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Caglianone goes 5 for 6 with HR, 6 RBIs to power the Royals past the Blue Jays 13-2

TORONTO — Jac Caglianone had a homer among his career-best five hits and finished with a career-high six RBIs, Noah Cameron pitched six strong innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 13-2 on Thursday night.

The Blue Jays are 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the race for the final American League wild-card spot.

The Royals took two of three in the series, have won 10 of their last 11 games and four consecutive series, including two straight on the road after starting the season 3-15-2 in road sets. Kansas City, which went in tied with the Giants for the worst road record in MLB, is 24-45 away from home this season.

Cameron (9-8) allowed six hit and two runs and struck out three.

Carter Jensen hit a 421-foot homer off Spencer Arrighetti to lead off the game, and Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run homer that capped Kansas City’s six-run sixth and made it 10-0.

Caglianone’s two-run shot with two out in the ninth capped the scoring.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Kyle Isbel each had a run-scoring double.

Pasquantino had his string of consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout ended at a career-best 38 when he fanned in the first inning. It was the longest active streak in MLB.

George Springer hit his 13th homer of the season, a two-run shot, with two out in the sixth that ended Cameron’s scoreless streak at 19 2/3 innings.

Arrighetti (7-7), who went in 0-2 with a 16.00 ERA in two career starts against Kansas City, allowed four runs — three earned — in four innings.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remained second in Toronto’s batting order and went 0 for 3. The first baseman is hitting a career-worst .260 and has just seven home runs, none at home, this season.

Up next

Royals RHP Michael Wacha (7-8, 3.49 ERA) Friday at Cleveland. The Guardians have not named a starter.

Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease (8-5, 2.37 ERA) starts Friday against the Mariners at home. Seattle has not named a starter.

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NFL waiver wire rules and the Steelers’ position in the waiver order

Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan talks on the phone before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

With the NFL preseason nearing its conclusion, teams will have to begin the process of cutting players to be compliant with the 53-man limit for the regular season. The Steelers themselves just played their final preseason game and will need to make some tough decisions by the cutdown deadline this Sunday, August 30, by 6 PM EST.

As Pittsburgh gets one step closer to the regular season, they enter the year at plus-money odds to make the postseason at +154, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

The flurry of transactions won’t stop after initial cuts, though. Every year, after teams announce who they’ve released, there is a waiver process that allows teams to claim certain players released by other organizations.

Which players are eligible for these claims? When must claims be made? And how does the NFL decide the waiver order? We’ve got the answers for you.

When is the waiver deadline?

Once the 53-man roster deadline arrives, teams will have until 1 PM EST the next day — August 31 this year — to file their claims. The NFL will review those claims and then announce which claims were successful shortly after the deadline.

Once those have been announced, teams will officially be able to start filling their practice squads.

Which players can go on waivers?

The NFL ecosystem contains a great many players. During the preseason, teams are allowed up to 90 players on their rosters at a time, which works out to 2,880 players. But once cutdowns occur, just 1,696 remain, meaning 1,184 are suddenly up for grabs for teams to add if they wish.

Some of those players will head to the waiver wire, but others won’t. To determine which players are which, the NFL sorts the players into two categories: players who are vested and players who are not.

A vested player is one who has been credited with four or more seasons of NFL experience. To be credited for an NFL season, a player must have been on the active, inactive, IR, or PUP roster for three or more regular-season or postseason games. A player can also be credited for a season if they receive an injury settlement or grievance for the equivalent of three or more regular-season games. Note that a credited season is different from accrued seasons, which determine what type of free agent a player is.

Vested players do not go onto waivers and are free to sign with any team at any time, between the day after the Super Bowl and the NFL trade deadline. They are subject to waivers in the period after the deadline through the Super Bowl.

Non-vested players, or players with three or fewer credited seasons, are subject to waivers. If these players go unclaimed, they are free to negotiate with teams as free agents.

How does the NFL determine waiver wire priority?

Through the first three weeks of the NFL season, the waiver reorder follows the order of that season’s draft. Trades in the draft are ignored for this process, so, for example, the Bengals — who traded out of the 10th spot — would still be 10th in waiver priority. That means the Steelers will be 21st in waiver priority.

It’s also important to note that the NFL doesn’t have a rolling waiver system like readers who play fantasy football might be familiar with. In fantasy football, a successful claim typically moves a team down in waiver priority so they can’t hog all the waiver claims. However, in the NFL, a team in the top priority gets as many of their claims as they want. If that team filed 53 claims, they’d get all 53 if they wanted them. Obviously, no organization is going to go to that extreme, which is why teams are allowed to prioritize and add specifications to these claims. Using our example, a team could file 53 claims, number those claims in priority 1-53, and say something along the lines of “we only want two receivers and a cornerback,” which would cancel all their other claims once their specifications have been met.

What’s the current waiver order?

  1. Las Vegas Raiders
  2. New York Jets
  3. Arizona Cardinals
  4. Tennessee Titans
  5. New York Giants
  6. Cleveland Browns
  7. Washington Commanders
  8. New Orleans Saints
  9. Kansas City Chiefs
  10. Cincinnati Bengals
  11. Miami Dolphins
  12. Dallas Cowboys
  13. Atlanta Falcons
  14. Baltimore Ravens
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  16. Indianapolis Colts
  17. Detroit Lions
  18. Minnesota Vikings
  19. Carolina Panthers
  20. Green Bay Packers
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers
  22. Los Angeles Chargers
  23. Philadelphia Eagles
  24. Jacksonville Jaguars
  25. Chicago Bears
  26. Buffalo Bills
  27. San Francisco 49ers
  28. Houston Texans
  29. Los Angeles Rams
  30. Denver Broncos
  31. New England Patriots
  32. Seattle Seahawks
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Eddy Pineiro caps off the 49ers’ preseason with a perfect performance

Oct 19, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddie Pineiro (18) after the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Mac Jones quarterbacked the San Francisco 49ers for the first two drives of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Jones didn’t complete a pass on the first drive after there was miscommunication with rookie running back Kaelon Black on a second down. Reading coverages in the passing game on option routes will be something Black needs to learn on the fly this season.

