I was… pic.twitter.com/F0AdJ4T5ef

— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) July 13, 2026

Brooks can also tote the rock. Fans have been dying to see the 17-pound weight loss’ affect on British Brooks’ mobility and power. Anther special teams ace who provides versatility to the offense.

Jared Wayne, WR

Wayne watched as Nick Caserio did his thing and added three wide receivers to the room. He was a rising star this offseason, making plays in training camp and rising up the depth chart. However, Caserio wouldn’t of added veterans Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones if he had the utmost confidence in Wayne. It’s unclear where Wayne ranks on the depth chart now and he needs to win on the field and through his knowledge of the offense. 

Alijah Huzzie, CB

Huzzie is in contention for the final defensive back spot alongside injured Collin Wright and veteran Tremon Smith. Huzzie has been competing for reps throughout camp and has played significant snaps in the preseason. He is a smaller corner who plays primarily in the slot, but doesn’t have the safety versatility to completely match Pitre’s role. He has let up a handful of catches in games, but has overall played well. He was on the practice squad last year for the majority of the season and will try to avoid the same fate in 2026 with one final, solid outing today.

Looks like Alijah Huzzie earning more reps.

Nice win by Hutchinson. Good to see the Texans complete another fade route. pic.twitter.com/46vXJpXtP0

— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) August 16, 2026

Jake Andrews, OC

Andrews entered camp as the incumbent starter at center and will leave camp most likely without a roster spot. Evan Brown has leapfrogged him at center, and Brown can also play guard. Andrews lack of versatility limits his upside on an offensive line desperately in need of a solidinterior. It may already be too late for Andrews, but one final good showing could keep him on the roster as the 10th and final lineman. 

Naquan Jones, DT

I wrote in the Rosterology that Jones has been given every possible opportunity to shine and has yet to impress. He played in four games last year, but may return as a practice squad. He has to beat out veteran and incumbent DT Mario Edwards Jr. and show that he’s the better, more durable option at DT. 

Aiden Fisher, LB

The last rookie in the class has navigated this tumultuous linebacker room as well as possible. He’s the signal caller for the third string and made plays in special teams. Making the roster will be almost entirely predicated on his special teams play this game. 

Tremon Smith, CB

After trading away safety Jaylen Reed, the five corner backs are slated to make the roster. That means two of Tremon Smith, Alijah Huzzie, and Collin Wright. Smith is the odds-on favorite and listed higher inthe roster. Smith has struggled with protection in the preseason, but he’s known best for his special teams. Smith has to hold off both Huzzie and wright by dominating this last preseason game on defense and special teams.

The Philadelphia Eagles will play their final preseason game of 2026 against the Bengals on Friday night at home in Lincoln Financial Field.

Several players are looking to put up performances impressive enough tonight to land one of the final roster spots. Teams have until 6pm ET on Sunday, August 30 to get their final roster down to 53 players and then start filling their practice squads.

There’s a bit of an art to roster management, and while someone like Joshua Weru — who had never played football before, but has shown potential in the preseason — isn’t going to play right away, he’s also not someone the Eagles can risk losing on the waiver wire. This is where Howie Roseman has been exceptional, in terms of his plans to keep those at risk, waiting until other rosters are filled, and then making moves. It was a similar play last year for WR Darius Cooper, who was an attractive option for other teams, but showed the Eagles enough to hold on to him — and this year, he’s essentially a lock to be among the receiver rotation this season.

Even for some of the depth players who are likely to make the roster, this final preseason game is another opportunity for reps and experience that they might not always get during the week at practice. This is a great chance for them to prepare for their role and feel confident if they’re ever needed to step up.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the game.

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TV Schedule

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026

Time: 8:00 PM ET

Channel:

• CBS
• NFL+ (phone or tablet only)

Location: Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA

Radio: SportsRadio 94WIP

Online Streaming

Paramount+ | FuboTV | NFL+

Odds

The Eagles are slight favorites heading into their final game of the preseason.

