The Minnesota Wild may not have been involved in Cale Makar's contract negotiations with the Colorado Avalanche, but the result could have major ramifications in Minnesota.
Makar and the Avalanche have agreed to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension, carrying an average annual value of $20.4 million.
For the Wild, that number immediately matters for one reason: Quinn Hughes.
Hughes is entering the final season of the six-year, $47.1 million contract he originally signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2021. His $7.85 million cap hit has become one of the biggest bargains in hockey, but that bargain is quickly approaching its expiration date.
Minnesota acquired Hughes from Vancouver in December knowing exactly what was at stake. The Wild surrendered a massive package to acquire one of the NHL's premier defensemen without any guarantee that he would remain in Minnesota beyond the 2026-27 season.
Now, Makar may have established the benchmark for what keeping Hughes could cost.
Makar and Hughes have separated themselves as two of the defining defensemen of their generation. While their styles and individual accomplishments differ, there are few players who make more sense as contract comparables.
That means Hughes' representatives now have a massive number to point toward in negotiations with Wild president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin.
If Makar is worth $20.4 million annually, how far behind should Hughes be? That's the question Minnesota may now have to answer.
Hughes' impact since joining the Wild certainly strengthens his case. He recorded 53 points in 48 regular-season games after arriving in Minnesota and added 15 points in 11 playoff games. His ability to move the puck and generate offense from the blue line transformed the Wild and helped Minnesota advance beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015.
The Wild have made no secret about wanting to keep him.
Guerin called signing Hughes the organization's "priority No. 1" following the season, while owner Craig Leipold has publicly expressed confidence that the two sides will eventually reach an agreement.
Hughes has also said he would be open to staying in Minnesota.
The more complicated question may be the structure of the contract.
Minnesota would understandably prefer to secure Hughes for as long as possible, but Hughes could have an incentive to sign a shorter extension. A shorter deal would allow him to maintain flexibility while potentially returning to the market while still in his prime.
Not only that, but it would allign him with his brother Jack Hughes.
Regardless of the term, Makar's extension gives Hughes' camp an important new piece of leverage.
Minnesota already committed $17 million annually to Kirill Kaprizov on his eight-year extension. If Hughes lands somewhere near Makar's new $20.4 million benchmark, the Wild could eventually have well over $35 million of their salary cap committed annually to two players.
That's an enormous investment.
It's also the price of employing superstar talent in an NHL where the salary cap — and contracts for the league's best players — continue to climb.
The Wild didn't give up Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick to rent Hughes for a season and a half. They acquired him with the belief that he could become one of the foundational pieces of a Stanley Cup contender.
Makar's new contract doesn't change Minnesota's desire to make that happen. It may have just made the price considerably clearer.
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The Green Bay Packers had the early advantage in their joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals, but Arizona eventually got the better of Green Bay in the starters-vs.-starters portion of the session.
Neither team plans to play its starters in Friday's preseason finale, shifting the focus to the backups. That's another area where Arizona impressed during the joint practice, giving me confidence in the Cardinals heading into this matchup.
That has me backing Arizona in my Cardinals vs. Packers predictions for Friday night.
Check out our latest NFL picks for more preseason betting analysis.
Cardinals vs Packers prediction
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Who will win Cardinals vs Packers: Cardinals
Kalshi probability: 49%
The Green Bay Packers opened as a 74% favorite to get the win in the team’s final preseason contest. That has narrowed significantly, with Green Bay now holding the slimmest of advantages at 51-49%.
Kyle McCord is trying to win the Green Bay backup quarterback job from veteran Tyrod Taylor. McCord has been efficient but not spectacular in games, passing 24-of-35 for 230 yards, while Taylor has been a 50% passer. McCord hasn’t thrown any touchdowns, however. Both were shaky against the Arizona Cardinals’ defense in practice, throwing interceptions on their first attempts. McCord also missed a wide-open receiver on his second pass.
Arizona’s Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis have been much better in the preseason, giving the Cardinals a quarterback edge. Slovis was 9-of-10 in one game and 7-of-9 in another.
TOP PICK Cardinals vs Packers Over/Under pick: Over 34.5
Kalshi probability: 59%
That point total is extremely low, and the probability is too high to really be interesting. If possible, I’d boost the total by two points and take Over 36.5 at 45%. Neither team has gone Over this preseason. The three Cardinals games have produced 63, 41, and 47 points, and only 28 points have come in the first quarters of those games. So the fact that the starters aren’t playing shouldn’t slow down the scoring.
The two Packers contests have produced 46 and 37 points, and both games have seen double-digit scoring in the fourth quarter.
The Packers identified “finishing games” as a priority after several high-profile collapses last season. They did just the opposite in the joint practice, starting fast and fading. So look for Green Bay to keep pressing the gas, even as the likely cuts take the field in the waning moments. Some late scoring should help keep this game Over.
COVERS INTEL: Minshew has been very efficient in his two preseason games, passing 33-of-39 for 278 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Slovis is 18-of-26 for 211 yards and one score. Minshew also threw a touchdown pass against Green Bay in the joint practice.
Cardinals vs Packers trend to know
Including the preseason, Green Bay and Arizona have each gone Over in six of their last eight games.