Jones took an aggressive shot down the field to Jordan Watkins on third down, but Watkins didn’t pick up the ball in time. Watkins also braced for a hit on his initial kickoff return. That is not a trait the coaching staff is looking for.

Jack Jones started things off defensively with a nice open-field tackle and a near interception after jumping a slant route. His gambling mentality makes Jones a fun watch.

On that drive, rookie Jaden Dugger had a brutal miss on a tackle attempt in the open field. Dugger had an active night with 10 tackles, but only five were solo. He nearly had a sack, but he’ll want to clean up the tackling moving forward.

The second drive was a sloppy one for the defense. CJ West, Ashtyn Davis, and Eli Apple (multiple) all missed tackles. Darrell Luter Jr. avoided a block to make an impressive tackle on a screen before Siran Neal broke up a pass to end the drive.

Rookie cornerback Ephesians Prysock left with a shoulder injury on the drive.

Black benefitted from good blocking on a 14-yard run on the ensuing drive. His decisiveness shown on a 3rd & 1 run last week ended up being a mistake Jordan James made in his first action. Black gave way to James in the second quarter. On a 3rd & 1 run, James attempted to cut against the grain instead of staying on his path and picking up the first down. That’s a good learning moment for James.

James broke a run himself. He had a 17-yarder and also took a screen pass 20 yards. James isn’t flashy, but he’s the type of back to bounce off tackles and fall forward for a few extra yards. That’s what you want in a backup. He’ll learn to stick his nose in there and maximize the yardage in short-yardage situations.

Tatum Bethune intercepted No. 1 overall pick Fernandzo Mendoza.

Carver Willis played into the second quarter, as the team continued to evaluate their rookie left guard.

The most intriguing rookie may have been undrafted free agent tight end Khalil Dinkins. He’s listed at 6’4″, 226 pounds. That might be about 15 pounds too light. He played blocked with a level of intensity in limited action that is worth keeping around on the practice squad.

The score was 12-12 with two minutes to go. Eddy Pineiro nailed a 51-yarder to give the Niners a 15-12 lead. It was his fifth make in as many attempts. Pineiro also buried a 59-yard kick. Pineiro tacked on a 54-yarder with under 10 seconds to play for good measure. That made him an impressive 6-for-6. He’s in regular-season form.

The 49ers won 18-12. The preseason is over.

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Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal expects Detroit homecoming against former teammates will test his emotions

ATLANTA — Tarik Skubal knows he will feel emotions when he makes his return to Detroit on Friday night to pitch against the Tigers only four weeks after he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Skubal says he hopes to focus on representing the Dodgers instead of dwelling on his memories with the Tigers at Comerica Park. He acknowledged it may not be easy to keep his emotions in check.

“We’ll see, right?” Skubal told SI.com on Wednesday. “The whole process was emotional. I have a lot of respect for those guys over there. I’m just going to go play baseball.”

Overall this season, Skubal is 8-7 with a 2.91 ERA. In four starts for the Dodgers since the Aug. 1 trade, Skubal is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He is coming off his first win for the Dodgers. The left-hander had 11 strikeouts in seven innings in a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Skubal, 29, made his major league debut with Detroit in 2020 and had played for no other team before the trade. The deal sent the two-time defending AL Cy Young winner to the two-time defending World Series champions.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he believes Skubal has the right temperament to handle the emotions which will come with his Detroit homecoming.

“I think, you know, that whole ‘be where your feet are’ adage, I think that’s just who he is,” Roberts said Wednesday. “Some people have a hard time letting go, but I think that Tarik is a guy that, wherever he’s at, he’s all in.”

Roberts said he expects Skubal “is going to try to engage guys and immerse himself with coaches, with his teammates, the best he can. That’s a good trait. Like I said, I’ve only known him a short time, but I’m really, really fortunate we got him on our club. Not even just for the pitching, just beyond.”

Skubal said he is “sure it will be emotional there just because of the history.” The emotions will be fresh because he has had less than one month to adjust to his new Los Angeles home before making his return to Detroit.

“But at the end of the day, I’ve got to go play baseball,” Skubal said. “I’ve got to compete and do what I do well, what makes me a good pitcher. I’ll probably handle the emotions after.”

The Tigers are expected to have right-hander Drew Anderson (4-5, 4.09 ERA) face Skubal in the opener of the three-game series.

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Aaron Judge hopes to skip minor league rehab assignment before returning to Yankees

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge is hoping to skip a minor league rehabilitation assignment before returning to the New York Yankees as he nears the three-month mark in his recovery from a stress fracture in his right rib.

“If I tell them I’m ready to go play, I think we’re ready to go play,” Judge said Thursday before the Yankees concluded a three-game series with Houston. “I’m not a pitcher. I’m a position player. I can get my reps down here in the cage. I’m in every game. I’m sitting there in the dugout watching every game, feeling the environment, feeling the energy, so I don’t think there’s going to be much of a difference.”

Judge skipped a rehab assignment in 2023 when he missed 42 games with a fractured right big toe after crashing into the right-field fence at Dodger Stadium. In 2019, he appeared in five minor league games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when he missed two months with a strained left oblique.

“He said that to me, too,” manager Aaron Boone said. “If and when we get to that point, we’ll work through all that.”

Judge began taking swings in the indoor batting cages Tuesday. The three-time AL MVP also recently started doing some running and throwing in the outfield.

The Yankees’ captain declined to offer a target date for his return, but said he’s not feeling anything other than normal soreness.

“Obviously, there’s soreness from not doing anything for the past couple of weeks, but now we’re building that up and we’re in a good spot,” Judge said. “So, there has not been any setbacks, which is the greatest thing.”

Judge missed his 74th game Thursday night since he last played on May 31. The Yankees entered 39-34 without him during that stretch, including 11-6 in their past 17 games.