Philadelphia Eagles: -2.5 (-144)

Cincinnati Bengals: +2.5 (+122)

Over/under: 36.5

Social Media Information

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BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton

Eagles 2026 Preseason Schedule

Week 1 – at Baltimore Ravens (Aug. 25, 7:00 PM ET, NBC10 and local channels)

Week 2 – at New England Patriots (Aug. 22, 7:00 PM ET, NBC10 and NFL Network)

Week 3 – vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Aug. 28, 8:00 PM ET, CBS)

Eagles 2026 Regular Season Schedule

Week 1 – vs. Washington Commanders (Sept. 13, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)

Week 2 – at Tennessee Titans (Sept. 20, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Week 3 – at Chicago Bears (Sept. 28, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC) Monday Night Football

Week 4 – vs. Los Angeles Rams (Oct. 4, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Week 5 – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Oct. 11, 9:15 AM ET, NFL Network) London Game

Week 6 – vs. Carolina Panthers (Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)

Week 7 – vs. Dallas Cowboys (Oct. 26, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC) Monday Night Football

Week 8 – at Washington Commanders (Nov. 1, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Sunday Night Football

Week 9 – vs. New York Giants (Nov. 8, 1;00 PM ET, FOX)

Week 10 – BYE WEEK

Week 11 – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Nov. 22, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)

Week 12 – at Dallas Cowboys (Nov. 26, 4:25 PM ET, FOX) Thanksgiving Game

Week 13 – at Arizona Cardinals (Dec. 6, 4:05 PM ET, FOX)

Week 14 – vs. Indianapolis Colts (Dec. 13, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Week 15 – vs. Seattle Seahawks (Dec. 19, 5:00 PM ET, FOX) Saturday Night Football

Week 16 – vs. Houston Texans (Dec. 24, 8:15 PM ET, Amazon Prime Video) Thursday Night Football

Week 17 – at San Francisco 49ers (Jan. 3, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Sunday Night Football

Week 18 – at New York Giants (TBD)

The Miami Dolphins’ 2026 preseason comes to an end on Friday as they face the Atlanta Falcons. With just a couple of days left before the team must cut its roster from the 90-man preseason limit to the 53-man regular-season size, many players hope to put up a performance that earns them a roster spot. Tonight’s game will likely focus on the roster bubble.

Throughout this week, Miami has already started their roster churn. We have seen multiple roster moves, including a trade, waiver claims, cuts, and tryouts. The Dolphins are not shying away from finding the best depth players they can, and they are being aggressive in their search. While that could be good for the roster, it makes it a little harder to track who might be on the field tonight.

To assist, we have updated the Dolphins’ roster with the latest updates, giving you a way to track players by last name and by roster number tonight.

Miami Dolphins roster by jersey number

• # TBA, Jarquez Hunter, running back
• #0, Ollie Gordon II, running back
• #1, Jalen Tolbert, wide receiver
• #2, Malik Willis, quarterback
• #3, Chris Johnson, cornerback
• #5, Jaylen Wright, running back
• #6, Malik Washington, wide receiver
• #7, Caleb Douglas, wide receiver
• #8, JuJu Brents, cornerback
• #9, Josh Uche, edge
• #10, Jacob Rodriguez, inside linebacker
• #11, Dante Trader Jr., safety
• #14, Quinn Ewers, quarterback
• #15, Cam Miller, quarterback
• #16, Mark Gronowski, quarterback
• #17, Trey Moore, edge/inside linebacker
• #17, Jalen Reagor, wide receiver
• #18, Chris Bell, wide receiver
• #19, Kyle Louis, inside linebacker
• #20, Jordyn Brooks, inside linebacker
• #21, Marco Wilson, cornerback
• #23, Zayne Anderson, safety
• #24, A.J. Green III, cornerback
• #25, Tyrel Dodson, inside linebacker
• #26, Alex Austin, cornerback
• #27, Ethan Bonner, cornerback
• #28, De’Von Achane, running back
• #30, Ethan Conner, tight end
• #30, Jaheim Thomas, inside linebacker
• #31, Michael Taaffe, safety
• #32, Lonnie Johnson Jr., safety
• #33, Jason Marshall Jr., cornerback
• #34, Stephen Dix, Jr., linebacker
• #34, DJ Herman, fullback
• #35, Miles Battle, cornerback
• #36, Donovan Edwards, running back
• #37, Carlos Washington Jr., running back
• #38, Coleman Bennett, running back
• #38, Cam Riley, inside linebacker
• #40, Willie Gay Jr., inside linebacker
• #41, Jeremiah Franklin, tight end
• #41, Louis Moore, safety
• #42, Jackson Woodard, inside linebacker
• #43, Major Burns, safety
• #44, Chop Robinson, edge
• #45, Jai’Onte’ McMillan, cornerback
• #46, Tucker Addington, long snapper
• #47, Riley Patterson, kicker
• #48, Bradley Pinion, punter
• #49, Seydou Traore, tight end
• #50, David Ojabo, edge
• #51, Robert Beal Jr., edge
• #52, Patrick Paul, tackle
• #53, Cameron Goode, edge
• #55, Aaron Brewer, center
• #56, Ronnie Harrison Jr., inside linebacker
• #57, Max Llewellyn, edge
• #58, Cam Rice, defensive tackle
• #59, Rodney McGraw, edge
• #60, Andrew Meyer, center
• #63, DJ Campbell, guard
• #67, Charlie Heck, tackle
• #68, Josh Priebe, guard/tackle
• #70, Marques Cox, tackle
• #71, Jonah Savaiinaea, guard
• #72, Gottlieb Ayedze, tackle
• #73, Austin Jackson, tackle
• #74, Kadyn Proctor, guard/tackle
• #75, Caedan Wallace, guard/tackle
• #78, Kenneth Grant, defenisve lineman
• #79, Kevin Cline, tackle
• #80, Donaven McCulley, wide receiver
• #81, Theo Wease Jr., wide receiver
• #82, Will Kacmarek, tight end
• #83, Kevin Coleman Jr., wide receiver
• #84, Ryan Miller, wide receiver
• #85, Greg Dulcich, tight end
• #86, Terrace Marshall Jr., wide receiver
• #88, AJ Henning, wide receiver
• #89, Ben Sims, tight end
• #90, Seth Coleman-Lyles, edge
• #91, Matthew Butler, defenisve lineman
• #92, Zach Sieler, defensive lineman
• #93, Zeek Biggers, defensive lineman
• #94, Jordan Phillips, defensive lineman
• #95, Fatorma Mulbah, defenisve lineman
• #96, Alex Huntley, defenisve lineman
• #97, Keith Cooper Jr., defensive lineman
• #98, Clelin Ferrell, edge