The tundra is not frozen yet. Temperatures in Green Bay will be in the 70s at kickoff before potentially dropping into the high 60s. Conditions should be partly cloudy with little wind, so weather shouldn’t have much impact on the game.
How to watch Cardinals vs Packers
Location
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Date
Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
Kickoff
8 p.m. ET
TV
KPHO, WGBA
Cardinals vs Packers latest injuries
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The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks close out their preseason schedule Friday night with a trip to Arrowhead to face the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seattle enters the exhibition finale as a 1.5-point road favorite, and with the Seahawks expected to give at least some of their key players work, there is plenty to like about the visitors in this matchup.
That has me siding with Seattle in my Seahawks vs. Chiefs predictions and NFL picks for Friday night.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited.
Seahawks vs Chiefs prediction
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TOP PICK
Who will win Seahawks vs Chiefs: Seahawks -1.5
Kalshi probability: 51%
Anyone hoping for a Kenneth Walker III revenge game against his former team will be disappointed, as the Kansas City Chiefs' offseason pickup sits alongside Patrick Mahomes — who hasn’t taken a preseason snap.
I expect the Seattle Seahawks to have the edge in starter usage, with Sam Darnold and key starters expected to see some action as they install Brian Fleury’s offense.
There’s also motivation at RB, with Zach Charbonnet on the PUP list and Jadarian Price competing for the starting role.
K.C. has scored just one preseason TD without Mahomes in two games. Seattle’s superior depth and expected snap advantage make -3.5 a playable bet.
Seahawks vs Chiefs Over/Under pick: Under 36.5
Kalshi probability: 50%
A line like this could be obliterated in the regular season, but preseason is different. Kansas City has scored just 27 points in two losses, with 21 coming from the boot of Harrison Butker.
Seattle has been even quieter, totaling 23 points in losses to Dallas and Tennessee.
Chiefs’ seventh-round pick Garrett Nussmeier hasn’t topped 100 passing yards in either game, while Seattle’s defensive depth remains formidable.
Sam Darnold should generate some offense, but both teams have little incentive to push the pace or risk key players. This looks more like a 60-minute tune-up than a shootout.
Mostly clear skies expected with temps at 85 F at kickoff, dipping into the 70s by the end. Southeast winds expected around 8 mph, which should have minimal impact.
How to watch Seahawks vs Chiefs
Location
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Date
Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
Kickoff
8 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN Unlimited
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FRISCO, TEXAS - AUGUST 25: Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman including Quinnen Williams (92), Adedayo Odeleye (96) and DJ Withers (59) run pass rushing drills during a Training Camp practice at The Star in Frisco, August 25, 2026. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images)
The Dallas Cowboys are two weeks away from the 2026 regular season. After a disastrous 2025 season, the saying “this feels different” has been thrown around a lot this offseason. The final step to things working out differently for the Cowboys is building the best 53-man roster they can.
Today we will take a swing at predicting what the Cowboys final 53-man roster will look like in just a few days.
QB (2)
Dak Prescott, Joe Milton
Heading into Oxnard, there was a loud conversation about Sam Howell beating out Joe Milton for the QB2 job. Milton has silenced any of those questions by running away with the quarterback competition. Milton was never a cut candidate, but if he had his struggles this offseason, the Cowboys were almost forced to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. With Milton showing great signs of development, the Cowboys should feel comfortable carrying just two, and hoping to get Sam Howell back on the practice squad.
RB (4)
Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Hunter Luepke
Similar to the quarterback position, the running back starter was never in question heading into the season. After a dominant 2025 season from Javonte Williams, the only question in the running back room was who will blossom as the team’s RB2, and that is exactly what Malik Davis did this offseason. Davis may never be a workhorse back, but he does a lot of things well and is a perfect depth piece behind Williams.
Jaydon Blue has had an up-and-down offseason, but he has shown more consistency and reliability so far. Blue’s change of pace ability is needed on the roster and his usage out of the backfield as a receiver should be put on display more in 2026.
WR (6)
CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown
The only major question surrounding the wide receiver position heading into the offseason was who would win the WR5 job. Luckily for the Cowboys they had two players do so, meaning they will now keep six (hopefully). Both Jonathan Mingo and Camden Brown had excellent offseasons, leaving the Cowboys with a difficult roster decision.
With George Pickens future in Dallas still in question past 2026, keeping a young receiver like Brown on the roster would be a smart move. As of today, I’m 50/50 on if they will go with five or six receivers, but Brown has shown up every time he’s been called upon, and it’s hard to justify cutting someone after they performed the way he did all offseason.
TE (3)
Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker
Heading into the offseason, Michael Trigg pushing for a roster spot was a possibility, but after a toe injury kept him out of preseason game two, he sure feels like more of a practice squad candidate to develop for 2027. The tight end position is pretty straight forward with Trigg’s injury, and despite Luke Schoonmaker’s struggles since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 draft, his blocking ability should keep him around another season.