The 35-year-old slugger’s only homer in the final 18 games before he went on the injured list was a game-ending, two-run shot to beat Tampa Bay 2-0 on May 24 that snapped an 11-game drought without an RBI, the longest of his career.

Judge is hitting .248 with 17 homers and 38 RBIs. He was initially injured attempting to avoid second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a diving catch in Houston on April 26 and batted .263 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 31 games before being sidelined.

“I feel great,” Judge said. “So, I think that’s one reason why we’re kind of speeding through this and really doing more outside, doing more in the cage. Things are feeling good.

“Now it’s about volume, trying to get my volume back up since I haven’t played in quite a long time. So just build up the volume so I can go out there and finish the season strong.”

Judge won a batting title last season when he hit a career-high .331 with 53 homers and 114 RBIs in 152 games. He missed 10 games from July 26 to Aug. 4 with a flexor strain in his right elbow that he sustained on a throw to home plate July 22 in Toronto. He underwent a plasma-rich platelet injection and did not require offseason surgery.

Cruz expects decision on Tommy John surgery in two or three days

A day after getting diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, reliever Fernando Cruz is awaiting the findings from Dr. Keith Meister to see if he needs surgery.

Cruz was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday after allowing his fifth homer since the All-Star break a day earlier and telling the Yankees he felt pain. An MRI showed the tear and Cruz should know in two to three days if surgery is necessary.

In his second season with the Yankees, Cruz is 4-6 with a 3.13 ERA in 61 appearances. He allowed a tying, two-run homer to Jeremy Peña on a fastball in the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s 9-7 loss to the Astros and has a 5.52 ERA in 17 appearances since the All-Star break.

“I made the decision to let (them) know because I knew I was affecting the New York Yankees,” Cruz said. “I wasn’t affecting Fernando Cruz, and obviously the MRI came back in a way that nobody wants, nobody expected, but it’s just part of this game and I think we’re waiting for options to come down and make the best decision.”

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Sale throws a 5-hit shutout as Braves sweep Dodgers

ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Sale struck out 11 in a five-hit shutout, Drake Baldwin launched a leadoff homer against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the Atlanta Braves edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 on Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep.

Sale (13-9) did not walk a batter. The left-hander posted his fourth double-digit strikeout game this season and the 95th of his career, which ranks seventh all-time.

Fans in the sellout crowd of 39,650 cheered when Sale strolled out to the mound for the ninth inning even though relievers were ready in the Atlanta bullpen. Braves manager Walt Weiss stuck with his ace after Freddie Freeman singled leading off the ninth.

Teoscar Hernández popped out, pinch-runner Alek Thomas was out at second on Miguel Rojas’ fielder’s-choice grounder and Sale struck out Alex Call for his 17th complete game and first since 2019 with Boston.

Baldwin lined the first pitch from Yamamoto (12-8) into the right-field Chop House restaurant. It was Baldwin’s fourth leadoff shot this season and 22nd homer overall. Yamamoto allowed only four hits with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

The NL East-leading Braves won the season series 5-1 against the Dodgers, who sit atop the NL West.

NATIONALS 7, ROCKIES 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — Daylen Lile homered and drove in two runs as part of a three-hit day, and Washington beat Colorado to split their four-game series.

Keibert Ruiz also went deep for Washington, which had dropped 12 of 15. The Nationals won a game started by a pitcher other than Cade Cavalli for the first time since Aug. 9.

Colorado fell to an NL-worst 52-82, clinching its eighth consecutive losing season. The Rockies were 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left 13 on base overall.

Lile led off the fifth inning with a drive to right off Gabriel Hughes (0-6) for his 18th home run this season. The left fielder was 8 for 15 with three homers and eight RBIs in the series.

Tom Cosgrove (1-2) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief for his first win since his major league debut on April 29, 2023, a span of 89 appearances.

CARDINALS 7, ORIOLES 5

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Blaze Jordan and Ramón Urías homered early to help St. Louis beat Baltimore, snapping a five-game losing streak.

Riley O’Brien pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his National League-leading 34th save after allowing a combined seven runs and taking the loss in his previous two outings.

The teams traded runs in the eighth after Coby Mayo hit a three-run homer, his 18th of the season, off Caleb Ferguson in the seventh to cut the St. Louis lead to 6-4.

Urías hit his third homer off starter Trevor Rogers (9-9) in the fourth to give the Cardinals a 5-0 cushion.

Rogers allowed six runs and seven hits with seven strikeouts in five innings.

Jordan launched his third homer to center field in the second after Alec Burleson singled to extend his hitting streak to 13 games and Joshua Báez doubled, putting St. Louis ahead 3-0.

Jordan left in the top of the eighth after diving awkwardly into third base to tag out Gunnar Henderson when Samuel Basallo hit a grounder to pitcher George Soriano.

Luis Gastelum (4-3) tossed 1 1/3 perfect innings after Justin Bruihl allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings and Gordon Graceffo pitched three perfect innings as an opener for the Cardinals.

ROYALS 13, BLUE JAYS 2

TORONTO (AP) — Jac Caglianone had a homer among his career-best five hits and finished with a career-high six RBIs, Noah Cameron pitched six strong innings and Kansas City beat Toronto.

The Blue Jays are 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the race for the final American League wild-card spot.

The Royals took two of three in the series, have won 10 of their last 11 games and four consecutive series, including two straight on the road after starting the season 3-15-2 in road sets. Kansas City, which went in tied with the Giants for the worst road record in MLB, is 24-45 away from home this season.

Cameron (9-8) allowed six hit and two runs and struck out three.

Carter Jensen hit a 421-foot homer off Spencer Arrighetti to lead off the game, and Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run homer that capped Kansas City’s six-run sixth and made it 10-0.

Caglianone’s two-run shot with two out in the ninth capped the scoring.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Kyle Isbel each had a run-scoring double.

