WINNIPEG, CANADA - MARCH 14: Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche skates during warmups against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on March 14, 2026 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Cameron Bartlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a day of anticipation on Thursday as new broke that the Colorado Avalanche and Cale Makar had reached an agreement on a contract extension. There was no announcement then but today is supposed to be the day it finally happens.
First it started with Elliotte Friedman dropping the bomb, which was confirmed by several other media sources that a big announcement on Makar’s extension was forthcoming.
About to go off-line for a bit, but the much-anticipated extension for Cale Makar and Colorado is closing in
Going to be a biggie…but a critical piece of business for the Avalanche
While we wait, let’s reflect on the historic career the world’s best defenseman has enjoyed up to this point.
Cale Makar:
6 Straight Norris Nominations 2 Norris Trophy Wins Calder Trophy Conn Smythe Trophy Stanley Cup Champion Fastest D-man to 200 points in NHL History Fastest D-Man to 100 playoff points in NHL History
1st player in HOCKEY history to win the Hobey Baker, Calder, Norris…
What are your final predictions on the impending Makar contract extension? Is this going to be the league’s final eight-year agreement or will the 27-year-old opt for short term? Does he cross the $20 million Annual Average Value barrier? A lot of questions should have answers soon.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 15: Jalen Milroe #6 of the Seattle Seahawks is tackled by Cooper McDonald #59 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 15, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final game of the Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 preseason is just hours away, and once the game ends it’ll be all about forming the 53-man roster and 16-man practice squad for the regular season.
Seattle wraps up its August on the road versus the Kansas City Chiefs, whom they’ll be seeing in the regular season at Lumen Field at the end of October. There will be no starters playing for the Seahawks and highly likely the same will apply to the Chiefs, so it’s one last chance for players who are just trying to make the team.
NFL preseason television rights are different than regular season, so we’re here to simplify tonight’s situation. KING-5 NBC, Seattle’s flagship station for Seahawks preseason games and other local Seahawks television programming, is carrying Seahawks-Chiefs locally. KING-5’s broadcasts are also shown on other television affiliates in the Seahawks’ secondary markets, which include Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, and Hawaii. Then there are mobile and online streaming options whether you’re in Seattle, somewhere else in the USA, or overseas!
Here’s a quick How to Watch guide.
When is Seahawks vs. Chiefs kickoff time?
On Friday, Aug. 28 at 5 pm PT, with pre-game coverage on KING-5 starting at 4:30 pm PT.
Local Seahawks television affiliates
Washington
Seattle Seattle KING – 5 NBC
Spokane KAYU – 28 FOX
Tri-Cities KFFX – 11 FOX
Yakima KCYU – 41 FOX
Alaska
Anchorage KYUR – 13 ABC
Fairbanks KATN – 2 ABC
Juneau KJUD – 8 ABC
Idaho
Boise KIVI – 6 ABC
Twin Falls KSAW – 52 ABC
Sun Valley KSAW – 52 ABC
Hawaii
Honolulu KHNL – 13 NBC
Oregon
Bend KFXO – 39 FOX
Eugene KLSR – 34 FOX
Medford KMVU – 26 FOX
Portland KPTV – 12 FOX
If you have access to any of these channels, you can watch the Seahawks!
For fans in the local market, the game can be streamed on the Seahawks Mobile App and on Seahawks.com. If you’re a fan of enhanced audio, the Super Bowl champs have you covered!
As part of the integration, Dolby OptiView now includes Dolby Vision for the first time, giving fans a more vivid, lifelike way to follow the team’s live streaming coverage on the official Seahawks Mobile App and on Seahawks.com. From team press conferences to preseason games for fans in Seattle and their International markets, every moment will be brought to life with brighter highlights, deeper contrast, and richer color in Dolby Vision, making the Seahawks’ iconic uniforms more vibrant while bringing fans closer to the sea of 12s and the gameday atmosphere at Lumen Field.
You can also watch on Seahawks.com even if you live in Seattle but don’t have KING-5!
Watch on ESPN Unlimited or NFL+
If you are out-of-market, there are other options! ESPN Unlimited is carrying Seahawks-Chiefs, although it’s probably a bit much if you’re a non-subscriber and don’t want to pay $32/month. It’s also blacked out in local markets. You can also subscribe to NFL+ for access to out-of-market preseason games, Seahawks included. Geographic restrictions may apply for international fans.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 10: Félix Bautista #74 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the New York Mets during game one of a double header at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 10, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 5, Durham Bulls (Rays) 4
Félix Bautista delivered a clean inning in his second rehab appearance (first at Triple-A). Bautista shook off the rust from his first outing and generated a ground out, strikeout, and fly out. His sinker topped out at 97 MPH.
Bautista entered after starter Trey Gibson threw four innings of two-run ball. Gibson allowed four hits, struck out four, and did not hand out a free pass.