OL (9)
Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, Nate Thomas, Drew Shelton, TJ Bass, Nick Leverett
The starting five for the Cowboys offensive line was never in doubt, but same cannot be said about the Cowboys offensive line depth. Both Bass and Leverett have had nice offseasons for the team, but the depth offensive tackles have struggled mightily. If the Cowboys have an opportunity to add a veteran by trade or signing, the team could look to move on from Thomas, but with 31 other teams hunting offensive line depth it’s tough to imagine the Cowboys upgrading their tackle depth behind Guyton and Steele.
DL (5)
Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbonnia, LT Overton, Jonathan Bullard
One of the tougher cuts in this prediction was leaving Tommy Dunn off the roster. Dunn has shown up in more ways than one this offseason, and if all things were equal he’d be on the roster over Jonathan Bullard. With Williams, Clark, and Ogbonnia penciled in as the starting three on the defensive line, the Cowboys defensive line is slated to have a big year under first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Rookie LT Overton has flashed throughout camp and in preseason to garner playing time as a rotational depth piece with some surprising upside.
EDGE (6)
Rashaan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence, James Houston, Marist Liufau
The decision between Sam Williams and Marist Liufau was the only one to weigh in the Cowboys edge room. Despite Williams playing better over the course of training camp and preseason, Liufau’s special teams ability and ability to play linebacker if needed in a pinch got him the nod.
LB (5)
DeMarvion Overshown, Jaishawn Barham, Dee Winters, Shemar James, Curtis Robinson
If the Cowboys don’t want to risk losing Tommy Dunn, they could look to go thin at linebacker to bolster their defensive line depth, but given how bad things went at linebacker last year, keeping someone with starting experience in Curtis Robinson may win out. Robinson is also known for his special teams ability, and that means a lot when deciding on the final few roster spots on a 53.
The Cowboys cornerback room looks much improved ahead of the 2026 season. With DaRon Bland back healthy, Shavon Revel having an awesome offseason, and the addition of Cobie Durant, the Cowboys have better starters and depth in their secondary than they had at any point in the 2025 season.
While Caleb Downs is expected to play a ton of slot corner this year, Durant’s versatility and play-making ability will prove to be a huge addition to the room. Also, don’t sleep on Ameer Speed who has really impressed in training camp and preseason. Devin Moore will make the roster, despite missing time with an injury and struggling in his first NFL offseason, but the tools are to intriguing to give up on this early.
S (5)
Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, Markquese Bell
Similar to the defensive line, this is the first time in a long time we should feel really good about the Cowboys safety room. Downs will play a ton at the nickel-corner spot, but we will also see him play some traditional safety from time to time. Jalen Thompson’s versatility and IQ was much needed on the backend of the defense, along with P.J. Locke.
Specialist (3)
Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg
This is one of the most stable areas of the roster. Aubrey is one of the best kickers in the league, while Anger and Sieg have held down the punting unit without issue.
The Washington Mystics wrap up a back-to-back set when they face the Los Angeles Sparks for the third and final time this season.
Nneka Ogwumike only has a handful of games left, and my free WNBA picks & Mystics vs. Sparks predictions expect the future Hall of Famer to make the most of her remaining court time in front of the home crowd on Friday, Aug. 28.
Read on to see why I’m backing the Over on combo lines for Ogwumike and Cameron Brink and points lines for Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen in a “Battle of the Bigs” at Crypto.com Arena.
Mystics vs Sparks prediction
Mystics vs Sparks best bet: Nneka Ogwumike Over 25.5 points+rebounds+assists -108
Nneka Ogwumike is retiring at the end of the 2026 season, which means she’s got six total games and only three home appearances left in her career.
She’s averaging 29.6 PRA at home and 27.8 on the road, and she’s gone for 26+ in 15 of 19 at Crypto.com Arena.
Ogwumike posted 25 and 33 PRA in two tilts at Washington, and she’ll get the benefit of home court tonight. Playing in LA and looking to end her career on a high note, Ogwumike could be in line for a monster game. Play to 29.5.
The Washington Mystics rank second in the WNBA in PITP at 42.8, and their dynamic duo of Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen account for 21.2 of them. The Sparks allow the second-most PITP (43) and fifth-most second-chance points (11.6).
Both Austin and Iriafen are averaging 10.6 PITP, good for eighth-most in the W, and both players rank in the Top-11 in second-chance points.
Austin has scored 17+ in 21 of 38 games and finished with 25 and 17 against the Los Angeles Sparks. Iriafen went for 19 and 13 against LA, and she has 19 games with 15+ points.
Cameron Brink Over 16.5 points+rebounds+assists -129
Cameron Brink is averaging 9.4 points on 50% shooting - both career-high marks.
Over her last eight games, Brink’s minutes have increased from 18.5 to 20.1. She ranks fourth in usage and second in rebound percentage on her team in that span while averaging 18.7 PRA.
Brink has averaged 20.3 PRA across her last three home games, hitting the Over twice in that span. In a matchup that should be dominated in the paint, I expect her to see plenty of run alongside Nneka Ogwumike to counter Washington’s double-big attack.