ASTROS 5, YANKEES 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Christian Walker had three hits, including a two-run homer off Gerrit Cole in the sixth inning, and Jeremy Peña added a solo shot to power Houston to a victory over the New York Yankees.

Astros starter Hayden Wesneski (4-1) allowed one run and three hits in five-plus innings against the team that drafted him in 2019 and traded him to the Chicago Cubs in 2022 for reliever Scott Effross.

Houston (67-67) took two of three at Yankee Stadium and leads the AL West by one game over Texas.

Walker broke an 0-for-11 skid with a single in the second and homered on Cole’s 1-0 curveball for a 3-0 lead in the fifth. He doubled off Justin Topa in the eighth and scored when the Yankees committed two errors on one play.

Yainer Diaz’s grounder caromed off George Lombard Jr.’s glove for the rookie shortstop’s seventh error in 20 career games. The ball ricocheted to third baseman José Caballero and he was charged with a throwing error for his wild toss to first as Walker scored Houston’s fifth run.

Lombard became the first Yankees shortstop since Roger Peckinpaugh in 1915 to commit an error in six straight games.

BREWERS 8, METS 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Jackson Chourio went 4 for 5 with two homers, four RBIs and four runs to help Jacob Misiorowski and Milwaukee beat the New York Mets.

Misiorowski (14-5) overcame some command issues and reduced velocity — at least by his standards — to allow two hits and strike out six over six innings.

Both hits he gave up came in the fifth, when Jacob Young had an RBI double and Christopher Morel laced a run-scoring single.

Nine of Misiorowski’s 95 pitches were clocked at 100 mph, with none reaching 101 mph. He walked two batters for the second consecutive outing after issuing four walks in seven starts from July 2 through Aug. 15.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander appeared to have issues with his landing foot on the slippery Citi Field mound. Brewers manager Pat Murphy had a discussion with third base umpire and crew chief Vic Carapazza in the third, when Misiorowski fell behind 2-0 on Francisco Alvarez following a walk to Morel. The grounds crew spent a few minutes working on the mound before the bottom of the fourth.

Andrew Vaughn, Gary Sánchez, William Contreras and Cooper Pratt each had an RBI for the Brewers (83-51), who are three games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the big leagues.

GIANTS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Drew Gilbert homered and drove in the go-ahead run, Landen Roupp pitched five solid innings and San Francisco beat Arizona to snap a four-game home losing streak against the Diamondbacks.

Arizona is 1 1/2 games behind San Diego for the final National League wild card.

Roupp (8-13) allowed one run and four hits. Trent Harris, Carson Seymour and Ryan Walker combined for four scoreless innings of relief.

Christian Koss was hit by a pitch leading off the fifth and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Furman before Taylor Clarke replaced Arizona starter Jose Cabrera. Three pitches later, Gilbert’s sacrifice fly gave San Francisco a 2-1 lead.

After Jose Fernandez singled to load the bases with one out in the fourth, Roupp got Ildemaro Vargas to fly out and then struck out Ryan Waldschmidt to end the threat.

Gilbert hit a 3-2 pitch 421 feet into the bleacher in right-center field in the first.

Gabriel Moreno hit a leadoff homer in the fourth to make it 1-all.

Bryce Eldridge doubled in a run, Jonah Cox and Turner Hill followed with back-to-back RBI singles and Shay Whitcomb’s sacrifice bunt scored Cox to make it 6-1 in the eighth.

Cabrera (0-3) gave up two runs and three hits with four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

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Chris Sale throws complete game shutout against Dodgers, hits 100 mph at 37 years old

Chris Sale had not finished a game in seven years. He had not thrown a pitch 100 miles per hour in eight.

Thursday night, the 37-year-old Braves' lefthander did both.

Sale scattered five hits, struck out 11 and did not walk a batter as he shut out the Dodgers 1-0 at Truist Park.

The last time Sale went nine innings, he was wearing a Red Sox jersey. It was June 5, 2019 in Kansas City. Since then he had Tommy John surgery, broke a rib and won a Cy Young Award at age 35. He barely pitched for four of those years, 31 starts total from 2020 through 2023.

But Thursday night, Sale pitched like those seven years were just a bad dream.

His fastball touched 100.1 miles per hour, his hardest pitch since 2018. He used it on Shohei Ohtani, who struck out twice swinging and did not get a hit out of the infield until the eighth inning. Sale needed 109 pitches and threw 80 of them for strikes. He generated 20 swings and misses.

Sale has been living on the margins all season. He lost 2-1 at Milwaukee last Friday and 2-0 to Arizona the week before. Thursday night, the one run came from Drake Baldwin, who led off the bottom of the first with his 22nd home run.

That was all Sale was going to get and he made it stand up. He is 13-9 with a 2.06 ERA, a combination that takes some doing. He has 177 strikeouts and 28 walks in 144 innings.

Atlanta is 79-55 and leads the National League East. Milwaukee, at 83-51, has the best record in the league. The Brewers have the best record in baseball and are in position to get one of the two first-round byes in the playoffs. The Dodgers, 80-54, are in position to claim the other, but only by a game over the Braves after losing three straight in Atlanta.

At 37 years, 150 days old, Sale is one of six pitchers who have thrown a shutout with double-digit strikeouts and no walks at that age or older.

The other five are in the Hall of Fame: Cy Young (twice in 1905), Eddie Plank (1913), Steve Carlton (1982), Nolan Ryan (1989) and Randy Johnson (2001 and 2004).

Chris Sale stats vs. Dodgers

  • Innings: 9
  • Hits: 5
  • Runs: 0
  • Walks: 0
  • Strikeouts: 11
  • Pitches: 109 (80 strikes)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Sale throws complete game shutout against Dodgers, hits 100 mph at 37 years old

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Tampa approves $2.3B deal for a new Rays ballpark

TAMPA, Fla. — City officials on Thursday approved a $2.3 billion deal for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark funded by public and private money.

The 4-3 vote by the Tampa City Council came three months after a tentative agreement was reached for a stadium, which would include $967 million in tax money.

Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby said in a statement that the stadium project will “deliver lasting benefits” for the region.

“The Tampa Bay Rays are grateful for the leadership and support of the City Council members to approve an investment that, when accompanied by the private funding guaranteed by the Rays, will secure the future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay while creating a landmark destination neighborhood that will serve our region for generations,” Babby said Thursday.

Hillsborough County Commissioners will vote on the project Friday morning.

The Rays ownership reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to build the stadium and mixed-use entertainment district on the campus and to renovate some of the school’s buildings. The property is located next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Rays have said they hope to have the new stadium built within three years.

Since the team took the field in 1998, the Rays have played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, except for moving home games to the Yankees’ George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025 following hurricane damage at the Trop. The Rays’ lease runs through at least the 2028 season. The team returned to the Trop last month for the start of this season.

A proposed $1.3 billion redevelopment deal for a new ballpark adjacent to the Trop fell through last year, raising new questions about the future of the team, which was bought last September by Patrick Zalupski’s ownership group.

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Browns vs Patriots: 8 takeaways as Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green each show something

Aug 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) runs the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The third preseason game for the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots did not include a lot of players who will play a lot of snaps in Week 1, but it did include a lot of roster bubble guys. The amazing Browns fans were planning to tune in, with QBs Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green taking the snaps this week:

The biggest stories coming out of the game will be any injuries and how those bubble players perform with the chances that they are given. Some of the evaluation is tougher given the level of talent on the other side of the field, with the Patriots also not playing their top guys. Take everything within that perspective.

A few takeaways from Thursday Night Football off the shores of Lake Erie:

Rocket Sanders looks good

Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson have locked up the top of the depth chart, but Raheim Sanders still has to secure his spot as the third guy. A few carries in the first few series looked like Sanders, nicknamed “Rocket,” is on his way to having that role.

Luke Floriea trying to make Browns roster decision tough

One of Shedeur Sanders’ favorite targets, Floriea just keeps making plays, including this touchdown from Gabriel:

And again!

Defensive questions

CB D’Angelo Ross is a special teams star and looked totally out of place getting beat for a touchdown throw where he wasn’t anywhere near the receiver while looking into the backfield. Overall, the defense made a couple of big plays, but seemed to benefit from the bad New England offense more than making stops themselves.

Dillon Gabriel shows talent, value

As noted above, level of competition is a key reference point, but Gabriel showed out in the first half. Not only with the stats, but the long-term college starter looked under control, was rarely rattled, and was smooth with his decisions and delivery of passes. As much as Monken values “operation,” Gabriel was pretty clean throughout.

As for the stats, this is Preseason Performance Hall of Fame level:

  • 12 for 15
  • 186 yards
  • 3 touchdowns
  • 4 rushes, 3 yards
  • 157.9 rating

There were some very good throws, as well as his receivers making plays and Patriots defenders not making the plays they needed to. For example, the text of this tweet is… interesting… given the play being made by RB Ahmani Marshall after a simple Gabriel pass, but a touchdown is a touchdown:

QB run going to be a big piece of the offense

Both Gabriel and Green ran some zone read and other quarterback run-oriented plays. Green’s QB sweep was really well designed and put defenders in difficult positions.

It is one reason I believe Watson won the starting QB job and think the QB run will be a huge part of this

Al Michaels just saying whatever was funny

Michaels made a number of mistakes, railed on the refs, the virtual measurement, and more. Perhaps too much celebration of his 60th wedding anniversary (seriously, that is amazing). Given that the game didn’t matter, Michaels being a little less professional, and showing a little chest hair, was kind of appropriate.

Taylen Green’s legs a weapon, a few good passes too

As noted above, the QB run game was shown more in this game, but Green’s legs were useful as a scrambler as well. Defenders have to be ready for the run from Green, which can open up lanes for the running backs in option oriented palys and even receivers in some passing concepts.

Green finished with eight rushes for 66 yards.

Not everything was perfect, of course, but Green hit a few passes as well, including a key checkdown to Floreia to keep a drive going.

Social media and our game chat were full of ideas to have a package for Green or to use him on sneaks, the problem there is that Cleveland would have to keep three quarterbacks on their active game-day roster, instead of two and an emergency third QB. Seems unlikely unless injuries require it. Green is only likely to be active if/when he’s the backup QB (or starter).

4 running backs?

Davon Booth and Marshall both made plays in the third preseason game. Will the Browns keep four running backs and rely on a tight end to take the fullback role? Veteran FB Michael Burton hasn’t practiced during training camp, while Rocket Sanders, Booth, and Marshall have all made a case for making the roster as well. Perhaps Monken gets creative with his usage, including Sanders taking some snaps at fullback.

What were your takeaways from Browns vs Patriots?

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Bills game recap: Buffalo wins 28-27 over Steelers in preseason finale

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Skyler Bell #13 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball in for a touchdown during the third quarter of a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Preseason Week 3 is a wrap, and the Buffalo Bills close out the exhibition slate with a 26-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium. Thanks for your love in the first article of this series, and glad to be back for another one. Here’s everything I wrote down as it happened.