Albert Suárez returned to Norfolk with a fresh minor league deal. Big Al tossed 2.1 innings of bulk relief. He allowed an unearned run and struck out three.
Norfolk trailed 3-2 before scoring in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Enrique Bradfield Jr. tied the game with a single in the seventh, José Barrero gave the Tides the lead with a solo homer in the eighth, and Jeremiah Jackson drove in a crucial insurance run with a base hit in the ninth. Bradfield Jr. finished 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot, and Jackson went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Heston Kjerstad doubled and took a walk. Ryan Noda walked twice and launched a solo home run in the top of the second. Creed Willems ended the day 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
Chesapeake led the game 2-0 when it was called for weather in the top of the seventh inning. Starter Anthony Eyanson struck out eight over 3.2 innings. Eyanson allowed three hits and walked three. The top pitching prospect wasn’t overly efficient—he threw 52 of 85 pitches for strikes—but he continued to flash the talent fans want to see after dealing away a player like Adley Rutschman.
Ethan Anderson gave the Baysox the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Anderson and Wehiwa Aloy combined for half of Chesapeake’s four hits, while Tavian Josenberger added the other two.
High-A: Frederick Keys vs. Asheville Tourists (Astros) — PPD
The game was postponed for rain and will be made up on August 30.
There’s not much to report here. Fredericksburg held Delmarva to only three hits in the contest. Ty Head, Stiven Martinez and Jemone Nuel all singled. Eric Booth Jr. finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Starter Esteban Mejia walked the first three batters he faced and left with a cracked fingernail that was bleeding, according to MASN’s Roch Kubatko.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 22: Anthony Richardson Sr. #5 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass during the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Carter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Anthony Richardson’s future with the Indianapolis Colts continues to feel uncertain.
Could see multiple QBs on the move in the next few weeks.
-Tua -Gabriel -McCarthy -Richardson
All have had calls placed on them to varying degrees of interest.
Benjamin Allbright reported Wednesday that multiple quarterbacks could be on the move in the next few weeks, listing Tua Tagovailoa, Dillon Gabriel, J.J. McCarthy and Richardson as names who have had calls placed on them to “varying degrees of interest.”
That does not mean Richardson is definitely being traded, and it does not even necessarily mean the Colts are actively shopping him. There is a big difference between teams calling about a player and a team being ready to move him. Still, Richardson’s inclusion is notable because of where things stand in Indianapolis.
The Colts have already made their quarterback situation clear at the top. Daniel Jones is the starter, and Richardson is competing with rookie Riley Leonard for the backup job. Indianapolis has publicly backed Richardson throughout the offseason and training camp, and the team has said it plans to keep three quarterbacks. On the surface, that would suggest Richardson is not going anywhere.
The problem is that the NFL can change quickly, especially at quarterback.
Richardson remains one of the most interesting backup quarterbacks in the league because of his age, draft pedigree and physical tools. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and even after a frustrating start to his career, there will always be teams willing to talk themselves into the upside. Quarterbacks with his size, arm strength and athletic ability do not become available often, even when the production or play have not matched the traits.
For the Colts, the decision would come down to value. Moving Richardson just to move him would make little sense, especially if the return is minimal. He still gives Indianapolis a high-upside backup behind Jones, and with Leonard also on the roster, the Colts have more quarterback depth than most teams. Trading Richardson would only be logical if another team made an offer strong enough to justify giving up on the remaining upside.
For now, this is more smoke than fire. Calls being placed does not guarantee movement, and the Colts do not have to force anything. However, Richardson’s name appearing in quarterback trade chatter is another reminder of how quickly his situation has changed.
Two years ago, he was supposed to be the future of the franchise. Now, teams are at least checking to see if Indianapolis would consider moving him.
Former Rockie and current manager of the Women’s Pro Baseball League’s L.A. Queens hugs pitcher Meggie Meidlinger earlier this season. | Jackie Kalafut
Eric Young Sr. has always considered himself an underdog.
A 43rd-round pick in the 1989 MLB Draft: That’s the 1,120th player picked that year. With his underdog status in tow, all Young did was serve up a 15-year MLB career that included five years with the Colorado Rockies.
The speedy, smart baserunner with a 2.83 career batting average, 465 stolen bases and an 18/8 rWAR then started a coaching career that spanned over 13 years, but he never got the chance to manage an MLB team, despite a good amount of success and his best efforts.
So after the 2025 season, Young retired from baseball. Or so he thought.
It turns out, he belonged with the other underdogs and earned his first managing position with the Los Angeles Queens of the Women’s Professional Baseball League. His identity as the little guy, literally, as EY stands at 5-foot-9, and metaphorically, is now part of his managing identity as he guides the Queens in the inaugural season of the new league.