Zak Hanshew's 2026 Transparency Record
Best bet:31-36, -7.91 units
SGP:7-60, -23 units
Player prop:17-24, -9.05 units
Mystics vs Sparks odds
Spread: Mystics +5.5 | Sparks -5.5
Moneyline: Mystics -198 | Sparks +164
Over/Under: Over 167.5 | Under 167.5
Mystics vs Sparks trend
The Sparks have won four of their last five home games against the Mystics. Find more WNBA betting trends.
How to watch Mystics vs Sparks
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, August 28, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ION
Mystics vs Sparks latest injuries
Mystics: No injuries to report. Sparks:Emma Cannon (Probable). Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
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As for the Buss family, it is set for another date in court as current Lakers governor Jeanie Buss attempts to block her five siblings (Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss) from selling the family’s 17.8% share of the Lakers.
Disorienting, to say the least.
The ramifications of the Lakers’ offseason won’t be immediately known.
At least not off the court.
It’ll take at least another few weeks — and possibly months — for Kushner and Iger to officially purchase the Lakers from Walter and become the franchise’s new majority owners.
What will be the Lakers’ first orders of business after Josh Kushner (left) and Bob Iger (right) take over the franchise?
With the Buss family not having a court hearing until Nov. 5, it’ll probably be a while before its latest family infighting — and its ownership stake of the Lakers — is resolved.
On the court, it’ll take even longer to know whether the roster changes since the beginning of July were worth it in the form of deep playoff runs, title contention and championships.
But despite the roster turnover and off-the-court turmoil, the Lakers’ offseason has still been successful, earning a B grade with a month before training camp starts in late September.
Even with them losing James, along with the entire starting lineup (James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton) that essentially led them to a first-round playoff series over the Rockets in the spring.
Will Jeanie Buss remain the Lakers’ governor? Getty Images
Even with many things factoring into the Lakers’ grade still being determined: Once Kushner and Iger get the keys to the franchise, which direction will they take it? Will Jeanie Buss remain the franchise’s governor depending on the result of her litigation with her siblings? Will there be more changes to the organization’s basketball and business structures once the ownership details are finalized?
The noise around the Lakers doesn’t take away from the fact they accomplished many of the goals they entered the offseason with.
Walker Kessler was the Lakers’ marque addition during an offseason in which the franchise added nine players. REUTERS
Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million), Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million), Kevon Looney (one year, $3.9 million), Ziaire Williams (one year, $2.8 million) and Matisse Thybulle (one year, $3.3 million) were among the complementary signings who have the upside to outperform their deals.
The Lakers got younger and more athletic. They improved their collective perimeter defense and added more bench scoring.
With LeBron James gone, the Lakers will depend on Austin Reaves (left) and Luka Doncic (right) for more leadership. Getty Images
Did the moves come at a cost?
Absolutely.
It came at the cost of experience. Proven production. And in the case of acquiring Kessler, significant draft capital.
But the Lakers firmly established themselves in the Doncic era by surrounding him with a better-fitting roster that has room for growth and improvement, rather than year-to-year retooling and rentals.
The Mets appear to be close to getting a massive boost in the middle of their lineup.
Juan Soto told reporters including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com on Friday afternoon at Citi Field that he’s just about ready to make his highly-anticipated return from the injured list.
Interim manager Andy Green shared pregame Friday that Soto is going through another work day, and the team is going to wait and see how he feels Saturday before deciding on his next step.
Soto told DiComo himself that he doesn’t anticipate needing a rehab assignment.
The star outfielder has been sidelined since late-July due to a left calf strain suffered in a game against the Dodgers.
He also missed time with a right calf strain earlier this season.
Even with the Mets way out of the playoff race, Green said that Soto has been "getting after it" over the past couple of days with hopes of returning as soon as possible.
Despite just dropping a series to the Brewers, the club has been playing much better of late.
Soto was in the midst of another spectacular offensive season before going down with the injury, hitting .283 with 21 home runs and a .947 OPS across 84 games.
Deja Kelly wasn’t sure what to expect when she signed with the Charlotte Crown back in May.
After playing her college ball at Oregon and North Carolina, Kelly spent some time in training camp with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025, played in Athletes Unlimited last winter, and also worked in television for the Big Ten Network. As summer approached, she wanted to keep playing basketball, but knew options were limited - especially if she wanted to play in the U.S. where her friends and family could watch her.
Then the Upshot League started, of which the Crown are one of four teams in its inaugural season. Founded by former WNBA president Donna Orender and backed by Zawyer Sports and Entertainment, the Upshot League sought to fill a gap in the U.S. women’s basketball ecosystem by providing an environment in which the players squeezed out by the WNBA's limited roster sizes could still play team basketball, develop their skills and get paid for it.
While not affiliated with the WNBA, a simple way of thinking about the Upshot League is that it's the women’s basketball equivalent of the NBA’s G League.
“Whenever you're part of something for the first time, it's kind of nerve-wracking because it could be all over the place. It could go either way,” Kelly told USA TODAY Sports. “I think overall, once we ironed out all the wrinkles, this is really high-level basketball. The talent level is there, so it's really good competition every single night. That's something that definitely exceeded my expectations.
“And organizationally, everything has fallen into place. There’s a really good structure. That’s how I know the league is going to continue to grow. I’m just really blessed that this opportunity found me.”