1st Half

  • Skyler Bell moves fluidly and is a huge mismatch running routesinside. The way he moves reminds me of Stefon Diggs a lot.
  • Shane Buechele isn’t close to Kyle Allen as a passer. And Allen isn’t great.
  • Trent Sherfield is a lock to make this roster IMO.
  • Joe Andreessen will make the team. They wouldn’t keep him out of this game if he wasn’t part of their roster. They’d give him a chance to put up more on tape for his NFL future elsewhere.
  • Keonta Jenkins in trouble? Maybe PS bound again.
  • Mitch Wishnowsky is gone. A 19-yard punt when battling for his life? Oof.
  • Ray Davis messed up with his punt return case. Better now than in week 1, I guess? It might cost the Bills a roster spot, though. The punt returner job might not be settled. Mecole Hardman hasn’t been good, Khalil Shakir is simply a guy for safety there. Maybe Keon Coleman will get another shot? I’m not very excited about any of those options.
  • A battle for the CB2 job in week 3 of preseason? Davison Igbinosun is giving Maxwell Hairston a run for his money. I won’t be surprised to see him alongside Christian Benford in week 1.
  • T.J. Parker reminds me of Shaq Lawson right now. I know Shaq never became what we expected from him, but that’s not a bad comp for T.J. as he starts his career. He has the potential to become better and more complete.
  • I wouldn’t keep Damar Hamlin or Geno Stone in my 53, going with Jordan Hancock and Jalon Kilgore as my backup safeties. I think the Bills will carry one of them, though. Hamlin’s probably getting the nod with another INT.
  • Phidarian Mathis looks good, too bad he’s on PEDs.
  • Kani Walker is an awesome find. Undrafted? This guy looks better than Levi Wallace, who was also undrafted, and Dane Jackson, who was a 7th-round pick. He’s young Benford-like, but Benford was a 6th round pick. Awesome find.
  • Andre Jones Jr. giving Max Iheanachor, a 1st round pick, some trouble is a good look for somebody who’s fighting for a PS place.
  • Rough half for the OL.

2nd Half

  • Nice to see Bell being moved around and getting open no matter where he lined up. It’s against backups at this point or even people who won’t make the team, but we’re talking about a 4th round pick, it’s not like he’s supposed to be a stud out of the gate. His versatility will give him opportunities.
  • I’ve heard all the talk about the new stadium, but I’ll tell you one thing: it looks gorgeous on TV, especially as the night comes.
  • It’s just preseason, and with a lot of backups and camp bodies on the field at this point, but I’m really excited for the new defensive schemes. Jim Leonhard’s defense should be fun.
  • Bad bad look for the Special Teams allowing that punt return for a TD. No discipline, poor angles, and even worse tackling. Teaching tape on what not to do for the guys in the final 53.
  • That Pittsburgh PR, though. Dude is a real weapon. (Kaden Wetjen, 4th round pick). One of the best punt returners coming out of college recently (Two-time Jet Award winner, 2024-25).
  • It’s extremely frustrating how Buechele doesn’t risk anything downfield, like, ever. Give his WRs a chance to make some plays. It’s always a check-down or scrambling. (He just gave Max Tomczak a shot as I was typing this, and guess what? It worked).
  • I wish Ja’Mori Maclin had more chances, but, as said above, Buechele.
  • Last drive and Buechele starts to let it fly. Gave Dante Pettis two chances and good things happened — a 1st down completion on 3rd and 14, and a long PI call setting the Bills up inside the 10.
  • Pettis is an NFL receiver. He ate his competition alive late in the game, including on the game-winning 2-point conversion. Can he become the punt returner and make the team? I’d rather have him than Hardman, but I don’t think any of them make the team.
  • 1 min left, 1-point game. The type of situation Sean McDermott’s D failed miserably, again and again. Not Leonhard’s though. 4 and out, game over. What’s that? Is it real life? Love to see it.

Catch up on all this and more with the latest edition of Leading the Charge!

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Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 live cut tracker

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Will Howard #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason is officially behind them, and we are full steam ahead to the 2026 regular season. Before the Steelers take on the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium in week one, the team must cut its roster from 90 men to 53 over the weekend. The deadline for teams to cut their rosters down to 53 men is Sunday, August 30th at 6 p.m.

FanDuel Sportsbook is not a believer in the Steelers this season, giving them +154 odds to make the playoffs, the third-best odds to win the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals.

With the preseason now over, the Steelers will begin their roster cuts to get down to their initial 53-man roster on Sunday. This thread will be updated throughout the weekend to provide the most up-to-date report of who the Steelers decide to cut loose, so be sure to follow along between now and Sunday evening to know exactly when cuts happen as the Steelers’ roster takes shape.

Confirmed cuts:

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Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots final score: Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green show their strengths

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 27: Dillon Gabriel #6 of the Cleveland Browns calls a play during the first quarter of a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Huntington Bank Field on August 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Third preseason games don’t matter, but it’s still fun to watch the Cleveland Browns dominate a game and pile on some stats for guys trying to get plays on tape. It was all Cleveland against the Patriots in a 37-13 victory. Let’s get to the full game recap.

1st Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots

The Browns received the opening kickoff, as QB Dillon Gabriel came on to the field. He orchestrated an opening-drive touchdown, finishing it with a playaction pass to WR Luke Floriea, who stayed in bounds along the boundary for the 6-yard touchdown to put Cleveland up 7-0.

The Patriots gave the start to QB Tommy DeVito, and he found WR Kyle Williams open down the left sideline for a 45-yard touchdown, as CB D’Angelo Ross appeared to lose track of the ball. That tied the game up at 7-7.

The action continued on the next drive. Gabriel hit WR Gage Larvadain over the middle for 21 yards, and later WR Ben Patterson for 19 yards. On 2nd-and-6 from the 14 yard line, Gabriel found Floriea again in stride for 14 yards and another touchdown to make it a 14-7 game.

The Patriots went three-and-out on their next drive, and then Gabriel started the next drive by rolling to his left and finding Patterson, who caught the defensive back flat-footed for a catch-and-run of 52 yards. That helped set up a 35-yard field goal by K Andre Szmyt to put the Browns up 17-7.

QB Behren Morton came on for the Patriots. On his first pass, he tried to hit a tight end who was busy blocking, so it hit the back of his leg and bounced in the air. LB EastonMascarenas-Arnold tipped it in the air and came down with the interception to wrap up the opening quarter.

2nd Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots

Gabriel went three-and-out for the first time on the day, but the Browns were still in field goal range. Szmyt hit from 47 yards out to put the Browns up 20-7.

After Morton’s first series lasted one play, his second one lasted 14 plays and 7:13 of clock. DE Khordae Sydnor registered his third sack of the preseason in the red zone, though, which helped force New England into a 26-yard field goal to cut the Browns’ lead to 20-10.