“I’ve always been an underdog,” Young said on Wednesday night in Springfield, Ill., after an 8-6 victory over the Boston Hunters. “[I told them] you guys are the underdog. I always came up fighting, and that’s what I expect y’all to do when you play this game. Don’t take this for granted.”
So far, anchored by his other coaching philosophies which masterfully blend transparency, honesty, humor and inspiration, it’s working. The Queens are 6-6 and gearing up for the playoffs, which will begin on Sept. 9 after the 15-game regular season concludes.
Beaming with a smile surrounded by his gray beard that has replaced the mustache old school Rockies fans might remember, Young knows he made the right decision to come out of retirement.
“I consider myself a leader. I always wanted to be a manager. I’m full of joy. I am so happy to give a chance to manage them in a way that I can be myself, ’cause that’s what they want,” said Young, who met with the players to get on the same page before the season started. “[I told them,] ‘I’ll give you all I got. It’s my job to make sure you can be the best player you can be. If you are doing well and everybody here is getting better, come September, we are going to have a good season.”
Getting back in the game
Just when Young was getting used to the idea of retirement, he got a call from the MLB Players Alumni Association asking if he wanted to be a part of the new WPBL. Young didn’t know much about it. When he asked why he was contacted, he was told that he was recommended by three-time World Series Champion and one-time All-Star Dave Stewart, who serves as a special advisor to the WPBL. Instantly, Young was overcome with gratitude and all in on joining the league.
“Dave is one of the most phenomenal players who ever played, as a pitcher and a person. And for him to recommend me, I knew it was no brainer for me,” Young said.
When WPBL players went to Fort Myers, Florida, in March for a very short spring training as one step to prepare before the start of the season on Aug. 1, Young wanted to go check it out.
“I wasn’t sure how they played. I wanted to make sure they were committed and had the passion I had,” Young said. “That’s where I saw they had 25 of the best players, and they were out there balling.”
During his scouting trip, Young met with WPBL CEO Keith Stein. Young thought he was having a conversation, but it was actually an interview. When Stein formally offered him the job, the choice was easy.
“Absolutely,” Young told Stein. “I want to be a part of this.”
Managing challenges
When Young joined the Rockies for their inaugural season in 1993, he said a huge part of the process was getting to know all of his teammates quickly. He’s using that experience now, but to the next level as the manager. He was very intentional in trying to sit back, be quiet and observe.
“One lesson that you have to learn personalities,” Young said.
He learned a lot this way, and slowly began the process of trying to establish relationships and trust. He took specific care to see how players would best receive and use feedback. He created an open-door policy based on transparency and honesty. He emphasized that everyone will get playing time and be part of the once-in-a-lifetime and there won’t be a set lineup, but he was happy to explain why as long as everyone understood one thing.
“One thing we are going do is be a selfless team. We are going to root for each other,” Young said. “You want to make sure everybody enjoys the experience.”
A little over a week into the season, a major obstacle presented itself. Young had a great coaching staff with former pro Jemile Weeks and minor league umpire and youth baseball coach Emma Charlesworth-Seiler. When Boston Hunters manager Keith Foulke had a scheduling/contract dispute with the league, the Hunters were left without a manager. So Weeks stepped in, effectively being traded from Los Angeles to Boston to be their manager. While EY didn’t want Weeks to leave, he also didn’t want to block him from the promotion. It was EY’s dedication to selflessness and putting the league first in action.
“I told him you have to go be the manager and make them the best team they can be,” Young said.
Young and Charlesworth-Seiler tried to make it on their own, but Young admitted they needed more help. So they brought in Pete Romero, who throws batting practice and coaches first base among his many duties.
King of Queens
Not only has managing in the WPBL been the perfect fit for EY, but so has being with the L.A. Queens. He takes the name very seriously. He asked his players to reflect on what being a Queen means and proceeded to tell them what it means to him.
“We have the best name. Everybody knows it. Okay, you’re a Queen. I said, ‘You know what that makes me? A king.’ We laughed about that,” Young said with a laugh. “But seriously, a Queen walks, carries themselves with so much confidence. It radiates positive energy. That’s a Queen because they know they’re good, they know they look good, they know they can play.
“I know it when they walk. I said, when we walk out as Queens, that’s what we stand for. It’s not just a name across your chest,” Young continued. “And I feel like I have to make sure I take care of my Queens. That’s my mentality.”
For a glimpse of the style of manager EY is and the joy he is finding in this chapter of his career, check out this clip from the post-game press conference on Wednesday.
Partly due to a small roster and partly due to the astonishing athleticism of the players, Young’s job to fill out a lineup before each game is no easy task. He can rotate players and several of them volunteer to play positions, even if they haven’t before, just to help the team.