The Upshot League will wrap up its first season on Saturday, Aug. 29 when Kelly’s Charlotte Crown face the Jacksonville Waves at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET and the game can be streamed live, for free, on the league’s YouTube channel.
“I never doubted that we would have fantastic players. I didn't worry about that. I wouldn't say that I'm surprised they're even better than I thought, but they are,” Orender told USA TODAY Sports. “The quality of the competition, of the athletes, all of that is just superior to what I think we had envisioned.”
Coached by Jessica Bogia, the Waves wrapped up a spot in the championship weeks ago and own the league’s best record at 25-9. Jacksonville’s roster features former college stars like Ariel Hearn of Memphis, Shyanne Sellers of Maryland and Tennessee’s Rennia Davis.
Eight of Bogia’s players have previous experience in the WNBA.
“That was the sell: ‘Come be seen right now. Come show the W that you're playing, that you're active. These are games that they can watch,’” Bogia told USA TODAY Sports. “For us, our strength is our depth. They’ve been able to put their egos aside. You know, the W isn't looking for them to go drop 20 (points), right? What else can you do? What else are you bringing to the table? Can you play defense? I think that's been how we've been able to find our most success.”
A former three-time All-ACC selection at North Carolina while playing for Courtney Banghart’s Tar Heels, Kelly leads the Upshot League this season in scoring and passing, averaging 17.8 points and 4.1 assists per game. The Crown are coached by Trisha Stafford-Odom, a former standout player at Cal in the early 1990s and most recently the head coach at NC Central who has guided them on a recent surge where they’ve won 14 of their last 15 games entering the championship.
With the Crown, Kelly believes she’s improved as a passer and has set herself up for future opportunities playing professional basketball. When the Upshot season is over, she’ll head abroad for the first time after signing with Panthers WBC, a team in Greece’s top pro division.
“I know I can score," Kelly said. "That’s kind of been my thing my whole career is being able to go get a bucket, but I really wanted to grow at being a true point guard, balancing the scoring and elevating my teammates around me.”
Filling this hole in the women’s basketball ecosystem - providing a U.S.-based developmental league that runs concurrently alongside the WNBA - was all part of the vision that Orender and Upshot vice president Taj McWilliams-Franklin had for the league.
“It’s definitely a validation,” Orender said of Upshot players earning WNBA contracts. “That proved a key premise of who we are, where we are and why we are. Not every one of our players is going to be a WNBA player - maybe every one of them could be - but if they weren't playing in our league in this timeframe, where would they be? They’d be training with a trainer or coach, and that’s not bad, but you need to be game-ready. You can step off the court from one of our games and walk right into a WNBA game.
“That's why we call ourselves an opportunity league. We create opportunities for players, for coaches, for people in the front office, and also opportunities for communities to have world-class athletic entertainment and female role models. I think it's special and important.”
In addition to the teams in Charlotte and Jacksonville, Upshot also had squads based in Greensboro, North Carolina and Savannah, Georgia this season. Next year, the league will expand its footprint with teams in Baltimore, Maryland and Nashville, Tennessee.
And still, Orender says there is “potential” for more teams to be announced before the start of next season.
“We want to get through the championship and then we'll figure out what the timing is,” Orender said. “But there's a tremendous amount of positive activity and there will probably be another team or two. … Now, we can capitalize on the fact that we have a record of elite competition, of entertaining and exciting basketball in great arenas, of community engagement. I think that will help in every market we go to.”
Perhaps the question that Orender fields most often is what the Upshot League’s relationship is like with the WNBA. Could the two women’s basketball leagues be partners down the road? Will WNBA teams have affiliates in the Upshot similar to the system between the NBA and G League?
For now, the Upshot is independent of the WNBA and focusing on growing and improving, but there is a line of communication between the two leagues.
“They know who we are. They know what we do. They're watching us,” Orender said. “And in good time, I think that conversations will continue to evolve in a way that could help define a more formal relationship.”
What’s clear is that the Upshot League has filled a void in the landscape of women’s basketball. More players are getting paid to play in a team environment, and they’re parlaying their performances in the Upshot to opportunities with the WNBA and overseas. That’s a win for the fledgling league.
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!"
Delaware — yes, Delaware — made a massive splash on the recruiting trail on Friday afternoon as Amarillo (Texas) Palo Duro four-star quarterback Julian Reese II announced his commitment to the Blue Hens.
The CUSA program was able to beat out UNLV, UTEP, Houston and others for the coveted athlete who’s got his sights set on being a signal-caller at the next level. It’s one of the bigger recruiting victories for the entire Group of Six in the 2027 cycle.
Reese is the No. 399 overall prospect and No. 28 QB in the cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s the third blue-chip senior to commit to a G6 program.
There have been some intriguing recruitments this cycle that have gone the way of the “little guy.” Rivals breaks down the 10 highest-ranked prospects who are currently committed to a G6 school, as of Aug. 28:
About: Murphy is quite the dual-threat playmaker who wants to play quarterback at the college level. As a junior, he rushed for over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns and also threw for more than 1,500 yards and 11 scores to just five interceptions. The 6-foot, 200-pounder committed to Georgia State at the end of official visit season. West Virginia and Vanderbilt were among some of the bigger names giving him a look.