On Gabriel’s next drive, he moved the ball again, and nearly gave Floriea the hat trick for what was initially ruled a 16-yard touchdown pass. However, replay review showed that the throw was low and just barely touched the ground for an incomplete pass. A few plays later, Gabriel still found RB Ahmani Marshall for a 7-yard touchdown for a 27-10 lead.

S Donovan McMillian came up with an interception after the two-minute warning, but the official threw a flag for pass interference on him. Replays showed that it was a bad call and the interception should have counted. The defense still held tight to close out the half, holding New England to a 33-yard field goal to make it a 27-13 game.

3rd Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots

The Patriots began the half, but could only get to midfield before having to punt. That punt was run backward by Larvadain, back to the 2 yard line, for QB Taylen Green’s first drive. Green’s only chance to do anything was on 3rd-and-long, and his scramble fell just short of a first down.

The Browns punted, and then New England punted right back to Cleveland, with the drive starting at the 2 yard line again. Green really got to show off his legs on the drive, including running around in his own end zone and then taking off for 30 yards. Between that, and a mix of short passes, Cleveland finished the third quarter near a goal-to-go situation.

4th Quarter – Browns vs. Patriots

A few plays into the quarter, RB Davon Booth got the handoff and executed a spin move to dodge a defender and walk into the end zone for the 8 yard touchdown and a 34-13 lead.

On Green’s next drive, he got into New England territory again, but had his first incompletion on a third down pass that sailed over the receiver, leading to a punt.

The Patriots went for it on 4th-and-2 in their own territory, and Morton was picked off by LB Justin Jefferson, returned to the 12 yard line.

It only led to a field goal for Cleveland, making it 37-13. The Patriots ran out the clock from there.

Quick Hitters

  • QB Dillon Gabriel: 12-of 15 for 186 yards, 3 TD.
  • QB Taylen Green: 5-of-7 for 27 yards. 8 carries, 66 yards.
  • WR Luke Floriea: 3 catches, 29 yards, 2 TD.

Next up, the Browns will trim their roster to 53 players and get ready for the regular season.

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Steelers QB Will Howard being evaluated for injury

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Will Howard #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is sacked by Keonta Jenkins #49 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of a preseason game at Highmark Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially wrapped up exhibition play with a 28-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and will now begin cutting their roster from 90 to 53.

One of the biggest names on the roster bubble is second-year quarterback Will Howard. The Ohio State product finished the preseason with two touchdowns to three interceptions in his first stretch of NFL action. However, he was also sacked three times against the Buffalo Bills, and appeared to be banged up at the end of the first half, which was confirmed after the game.

Per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, Howard went to the medical staff and was being evaluated for an injury. The specifics of the injury are unknown.

It remains to be known whether or not the Steelers will keep four quarterbacks, something that is incredibly rare to see. However, if they deem Howard’s injury to be severe, he could end up on IR to start the season.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

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Steelers stock report after 28-27 preseason loss to Buffalo Bills

Aug 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) avoids a tackle Buffalo Bills defensive back Maxwell Hairston (31) during the first quarter at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Buffalo Bills 28-27 in their 2026 preseason finale. After jumping out to a 14-3 lead early in the first quarter, Bills quarterback Shane Buechele led a game-winning touchdown drive to give Buffalo the win. More importantly, we got to see pivotal performances from some players who had to make their final impressions before teams cut down to a 53-man roster this Sunday.

Let’s take a look at who improved their stock, and who hurt theirs during the Steelers preseason finale.

Stock up:

WR Germie Bernard

After being held without a catch on his lone target last week, Bernard made the most of his one catch by scoring a first-quarter touchdown in the Steelers preseason finale. Bernard took a screen pass and made a move on former first-round pick Maxwell Hairston on his way to the end zone. Bernard has shown great ability after the catch throughout the preseason and will likely have a role with the starters at some point during his rookie season.

KR Kaden Wetjen

I’ll be completely honest here, when I was drafting this piece up during the second half I had penciled in Kaden Wetjen under the “stock down category.” Not five minutes after I did so, Wetjen made the play of the preseason with a 45-yard punt return touchdown. The rookie fourth-round pick went backwards on two of his punt returns in the first half and had struggled throughout the preseason until that moment. That play all but secures Wetjen a roster spot as the Steelers’ primary return man.

OT Max Iheanachor

The Steelers’ 2026 first-round pick made his long-awaited NFL debut after missing a few weeks with a shoulder/neck injury. Iheanachor was almost immediately blown by and gave up a sack on his first series on the field. Later, the rookie was flagged on a very questionable call for a hold.

In the second half, Iheanachor made a phenomenal downfield block to clear the way for rookie running back Eli Heidenreich to stroll into the end zone. For limited reps in a debut, Iheanachor showed serious promise, and given the struggles by the Steelers’ starting line this preseason, he could become a starter sooner rather than later.

Stock down:

QB Will Howard

Will Howard threw his third interception of the preseason in the first half on what was clearly a miscommunication between Howard and his tight end Lake McRee. Whether Howard or McRee is more at fault is unclear, but Howard’s sloppy handling of the ball will almost certainly cost him the backup job. Pocket presence also seems to be a major area of concern for Howard. Too many times in this game, Howard either did not step up in the pocket and get sacked, or tried to extend the play for too long and got sacked. The second-year quarterback did throw two touchdowns early in the contest after being put in favorable positions due to a muffed punt and a shanked punt by Buffalo. Howard’s future with the Steelers will be dependent on whether or not the team decides to keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

RB Kaleb Johnson

After pacing the team in carries last week touched the ball just five times for 11 yards in this contest. After solid performances by Lew Nichols and Eli Heidenreich, any glimmer of hope for Johnson to make the roster may have dissipated. The 2025 third-round pick will be in danger of being cut when rosters are finalized by Sunday at 6 p.m.