One example is Queens captain Ashton Lansdell. Usually a third baseman, Landsell played in right field against the Hunters on Wednesday night. Not only did she field the position well, but she also nearly pulled off a Larry Walker-like throw by nearly turning an Alli Schroder hard-hit single into an out by gunning it into first. The play impressed Young, especially since it was Lansdell’s first game in right field.
“She would try that — the only one daring enough to try that,” Young said. “She’s always thinking.”
When asked if he would like to continue to be a part of the Queens and WPBL beyond this season, Young didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely. I hope they keep me around and help this thing really grow. I enjoy seeing growth. I enjoy people believing in me. Like Colorado, the region out there, they always believed in me — even when they sat me,” Young said. “When you have that support, when people that genuinely want to see you play, that’s what I felt when I went out there every day playing. That’s why I wanted to give them a show every time I get out there. That’s where I feel with the ownership here and the young ladies make me feel that way, especially my team.”
Young paused on that last sentence, looking around the WPBL press room and seeing the banners for the four inaugural teams: the L.A. Queens, the Boston Hunters, the San Francisco Firebells and the New York Heights.
“I would love to manage and see this grow to great heights.”
Laughing, Young was quick to clarify that the Heights aren’t the greatest. He’s all in on the Queens.
The Isotopes rallied to score five runs in the eighth and added another five in the ninth to overcome a 3-1 deficit and beat Round Rock. The win was the lone victory for the Rockies farm teams on Thursday. In the eighth, Vimael Machín hit a two-run triple to tie the game and then he helped Albuquerque gain the lead it never lost when he came home to score on a wild pitch. Conner Capel added a two-run single. The offense continued in the ninth when Nic Kent drove in two runs with a double, Capel earned another RBI by drawing a walk with the bases loaded and Adael Amador plated two more runs with a single. Amador tried to stretch the hit into a double and was thrown out at second.
Patrick Weigel threw 1.1 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win and Blake Adams earned the save by closing out with two scoreless innings. Jake Brooks pitched well enough in his start to keep the Isotopes in the game when he gave up three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Machín went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI, while Sterling Thompson recorded two hits, scored a run and drove in another.
The Yard Goats scored the last three runs of the game, but it wasn’t enough for a comeback on Thursday night. The first run came in the sixth when Dyan Jorge hit an RBI single, Skyler Messinger added a sac fly in the eighth and Jimmy Obertop hit a run-scoring single in the ninth. Braylen Wimmer posted two hits and scored two runs for Hartford. Bryson Hammer took the loss for the Yard Goats, only making two outs into the third inning before he was pulled after surrendering six earned runs (seven total) on five hits, including a homer, with four walks and one strikeout.
Spokane’s lone run came on one of two fielding errors by the Canadians on a night when Vancouver held the Indians to five runs. Spokane was also hurt by two errors of their own. Tommy Hopfe led the Indians with two hits. In the third, Clayton Gray walked, Roldy Brito singled and Kelvin Hidalgo reached on a throwing error to score Gray. At that point, the Indians were up 1-0. Vancouver tied the game up in the bottom of the third before breaking it open in the seventh with a six-run frame.
The Grizzlies were outhit 12-6 and only went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position in a tough loss on Thursday. Izeah Muniz started the game and was pulled after one inning with Fresno down 1-0. The ripple effect meant six different Grizzlies pitched in the game, and Inland Empire was able to score in the first, second, sixth and seventh innings. Juan Martinez and Kyle Fossum each recorded two hits and scored a run for Fresno, while Fossum also drove one in.
Gabriel Hughes has yet to get his first big league win. He’s faced some tough outings, but he’s working to better control his pitches, get and stay ahead in counts and avoid the big innings that are getting his team down in a hole early. With pitchers like Chase Dollander coming back from injuries, Tanner Gordon making strides and more prospects coming up, Hughes will have to improve to be able to have a future in the Rockies rotation.
Jumping from 28th before the season started, the Rockies have climbed the farm system rankings to tied at No. 19 with the Chicago White Sox. With loads of young talent, the Rockies aren’t likely to deplete their stock any time soon.
Negotiations on the new CBA continued on Thursday with a focus on roster transactions, specifically how often they can happen and when they can and can’t happen in the offseason. Mark Feinsand details the whole list of MLB’s proposal, including changes to the Rule 5 Draft.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 29: Pre-game ceremonies take place prior to Game One of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena on May 29, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now that the summer Top 25 Under 25 series has wrapped up today, and with it (almost) the month of August, let’s turn attention to next season.
Players on the Penguins are trickling into town and starting to workout in Pittsburgh to prepare for NHL training camp that will begin in mid-ish September. Opening night for the regular season sees the curtain come up on September 30th.