Physically Unable to Perform

• #22, Darrell Baker, Jr., cornerback
• #29, Storm Duck, cornerback

Injured Reserve

• #77, Carter Warren, tackle
• #87, Cole Turner, tight end
• #95, Rene Konga, defensive lineman

Miami Dolphins roster by last name

• Achane, De’Von, running back, #28
• Addington, Tucker, long snapper, #46
• Anderson, Zayne, safety, #23
• Austin, Alex, cornerback, #26
• Ayedze, Gottlieb, tackle, #72
• Battle, Miles, cornerback, #35
• Beal, Robert, Jr., edge, #51
• Bell, Chris, wide receiver, #18
• Bennett, Coleman, running back, #38
• Biggers, Zeek, defensive lineman, #93
• Bonifas, Jim, center, #62
• Bonner, Ethan, cornerback, #27
• Brents, JuJu, cornerback, #8
• Brewer, Aaron, center, #55
• Brooks, Jordyn, inside linebacker, #20
• Burns, Major, safety, #43
• Butler, Matthew, defenisve lineman, #91
• Campbell, DJ, guard, #63
• Cline, Kevin, tackle, #79
• Coleman, Kevin, Jr., wide receiver, #83
• Coleman-Lyles, Seth, edge, #90
• Conner, Ethan, tight end, #30
• Cooper, Keith, Jr., defensive lineman, #97
• Cox, Marques, tackle, #70
• Dix, Stephen, Jr., inside linebacker, #34
• Dodson, Tyrel, inside linebacker, #25
• Douglas, Caleb, wide receiver, #7
• Dulcich, Greg, tight end, #85
• Edwards, Donovan, running back, #36
• Ewers, Quinn, quarterback, #14
• Ferrell, Clelin, edge, #98
• Franklin, Jeremiah, tight end, #41
• Gay, Willie, Jr., inside linebacker, #40
• Goode, Cameron, edge, #53
• Gordon, Ollie, II, running back, #0
• Grant, Kenneth, defenisve lineman, #78
• Green, A.J., III, cornerback, #24
• Gronowski, Mark, quarterback, #16
• Harrison, Ronnie, Jr., inside linebacker, #56
• Heck, Charlie, tackle, #67
• Henning, AJ, wide receiver, #88
• Herman, DJ, fullback, #34
• Hunter, Jarquez, running back, #TBA
• Huntley, Alex, defenisve lineman, #96
• Jackson, Austin, tackle, #73
• Johnson, Chris, cornerback, #3
• Johnson, Lonnie, Jr., safety, #32
• Kacmarek, Will, tight end, #82
• Llewellyn, Max, edge, #57
• Louis, Kyle, inside linebacker, #19
• Marshall, Jason, Jr., cornerback, #33
• Marshall, Terrace, Jr., wide receiver, #86
• McCulley, Donaven, wide receiver, #80
• McGraw, Rodney, edge, #59
• McMillan, Jai’Onte’, cornerback, #45
• Meyer, Andrew, center, #60
• Miller, Cam, quarterback, #15
• Miller, Ryan, wide receiver, #84
• Moore, Louis, safety, #41
• Moore, Trey, edge/inside linebacker, #17
• Mulbah, Fatorma, defenisve lineman, #95
• Ojabo, David, edge, #50
• Patterson, Riley, kicker, #47
• Paul, Patrick, tackle, #52
• Phillips, Jordan, defensive lineman, #94
• Pinion, Bradley, punter, #48
• Priebe, Josh, guard/tackle, #68
• Proctor, Kadyn, guard/tackle, #74
• Reagor, Jalen, wide receiver, #17
• Rice, Cam, defensive tackle, #58
• Riley, Cam, inside linebacker, #38
• Robinson, Chop, edge, #44
• Rodriguez, Jacob, inside linebacker, #10
• Savaiinaea, Jonah, guard, #71
• Sieler, Zach, defensive lineman, #92
• Sims, Ben, tight end, #89
• Taaffe, Michael, safety, #31
• Thomas, Jaheim, inside linebacker, #30
• Tolbert, Jalen, wide receiver, #1
• Trader, Dante, Jr., safety, #11
• Traore, Seydou, tight end, #49
• Turner, Cole, tight end, #87
• Uche, Josh, edge, #9
• Wallace, Caedan, tackle, #75
• Washington, Carlos, Jr., running back, #37
• Washington, Malik, wide receiver, #6
• Wease, Theo, Jr., wide receiver, #81
• Willis, Malik, quarterback, #2
• Wilson, Marco, cornerback, #21
• Woodard, Jackson, inside linebacker, #42
• Wright, Jaylen, running back, #5