About: The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder opted for new head coach Kirby Moore and the Cougars over Washington, Utah and Oregon State. Lavata’i credited his relationships with the staff in Pullman when discussing his commitment with Rivals’ Brandon Huffman. Rivals ranks the four-star higher than other recruiting services; he checks in as the No. 118 recruit and No. 9 OT in the updated Rivals300.
About: Programs like Houston and Wake Forest were after Reese, but Delaware emerged as a finalist as the Blue Hens targeted him as a QB rather than an athlete who would likely slot in elsewhere. Reese accounted for more than 3,000 yards passing with 31 passing touchdowns and 12 more rushing scores in 12 games last fall. He’s dynamic with the football and will begin his senior season on Friday. Reese discussed his commitment with Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman — that can be seen here.
About: Gordon is another Swiss-Army knife playmaker in the Lone Star State. He’s coming off a junior season that witnessed 11 rushing touchdowns, four receiving touchdowns and over 1,500 total yards. The likes of Houston and Rice got him in for official visits, but he’s headed for San Marcos in a big-time win for Texas State as it embarks on competing in the new Pac-12.
About: Originally committed to the old staff at Virginia Tech, Rogers flirted with reclassification and putting his name back on the board throughout the fall. He eventually did weigh his options once more and the in-state East Carolina Pirates emerged as a realistic option, leading him to a late-June commitment. The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder plays for one of the top HSFB programs in North Carolina and is coming off a 50-tackle, eight-sack junior year.
About: Christie is someone who’s impressed many in the Peach State for years and his recruitment was previously down to Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech and UCF. Things were quiet over the summer for The Opening Finals invitee, however, and on June 18, Liberty swiped his commitment. As a junior for Southwest DeKalb, he hauled in 48 catches and turned them into 927 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 537 NATL. (No. 32 QB) School:Merritt Island (Fla.)
About: In the middle of his junior year at Merritt Island, Verpaele made an early commitment to the Pitt Panthers. That pledge held strong for over seven months, but after taking some visits and hitting a reset button of sorts, the passer decommitted. It was USF and new head coach Brian Hartline that immediately began to trend and he locked in his commitment to the Bulls one day later on June 10. A Rivals300 four-star, Verpaele threw for over 2,700 yards and had 31 total touchdowns last season.
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 599 NATL. (No. 80 WR) School:Tulare Union (Calif.)
About: Riley has been on the California HSFB radar for a while now. As a freshman, he broke out with 67 catches, over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. He hauled in 12 receiving TDs as a sophomore, then took it up a notch with over 1,500 yards and 13 more scores last fall, averaging over 126 yards per game. He also had four interceptions last fall and doubles as a great basketball player. Fresno State is right down the road and it landed Riley’s commitment on April 9.
About: Playing for a prominent Texas HSFB program, Scott made the most of his opportunities as a junior last fall, turning less than 50 carries into 275 yards while also hauling in 10 receptions. He’ll get to lead the Lancaster backfield as a senior this fall. The 6-foot, 190-pounder toted his fair share of Power Four scholarship offers — including SMU, Baylor and Georgia Tech — but North Texas prioritized him and he committed on May 12.
About: Isaac is a top-20 senior prospect in the Magnolia State and he’s also headed for South Florida after committing on June 24. As a junior for McComb, he caught 56 passes and had 1,158 yards and 14 touchdowns. That followed a breakout 50-catch, 11-score sophomore campaign. He’s also got 70 total tackles to his name across the last two seasons. Isaac chose the Bulls despite possessing offers from in-state Ole Miss, Mississippi State and others.
It’s time for our next category of Spurs villains. This time, we’re looking for your votes on “dirty” players. These are the players who committed aggressive plays against the Spurs, injuring (or attempting to injure) a player, or altering a playoff match-up. Readers will vote for the biggest villain in a poll, and the winner of each match-up will advance to the next round, with the eventual winner crowned as the Biggest Spurs Villain of all time. Let’s get to the voting!
1. Zaza Pachulia (The Slide) vs. 8. Lu Dort (West Finals shenanigans, Barnes trip in regular season)
The play so famous the NBA literally had to change its rules. It’s not a stretch to say that Zaza Pachulia taking out Kawhi Leonard on that jump shot completely altered the direction of the Spurs franchise. San Antonio was swept in the series after winning 60+ games that year, and Leonard forced his way out of town very shortly afterwards. The slide is one of the most negatively impactful plays in franchise history and literally changed the league.
Lu Dort, on the other hand, is an annoying, scrappy player who, from time to time, has some egregious moments. The sheer volume of incidents from Dort against the Spurs could make a case for him here. Let’s count them:
Seemingly dives into De’Aaron Fox’s injured ankle in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals
Nearly smacks Wembanyama in the face after he’s already on the ground in Game Two of the WCF
Flying knee kick into Barnes’ side jumping on a pump fake (I don’t think this one is dirty per se, but it’s physical
Dort is the 8th seed here because his antics didn’t ultimately add up to anything. San Antonio still defeated the Thunder and advanced to the Finals. His impact on the franchise isn’t anywhere close to Pachulia’s dirty play.