There’s a lot to figure out from now until then, today let’s take a stab at what that lineup could be. Injuries figure to derail a lot of this – the Pens announced on opening day of training camp that Rutger McGroarty was out with a summer injury (good news: McGroarty is skating so that shouldn’t be the case this year). During training camp there was more with Bryan Rust and Kevin Hayes opening the year on IR and not the 23-player roster due to injuries. Any issue that hasn’t happened yet can’t be projected ahead of time, of course, so we’ll roll with what is known as of now and see how it holds up.
Forwards
Egor Chinakhov – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust Nick Robertson – Ben Kindel – Rickard Rakell Andrey Kuzmenko – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Elmer Soderblom
Extras: Hendrix Lapierre, Ville Koivunen
Defense
Erik Karlsson / Trevor van Riemsdyk Sam Girard / Kris Letang Declan Carlile / Kaeden Korczak
Extra: Ilya Solovyov
Goaltending
Opening night starter: Arturs Silovs Backup: Sergei Murashov
A lot of meat on the bone, let’s get into it.
For the forwards, I’ve no idea what to do with Justin Brazeau. Do they find a spot for him with with Kindel? It’s hard to see how. Maybe Brazeau sneaks on as a scratch but after signing Koivunen to that contract it’s tough to see Koivunen going on the waiver wire. Maybe that means a trade to clear the numbers, but we’ve all thought that for many months now. More than likely if there’s even one injury to one of these 14 forwards, there’s a space for Brazeau and that could be how things sort out. As last year taught us, that could easily be in the cards.
As far as the rest, you can call the second line the third line and the third line the second line, it’s all about the same with the ice time splits under Dan Muse. The main thing is trying to get Malkin with players he should do well with and putting Kindel in a spot where he can continue to shine. The good news is there are lots of choices on the splits to make that happen independent of this exact outlook. Otherwise, we’ll stick Chinakhov with Crosby and project Soderblom to win perhaps the only open job and see how long before things get mixed up, which will likely be pretty quickly.
On defense, Erik Karlsson slyly joked last season that it took 17 years before an NHL coach asked if he could kill penalties. Has anyone inquired about how he feels about playing on the left side of the ice? That would solve a lot of lineup split concerns for having too many right handers if he can. If not, maybe van Riemsdyk can. This outlook could be wildly inaccurate with plenty of other directions more than possible, but hey, it’s an idea. Overall the #1-6 roles are probably about known, but the placement of who gets paired with who is going to be very curious to see unfold during the preseason. The spoiler/wild card would be if Owen Pickering or Harrison Brunicke make a preseason run at a roster spot and kick a player like Carlile or Korczak into the scratch spot and send Solovyov to waivers. Could happen but the path of least resistance is to keep 7D that way the overload of forwards can keep a player and keep the younger players in the AHL for the start of the season. One name not seen yet: Ryan Graves. Just putting this out there to show that’s not an oversight on our part, but in reality will he get a look?
Last year, it was a surprise when Silovs played opening night and not Tristan Jarry. Do the Pens have another surprise in store this year? Considering the first opponent is the Flyers and Silovs played so well against them in the playoffs, I’d have to think him a heavy favorite to be the regular season Game 1 starter this year. We all know it won’t take long for the backup to get in, perhaps as soon as the second game (Silovs after all pitched a shutout and then watched Jarry take the next game).
In terms of the salary cap, the Penguins have plenty of room. They could keep 26 or 27 players comfortably and still be under – if not for the 23-player limit. That will make it difficult for bubble players like Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Filip Hallander and the aforementioned young defensemen of Brunicke and Pickering to make a run for what looks to be an extremely limited amount of spaces. Then again, it only takes one announcement or practice gone awry to land some players on the injured reserve, which would shake up the entire outlook and provide some unexpectedly open spots to work with. Until that happens, it’s tough to project, besides the knowledge that a team rarely is 100% healthy even at the start of the season – so who knows, there may be surprises in store during the coming weeks before opening night.
Feel free to give your projected opening night lineup in the comments and very soon we’ll start to see how it comes together with the impending start of training camp.
George Hill and Ben Cliff brought fireworks to Scarborough while Dean Elgar’s four-hour stand turned up the heat on Surrey
There is play at last at the big beast bash at Edgbaston, but it isn’t going so well for Notts, who are 19 for 2 after losing Hameed and McCann for ducks.
As that man Ben Sanderson spoils the dream with a nipbacker into the pads. Kent 170 for one.
We look at the start of Arsenal’s Premier League title defense, Carrick’s mounting problems in Manchester and US teen star Cavan Sullivan living up to the hype
If it wasn’t already clear that Arsenal will be the team to beat in the Premier League this season, their comprehensive 3-0 win over Coventry City on opening night highlighted just how far ahead of the chasing pack Mikel Arteta’s team are right now. The defending champions may not have to put up much of a defense to retain their crown.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 27: Wide receiver Kyle Williams #18 of the New England Patriots celebrates scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on August 27, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New England Patriots concluded their preseason Thursday night in Cleveland with a 37-13 loss to the Browns.
Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live-viewing the Patriots’ preseason opener.
Winners
WR Kyle Williams: Another week, another long Kyle Williams touchdown. The second-year receiver played just nine snaps over the Patriots’ first two offensive series but quickly made his mark, hauling in a 45-yard touchdown down the left sideline from Tommy DeVito. It was similar to his touchdowns from the previous two weeks, as Williams once again showcased his elite release package and vertical speed. Williams also caught a 10-yard curl on DeVito’s first pass of the night.
P Matt Haack and K Andy Borregales: The kicking game was one of the few bright spots for the Patriots on Thursday. New punter Matt Haack, who was signed on Monday following Bryce Baringer’s injury, impressed in his debut with three i20’s — the best coming on a 63-yard punt that downed itself at the two-yard line. Haack also assumed holding duties for kicker Andy Borregales, who knocked through all of his kicks (two field goals, one extra point).
LB Namdi Obiazor: In a depleted linebacker room, the sixth-round rookie played 39 snaps along the second level Thursday night. Obiazor posted a game-high 12 tackles as he was often around the football and seemed to read things well upon first watch in the run game. The rookie has assumed a top special teams role throughout training camp which likely will earn him a 53-man roster spot.
Losers
Depth cornerbacks: The Patriots’ depth cornerbacks were picked on by Dillon Gabriel and the Browns’ pass catchers throughout the night. Charles Woods and Marcellas Dial Jr. each gave up a touchdown, while Kindle Vildor and Karon Prunty allowed downfield completions (21 and 19 yards, respectively), with the veteran also flagged for defensive pass interference. Woods, who has been the fourth cornerback throughout training camp, played the duration of the third quarter. Kobee Minor then missed a tackle in the run game to directly lead to a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The group entered Thursday night with question marks behind Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones, and the performance from the depth players did little to provide confidence ahead of cutdown day — leading the whole defense’s struggles Thursday night.
“Not good enough,” Mike Vrabel said. “We got a couple sudden change stops, forced them to kick field goals, which I think is always positive. But, just not good enough. Couldn’t match the speed of the quarterback in a zone read and some of those things. But we’ll get back to work and figure out who we’re going to get back to work with.”
Honorable mentions
Behren Morton took a step back after last week’s positive showing. He took three sacks and threw a pair of interceptions.
Lan Larison started Thursday’s game but dropped a third-down pass (slightly behind him). Hassan Haskins continued to run hard between the tackles behind him.
Kyle Dixon posted a game-high eight catches (on eight targets) for 71 yards. He is a practice squad candidate.
Caleb Lomu played nine snaps at right tackle over the Patriots first two drives. He appeared clean in his six pass blocking snaps.
Fellow rookie tackle Dametrious Crownover continues to generate good push in the run game, as the whole line found success in the short-yardage run game.
Gabe Jacas played 19 snaps in the finale and logged one pressure but also bit again on a zone-read play. He might have been expecting a force defender to play the quarterback, but Jacas has been on the wrong side of the play often this summer.
The Patriots went the whole preseason without recording a kick return of 30 yards or more. Perhaps Kyle Williams assumes that role in the regular season, but the unit didn’t generate much confidence elsewhere.
To end on a positive: No major injuries to end the preseason.
As you are probably aware, the NFL CBA allows each team to have 90 players on its offseason roster, but it also makes provisions for a 91st player who joins the team via the International Player Pathway (IPP) program. For the last several years, the Commanders have made use of this IPP exemption, as they have again this season, so Washington’s offseason roster limit is once again 91 players.
Washington’s 91st player via the IPP is currently edge rusher TJ Maguranyanga, who spent the 2025 season on the Commanders roster.
Surprising number of roster changes since the Lions game
In the four days that followed the Lions game, the Commanders announced nine roster moves.
Released/Waived (3)
RB Jerome Ford (released from IR with injury settlement) The veteran running back will have the opportunity to sign with any of the other 31 NFL teams if he is healthy, but, per the NFL CBA, cannot play for the Commanders in 2026. This move did not affect the number of players on the roster since Ford, on IR, was not counted against the 91-man limit.
S Will Harris After entering spring OTAs as one of the presumed starting safeties, Harris was released after the Lions game, presumably to give him the opportunity to catch on with another NFL roster ahead of Sunday’s mass cutdowns.
OT Foster Sarell Sarell was released in conjunction with the signing of OT D.J. Humphries, which is simply an attempt by the Commanders to upgrade the position group.
Injured Reserve (2)
When a player is placed on injured reserve during training camp, he is ineligible to return to play for the team that season although he can subsequently be waived with an injury settlement and play for another team when healthy.