Physically Unable to Perform

• Baker, Darrell, Jr., cornerback, #22
• Duck, Storm, cornerback, #29

Injured Reserve

• Konga, Rene, defensive lineman, #95
• Turner, Cole, tight end, #87
• Warren, Carter, tackle, #77

As the anticipation for the 2026-27 NHL season grows, TheHockeyNews.com will be taking a look at the top 10 prospects in the St. Louis Blues' system, with towering 6-foot-4 Canadian center Maddox Dagenais coming in at the fifth spot.

The players in this ranking do not have extensive NHL experience and are all 23 and under. Therefore, players like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Logan Mailloux, among others, won't feature in this ranking for those reasons.

The order of these rankings reflects a mix of their ceilings and potential, as well as how they've performed over the past year with their respective clubs. 

Depending on which scout you trust, the Blues either had great value in selecting Dagenais at pick 16 of the 2026 NHL draft, or they reached. Either way, the Blues felt he was their guy, and they snagged him up in the first round.

Heading into the 2026 NHL draft, the Blues felt that center depth in their prospect pool and in their lineup was a weak point. With their first two selections, they grabbed centers Tynan Lawrence and Dagenais, while also trading for 23-year-old Mason McTavish.

Now, the Blues have first-round picks of Robert Thomas, Dalibor Dvorsky, McTavish, Lawrence, and Dagenais within their roster or prospect pool.

But Dagenais brings a different element than all of the aforementioned players. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 196 pounds, Dagenais plays as physically as his frame suggests. Dagenais uses his body very well when shielding the puck. He uses reverse hits to create space and uses his height to protect the puck.

Maddox Dagenais Brings Size To A Blues Prospect Pool That Needs It In The Center Ice PositionWith the 16th overall pick, the St. Louis Blues selected 6-foot-4 power forward Maddox Dagenais, adding a play style the Blues need in the NHL and in their prospect pool.

By all accounts, Dagenais is a typical power forward. While his defensive game isn't discussed as much as other aspects of his game, there is plenty of room for growth in that area. 

Offensively, the 18-year-old has a heavy shot that he can show off in transition. Despite his size, Dagenais is a powerful skater, using linear crossovers to gain speed. 

Dagenais possesses many valuable skills, but patience will be important for his development. Whether he plays two more seasons with the Québec Remparts in the QMJHL and then joins the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL, or moves to the NCAA, allowing Dagenais time to develop his skills and add weight to his frame will be critical to his success. 