OT Dylan Cook

Read into this how you will, but Dylan Cook started this game at left tackle despite being slated to start at right tackle this season. It was Broderick Jones starting at right tackle. Cook did end up playing some at right tackle, and even played into the second half. It seems like the Steelers are at least considering the idea of not starting Cook to begin the season. Given Cook’s struggles throughout preseason and Iheanachor’s solid debut, it seems to only be a matter of time before Cook loses his starting spot.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

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Raiders, 49ers leave on different paths ahead of NFL season promising twists, turns

LAS VEGAS — And with that, the Raiders and 49ers go their separate ways.

They will meet again in Week 9, but they leave the preseason headed toward vastly different destinations, burdened by vastly different expectations.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to throw a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on Aug. 27, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The 49ers are pursuing a Super Bowl. The Raiders are searching for the foundation upon which they might eventually build one.

That difference was never more apparent than Thursday night, when the two former Bay Area neighbors met in each team’s preseason finale against the glistening backdrop of the Las Vegas Strip, visible just beyond the lanai doors of Allegiant Stadium.

It was an appropriate setting.

Las Vegas is built on risk, chance and the uncertainty of what comes next. And that provided an especially fitting metaphor for two teams making decidedly different wagers on the season ahead.

While the 49ers protected nearly every player essential to their championship hopes, the Raiders played most of their starters.

It’s why Kirk Cousins opened the game at quarterback, lined up behind the Raiders’ starting offensive line, and why Mac Jones, not Brock Purdy, was under center to start the game alongside the 49ers’ second-string offensive line.

For one team, the risk of playing key players outweighed whatever might have been gained.

For the other, there was still too much work to be done and too many questions to be answered.

The 49ers did not need one more preseason game to determine who they are. The Raiders are still very much trying to figure out their identity.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP Photo/John Locher

The 49ers enter the season carrying the weight of championship expectations while trying to steer through storm clouds that began gathering before the games even counted.

Kyle Shanahan’s car accident and Jed York’s arrest created an unsettling backdrop around the organization. On the field, Nick Bosa had not practiced since Aug. 3, while Christian McCaffrey missed time because of tightness. Injuries have already complicated the journey, creating questions about whether the 49ers can remain intact long enough to reach the destination they have spent years chasing.

Taken individually, each development might be manageable. Together, they have created an unmistakable sense of turbulence around a franchise that entered the season expecting stability and carrying Super Bowl-or-bust expectations.

There will be concern. There will be scrutiny. There may even be moments when the challenges seem greater than the 49ers anticipated.

But there can be no excuses.

Not anymore.

Las Vegas Raiders center Trey Zuhn III (66) prepares to snap the ball against the San Francisco 49ers defense during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, on Aug. 27, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The 49ers have been knocking on the door long enough. They have assembled one of the NFL’s most talented rosters, played in two Super Bowls under Shanahan and come painfully close to winning both. They have suffered through enough near-misses to understand how quickly a championship window can begin to close.

At some point, potential has to become achievement. Close has to become complete.

For all the talk about the character, leadership and standard the 49ers represent, those qualities must now lead them through the turbulence. A standard matters most when it is tested. Leadership is most valuable when circumstances threaten to pull a team off course.

This is the moment for the 49ers’ strongest voices — and most established players — to steady the room.

Their season cannot become a daily accounting of who is unavailable or what went wrong. The injuries are real, and their impact cannot be dismissed. But every team eventually encounters adversity. The championship teams are the ones that absorb it without allowing it to alter their destination.

The 49ers’ mission is clear: survive the early storms, remain within striking distance and position themselves to finish the job.

The Raiders’ journey is far less certain.

They are beginning again with a new head coach, a reshaped roster and the uncertainty that accompanies any legitimate rebuild. They are trying to determine which players will still be part of the operation when its most important pieces are finally in place.

More immediately, they must decide when Fernando Mendoza should take control of it.

As the first overall pick in the NFL draft, Mendoza represents more than another young quarterback trying to earn playing time. He is the future face of the franchise and, the Raiders hope, the player capable of finally bringing stability to a position that has lacked it for far too long.

The question is not whether the Raiders will eventually turn the offense over to him.

It is when.

There is value in allowing Mendoza to watch, learn and develop behind Cousins. There is also value in letting him experience the speed, pressure and consequences of the NFL for himself. No amount of sideline observation can completely replicate the education that comes from standing in the pocket with a defense bearing down on you.

That leaves the Raiders facing a delicate balancing act.

They cannot rush Mendoza simply to satisfy the impatience that naturally accompanies the arrival of a No. 1 pick. But they also cannot allow caution to become an excuse for delaying the inevitable. At some point, protecting his development will require letting him play.

The Raiders must be honest about the team surrounding him. Can the offensive line protect him? Are there enough dependable receivers to support him? Is the running game strong enough to keep every third down from becoming his burden?

These are not merely questions about whether Mendoza is ready for the NFL. They are questions about whether the Raiders are ready for Mendoza.

The preseason finale offered a snapshot of where both organizations stand.

The 49ers could afford to hide their most important players away because their identity is established and their objective is unmistakable.

The Raiders needed their starters on the field because evaluation remains part of nearly everything they do. Jobs are being won. Roles are being defined. A depth chart is still being shaped around a long-term vision that remains under construction.

Now they separate.

The 49ers move forward with the urgency of a team whose opportunity is here and may not remain open forever. The Raiders move forward with the patience, and inevitable growing pains, of a team trying to create an opportunity of its own.

Then, in Week 9, their paths will cross again.

The Raiders will return to the Bay Area for the first time since leaving Oakland, bringing an emotional undercurrent that will make the game about more than the standings. By then, the questions surrounding both teams may have very different answers.

Will the 49ers have weathered the storms and emerged as the championship contender they expect to be? Or will injuries and accumulated frustration have pushed another promising season toward the edge?

Will the Raiders still lean on Cousins or will Mendoza have assumed control of the franchise’s future? Will they look like a team making real progress or one still searching for its footing?

Thursday night marked the end of the preseason and the beginning of their separate journeys.

Week 9 will reveal just how far each has traveled.