S Malik Spencer The undrafted free agent was expected by many to wind up on the Commanders practice squad. The rookie safety was waived with an injury designation (hamstring) on Tuesday. Because he went unclaimed by another NFL team, he officially cleared waivers and reverted back to Washington’s roster the following day. As explained above, he will either spend the 2026 season on IR with Washington, or he can be released later with an injury settlement, and will be free to sign with any other NFL team. He cannot take the field in a regular or postseason game for the Commanders in 2026.
EDGE Drake Jackson Jackson, who has lost past seasons due to issues with his patellar tendon, reportedly injured his hamstring during training camp/preseason work.
A quick NFL Rules Tutorial: One potential benefit to players of being placed on IR in preseason
Accrued Seasons vs. Credited Seasons
Credited and Accrued season are important to NFL players:
Credited Season (3 Games): Used strictly for player benefits (pension, 401k, life insurance).
Accrued Season (6 Games): Used to earn time toward free agency milestones.
What happens if a player is placed on IR during the preseason?
Automatic Benefit: If a player is placed on IR in the preseason and remains on IR for the first three weeks of the regular season, he will automatically accrue a credited season. A player on IR must remain on full-pay status for at least six regular-season games to earn an accrued season.
The Exception (Injury Settlements): If the team negotiates an injury settlement and releases the player during the preseason, he only gets a credited season if the financial settlement covers the equivalent of three or more regular-season game checks; if the settlement covers at least six, he qualifies for an accrued season.
Credited seasons are more likely to be of importance to marginal players — especially those with very short careers or who spend a lot of time moving on and off of team rosters and practice squads — as player benefits are often tied to credited seasons. Some things that are likely to interest fans, such as a player’s minimum salary, are based on credited seasons rather than accrued seasons.
For a player who might have been cut without ever making the team’s roster, being placed on IR during the preseason could potentially help that player add a credited or accrued season, enhancing his qualification for benefits or moving him a year closer to unrestricted free agency.
Signed (4)
OT D.J. Humphries Humphries spent nine seasons with the Cardinals (2015–2023), establishing himself as a premium blindside protector and earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. He accumulated 101 career NFL starts. Following a torn ACL near the end of 2023, he became a journeyman backup. Humphries played two games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and appeared in eight regular-season games for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn made it clear that he would provide depth behind Brandon Coleman as opposed to taking over the starting LT position.
OLB Boogie Basham Over five seasons, he has played in 43 career games as a rotational pass rusher, bouncing between the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. Before signing with Washington, he spent the first half of 2026 playing locally in the UFL for the DC Defenders, where he recorded 24 tackles and three sacks.
S Joshua Bledsoe A 6th-round pick in 2021, he spent his first three NFL seasons (2021–2023) with New England, appearing in four regular-season games primarily as a special teams contributor. Since leaving the Patriots, he has spent time on the offseason rosters or practice squads of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, and also spent time in the UFL with the San Antonio Brahmas.
S Quindell Johnson After going undrafted in 2023, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams and later claimed by the Chicago Bears. He appeared in nine regular-season NFL games with Chicago during his rookie year, recording two tackles and one interception. He also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Accounting for Laremy Tunsil & Johnny Newton
While today’s chart lists 91 players, we know already that two of those players, LT Laremy Tunsil and DL Johnny Newton, will not be on the active roster in Week 1.
Timing counts for a lot with players who suffer major injuries in training camp. Here’s a quick explanation of the considerations for placing a player on IR under the relevant NFL rules:
1. The Pre-Cutdown Rule (Season-Ending)
As mentioned above, if the Commanders place Tunsil or Newton on IR during training camp before the final 53-man roster reduction deadline on Aug. 30, the player is automatically ruled out for the entire season. He would not be allowed to practice or play for Washington at any point during the year.
While Tunsil and Newton have already undergone surgery, head coach Dan Quinn said that doctors have not yet determined the recovery timeline for either player. If doctors determine, in the coming days, that Tunsil and/or Newton will not be able to return to play prior to mid-February, then the Commanders might choose to exercise this option.
2. The Cutdown Day Exception (Designated to Return)
NFL rules allow teams:
a. to designate, on cutdown day (Aug 30th), up to two injured players to return from IR during the season.
b. alternatively, the team can carry a player onto the initial 53-man roster and move him to IR the following day (Aug 31st) or later, opening up a roster spot; the only reason to do this would be if the team needed to designate two other players to return at the time the initial roster was set on Aug 30.
(Option A is almost certainly the one that the Commanders would choose in Tunsil’s case, probably Newton as well)
This approach (either option a or b) allows the player (Tunsil/Newton/both) to keep his season alive, as it leaves the door open for him to return after sitting out a minimum of four games (obviously, in these two cases, it would be closer to four months than four games).