2. Karl Malone (The Elbow) vs. 7. Raja Bell (battles with Manu)
Sometimes a dirty play has some gray area. There is no gray area when a player is knocked unconscious. Karl Malone’s elbow is one of clear frustration that knocked out Robinson. It is somehow not the worst thing that Malone has ever done in his life!
Raja Bell and Manu Ginobili had some battles during their time. The most famous play between the two is probably the double flop. There are a few hard fouls here and there, but nothing that is overtly dirty. Malone is the clear winner here.
3. Eduardo Najera (Mavs enforcer, hurt Rose in 03, Manu in 10) vs. 6. DeJuan Blair (Tiago kick)
Eduardo Najera mentioned in 2026? Only in a Spurs dirty player draft. Najera’s most famous play is probably when he used both of his arms to throw Ginobili to the ground in the 2010 playoffs (this is while Manu had a broken nose). But he also smacked Tony Parker in the face in the playoffs, and collided with Malik Rose in the 2003 playoffs. There is enough volume and severity of dirty plays here to make him a top-three seed.
We also have the rare former-Spur make the list! DeJuan Blair’s full-on donkey kick to Tiago Splitter’s head is an insane play. It’s a move you’d see in the UFC octagon, not on the basketball court. It’s bad enough to potentially upset Najera in the first round.
4. Juwan Howard (Derek Anderson karate chop) vs. 5. Kevin Garnett (trash talker)
I was initially surprised to see Kevin Garnett on this list. Yes, I know he has the reputation as one of the NBA’s finest trash talkers, but I never considered him to be overly dirty toward the Spurs. That was until I read this alleged story about Garnett telling Tim Duncan “happy Mother’s Day” during a game on the holiday, nine years after Duncan’s mother had passed away from breast cancer. There is no way to corroborate if that story is true, but if it is, he more than deserves the five seed on this list.
The Juwan Howard play does not look good 25 years later, but in this interview he seems genuinely remorseful, and even went as far as to visit the Spurs’ locker room to apologize for the play. Plus, San Antonio did go on to win the series against the Mavericks 4-1. Would Anderson have helped San Antonio defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals? He was only averaging 7.7 points in the playoffs prior to the injury, and the Spurs did get swept. We will never know.
The Garnett story is a legitimate low blow, vs. a seemingly innocent, but overaggressive play from Howard. I know which way I would lean here.
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.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: Malachi Moreno #24 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates after a play during the second half in the second round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament against the Missouri Tigers at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the addition of Missouri transfer forward Mark Mitchell (pending his eligibility case), Kentucky Basketball’s 2026-27 roster is now finalized.
After an offseason filled with roster movement, Mark Pope and his staff have assembled a team that combines proven college production, size, shooting, and versatility.
With the roster set, here is a look at Kentucky’s projected starting five and several key players who could play important roles off the bench.
Kentucky Basketball Projected Starting Five
PG: Zoom Diallo
Diallo enters his third collegiate season after taking a significant step forward at Washington in 2025-26.
He started 29 of 33 games and averaged 15.7 points and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. He scored in double figures 23 times and recorded three double-doubles.
Diallo showed he can take over games, including a 26-point performance against USC and a 22-point, 11-assist effort against the Trojans in an overtime victory. He also recorded a career-high 12 assists against Iowa.
After averaging 11.1 points and 2.7 assists as a sophomore, Diallo appears ready to take on an even larger role at Kentucky.
One interesting storyline will be whether Diallo can help Kentucky reverse his college winning fortunes. Despite his individual production, he has yet to play on a winning college team. With this roster around him, that could change in Lexington.
SG: Alex Wilkins
Wilkins comes to Kentucky after an outstanding freshman season at Furman.
The 6-foot-6 guard started all 35 games he played and averaged 17.8 points and 4.7 assists per game. He earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors, NABC All-South Atlantic District First Team recognition and SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
Wilkins averaged 21.7 points per game during the SoCon Tournament, including a career-high 34 points against UNC Greensboro.
He finished the season with 622 points, the most ever by a Furman freshman, while shooting 45.8% from the field, 32.1% from 3 and 83.5% from the free-throw line.
Wilkins also came close to helping Furman pull off a massive NCAA Tournament upset. As a No. 15 seed, Furman led No. 2 seed UConn at one point before eventually falling 82-71. Wilkins scored 21 points and knocked down four 3-pointers.
His combination of size, scoring ability, and playmaking should give Pope another versatile option in the backcourt.
SF: Milan Momcilovic
Momcilovic is arguably one of the most dangerous shooters on Kentucky’s roster.
The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game at Iowa State, while shooting an incredible 50.6% from the field, 48.7% from 3 and 87.8% from the free-throw line.
He started all 37 games and set an Iowa State single-season record with 136 made 3-pointers.
Momcilovic also showed that he can perform against elite competition. He scored 20 points and knocked down four 3-pointers against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.
His ability to stretch the floor from the forward position could be extremely valuable alongside Kentucky’s bigger players.
PF: Mark Mitchell
Mitchell is the newest addition to Kentucky’s roster and arguably the most intriguing.