Trying to predict where Dagenais projects is difficult. If all goes well, Dagenais could become a top-six center, and the hope is that, at worst, Dagenais can become a third-line center. 

St. Louis Blues Prospect Rankings:

6. Theo Lindstein

7. Milton Gastrin

8. Dmitri Buchelnikov

9. Colin Ralph

10. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Honorable Mentions: Love Harenstam, Marcus Gidlof, Juraj Pekarcik, Zach Dean, and Lukas Fischer

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A few days ago, I tried with all my might to make the case for why each of Tyrod Taylor and Kyle McCord are worthy of being the Green Bay Packers QB2. Dear reader, there was a reason that article was like 300 words long. With one preseason game left for the Packers, the team will soon have to decide who they want stepping in if they find themselves without Jordan Love. Here’s what’s wrong with both of their candidates.

The Case Against Tyrod Taylor

A career journeyman, Taylor has spent time with 8 different teams since being drafted in 2011. The experience is there, but the ride has been bumpy. Taylor has started 63 career games, but has just one playoff start to show for it, way back in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills. AKA: When Tyrod is your long-term starter, your season is probably lost. To be fair—this can be said about most backup quarterbacks, and some starters!

There’s a reason Taylor has lasted 15 years in the NFL. He’s been pretty serviceable, and has been somewhat of a dual threat with his legs over the years. The problem is, I’m worried he doesn’t have it in him anymore. Through two preseason games, the 37-year-old has completed 8 of 16 passes for 38 yards and 1 TD, and has rushed 3 times for 11 yards. Yes, this is preseason, and head coach Matt LaFleur isn’t pulling all of his regular season tricks out of the bag just yet, but I’m having a hard time envisioning a potential Taylor start going as well as what we saw with Malik Willis.

The Case Against Kyle McCord

And then we have…the baby! Kyle McCord has seen zero regular season action as an NFL player since being drafted in 2025 by the Philadelphia Eagles. So, we don’t exactly know what we’re working with, outside of what we’ve seen this preseason. Through two games, McCord has 24 completions on 35 attempts for 220 yards. He’s not considered much of a threat on his legs, which is a stark shift from one of the things that made Malik Willis so fun for Matt LaFleur in Green Bay. Now, I’m not here to judge a quarterback by his lack of explosiveness in the run game, but I can’t really judge Kyle McCord by much, can I? Therein lies the problem.

The Verdict

Personally, I think McCord gets cut, simply due to inexperience. There’s something there that should keep him on the practice squad, unless something uncouth happens during Friday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. I think the Packers are looking for a guy who can lead a locker room if needed, and we’ve seen that Tyrod Taylor can at least do that. One thing is for sure: the Packers backup in 2026 is going to be either a guy who was drafted 180th overall 15 years ago, or a guy who was drafted 181st overall 1 year ago. Buckle up. The team’s final preseason game is at home against Mike LaFleur and the Arizona Cardinals on Friday at 7 PM local time.

Just like that, Detroit Lions training camp is officially complete. After about four weeks of practices, the last hurdles standing between the team and the regular season are the final preseason season game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, and cut-down day on Sunday where coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes will be faced with some difficult decisions in regards to who is going to make the final roster.

And while we can expect the majority of the Lions’ starters to be in street clothes for the preseason finale in Indiana, there are still several hotly-contested competitions taking place, starting at the quarterback position. Can rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer do enough to unseat the battle-tested veteran Josh Dobbs? Staying on the offensive side of the ball, there are still things to sort out concerning the running back and wide receiver positions, too.

Defensively, there are potentially even more tough decisions to make. Along the defensive line, there is a bit of a logjam at defensive tackle between the likes of Skyler Gill-Howard, Chris Smith, and Mekhi Wingo. Moving into the secondary and there may be even more questions than the defensive line.

That brings us to today’s question of the day:

What will you be watching for in the Lions’ final preseason game against the Colts?

My answer: As usual, my eyes will be fixed on the trenches. On the offensive line, who gets the most work at center? Will Juice Scruggs see any reps, or will he also be in street clothes? If he isn’t dressed, will Seth McLaughlin see the majority of the opportunities? On the other side of the ball, will the last preseason game help the coaching staff figure out which direction they want to go in as far as the active roster is concerned?

What about you? What will you be watching for in Saturday’s game against the Colts? Join our community and share your answer in the comment section.