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward was a five-star recruit in the 2022 class and originally chose Duke over Kansas, UCLA, and Missouri.
After two seasons at Duke, Mitchell transferred to Missouri, where his production continued to rise.
As a senior, he averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, while shooting 55% from the field and 38.8% from 3. He led Missouri in scoring, rebounding and assists while earning second-team All-SEC honors.
Kentucky has already seen firsthand what Mitchell can do.
He scored 21 points in Missouri’s 73-68 upset of Kentucky at Rupp Arena during the regular season. Kentucky eventually got revenge in the SEC Tournament with a 78-72 victory, but Mitchell exploded for 32 points and seven rebounds while shooting 13-of-21 from the field and 2-of-2 from 3.
Mitchell brings size, physicality, scoring, passing, and improved shooting to the Kentucky frontcourt. His ability to attack the basket while also spacing the floor makes him a fascinating fit alongside Momcilovic and Moreno.
C: Malachi Moreno
Moreno enters his sophomore season as the anchor of Kentucky’s frontcourt.
The 7-foot, 245-pound Georgetown native appeared in all 36 games as a freshman and started 30. He averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.47 blocks per game, while shooting 58.2% from the field.
Moreno recorded three double-doubles and led Kentucky in rebounding 18 times and blocks 17 times.
With another year of experience and an offseason to develop, Moreno could take a significant step forward.
Key Bench Players
Kam Williams
Williams could be one of Kentucky’s most important reserves if he can enter the season fully healthy.
The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 24 games last season, missing 12 games because of a broken foot.
Before his injury, Williams showed plenty of potential, including a career-high 26 points and eight 3-pointers against Bellarmine.
He also returned in time to contribute during the NCAA Tournament, but now he is coming off another foot surgery; his health will be something to monitor heading into the season.
Justin McBride
McBride arrives at Kentucky after an impressive season at James Madison.
The 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward averaged 15.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 49.4% from the field, 40% from 3 and 78.2% from the free-throw line.
He scored at least 20 points in 10 games and recorded two 30-point performances, including a 33-point outing against Norfolk State.
McBride’s combination of size and shooting ability gives Kentucky another experienced forward who can provide offense off the bench.
Ousmane N’Diaye
Before Kentucky added Mitchell, N’Diaye was viewed by many as a potential starting option.
The 7-foot forward brings international experience after playing in Germany, Spain and Italy. Most recently, he averaged 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals for Vanoli Cremona in Italy’s top division.
N’Diaye also recorded four double-doubles and posted a season-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in one game.
His size, experience, and ability to stretch the floor could make him an important piece of Kentucky’s frontcourt rotation, even if he does not ultimately start.
Franck Kepnang
While Malachi Moreno will be getting most of the minutes at the 5 spot, Kepnang will be a quality backup if he can stay healthy. Durability has been an issue throughout his career, but he’ll have more limited minutes in Lexington so long as Moreno is healthy.
You won’t find many backup centers with the talent Kepnang possesses. If he can stay healthy and give Kentucky a good 10-15 minutes per game, that would be a massive boost for a roster that doesn’t really have another true center after Moreno and Kepnang.
Mason Williams
Williams was the first commitment of Kentucky’s 2026 recruiting class under Pope.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound guard averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals as a high school senior while shooting 60% from the field, 41% from 3 and 89% from the free-throw line.
He also helped Tennessee Collegiate Academy pull off an upset of No. 1-ranked Prolific Prep.
Williams has already drawn attention for his college-ready frame. Now, the next step is translating that physical development into production against Division I competition.
Braydon Hawthorne
Hawthorne redshirted the 2025-26 season, giving him four seasons of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-8 forward was a consensus four-star prospect and ranked No. 33 nationally in the final 2025 247Sports rankings.
At Huntington Prep, he averaged 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
Hawthorne enters the season having had additional time to develop physically and adjust to the college level. His size and skill set could make him an interesting option in Kentucky’s frontcourt rotation.
Plenty of Depth Behind Them
Kentucky’s depth does not stop there, as they have transfer guard Jerone Morton and returning forward Trent Noah, aka Mountain Mamba, which will give Pope additional options as he determines how deep he wants to go into his rotation.
The biggest question may not be whether Kentucky has enough talent, but how Pope distributes the minutes among a roster with so many players capable of contributing.
Now, the focus shifts from building the roster to figuring out how all those pieces fit together and how to advance deep in both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.
What if there’s no Mark Mitchell?
With Mitchell facing eligibility scrutiny from the SEC and the NCAA, there’s still a chance we won’t see him suit up for the entire 2026-27 season, if at all.
If Mitchell ends up sidelined, here’s what the starting lineup could look like:
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?
'I Love The City And The Fans': Quinn Hughes Already Feels At Home In MinnesotaFrom blockbuster trades to standing ovations, the star defenseman reflects on embracing the State of Hockey's culture and why he’s ready to build a future in Minnesota.
COVERS INTEL: Minshew has been very efficient in his two preseason games, passing 33-of-39 for 278 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Slovis is 18-of-26 for 211 yards and one score. Minshew also threw a touchdown pass against Green Bay in the joint practice.