If doctors determine that the player’s (Tunsil’s/Newton’s/both) return to play could happen prior to mid-February, then the Commanders might choose this option to keep all possibilities on the table. The only cost to the team is the opportunity to carry one or two more players on the training camp roster between now and Aug 30.
Not your typical depth chart
The chart below is only a depth chart insofar as it assigns players to positions and stacks them in an order.
The primary purpose of the chart is to keep track of the 91 guys that currently comprise the training camp roster, not to predict game-day alignments.
You will note, for example, that I have 12 offensive position stacks and 12 defensive position stacks on the chart despite the fact that a team can only field 11 players at one time.
You will also note that each player’s name appears only once regardless of the fact that he may play in multiple alignments or positions (e.g., an interior offensive lineman who can play center and both guard spots will appear at only one of those positions, not all of them). Again, this is by design, since the goal is to provide handy visual reference of the 91 individual players while also offering an overall snapshot of team strength and depth. The bias, though, is to provide a visual list of the full roster, not so much to create a game-ready depth chart.
Finally, you will also note that, where players are capable of playing more than one position (and likely to do so on game days), my decision on where to align them may be very different from your idea of where they belong.
The updated offseason roster/depth chart
NOTES:The numbers that appear beside some players’ names are 2026 cap hits per Over the Cap. I have not included cap hits below $1.5m.
The Commanders currently have 44 defensive players, 44 offensive players and 3 special teams players.
Please note that assigned positions and color codes are my own personal opinions; they do not necessarily represent the thinking of Washington’s coaches or front office, nor are they necessarily consistent with fan consensus or the thoughts of other writers on Hogs Haven. Finally, when it comes to backup players, I don’t put much effort into making sure that they are on the right or left or behind the specific player that they backup. I mostly just try to fit everyone on the chart efficiently.
It’s also probably worth noting again that my goal is primarily to illustrate the full offseason roster, not to create a conventional depth chart. I have, for example, 12 position stacks on offense and 12 on defense. Readers can project 11 or 12 personnel (or whatever else) on offense, as well as multiple defensive alignments.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 27: Eddy Pineiro #18 of the San Francisco 49ers kicks a 51-yard field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders as Corliss Waitman #7 holds in the fourth quarter of their preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 49ers defeated the Raiders 18-12. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Eddy Pineiro caps off the 49ers’ preseason with a perfect performance “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…
…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.”
Why is 49ers’ Carver Willis getting another start at LG? The rookie needs the reps (paywall) “Outsiders tend to fixate on pass protection when evaluating offensive linemen. The 49ers, however, scrutinize run blocking, especially following a season in which the team’s per-carry average, a robust 4.52 yards in the first eight seasons under Shanahan, dropped to 3.78 yards. It was the first time in his tenure the average fell below 4 yards.
Willis emphasized that the 49ers’ run-blocking scheme is an extremely precise choreography — a Chorus Line but with 315-pound defensive tackles trying to blow up the performance.
His biggest issue right now is that he’s slightly out of step. Or in his words: “My angles in the run game aren’t very complementary of the guys next to me.”
A false step by the left guard on a running play isn’t something a casual observer usually picks up on, but it is obvious — like a sour note during a piano recital — to an expert like offensive line coach Chris Foerster.
“There are so many plays where you can see that the four guys next to me — their hips are on a different angle than mine,” Willis said. “For me right now, it’s studying that aiming point and running on our angles, setting our backside shoulder, all that kind of stuff.”
One benefit to playing left guard for the 49ers, he said, is that he has Trent Williams, who’s played 11,334 career snaps, to his left and Jake Brendel (4,376 career snaps) to the right. And that means he often gets real-time coaching in the huddle.
“Those guys have been so great,” Willis said. “They’ll tell you when you did well. Be like, ‘Hey, great job on that. That’s exactly what we need.’ Or it’s, ‘Hey, come on. You have to see that quicker.’ Or, ‘You’ve got to get hands on the guy.’ I’ve got a combined 23 years of experience next to me. That’s huge. Our vets have been so helpful.”
Will 49ers trust Kaelon Black, Jordan James enough to lighten Christian McCaffrey’s load? (Paywall) “Thursday night was James’ only chance to put something on tape ahead of the season opener in Australia. And he looked good for the most part. James finished with 35 yards on eight carries, including a 17-yarder up the gut with good contact balance, along with a 20-yard catch, which was a screen pass that turned into much more upon his cutback and a nice perimeter block by rookie left guard hopeful Carver Willis.
His momentary lapses: Running sideways instead of vertical on a third-and-1 carry that lost a yard (one Black would probably convert) and getting flagged for an illegal block that negated a touchdown pass.”
The Philadelphia Flyers are set to have plenty of national exposure during the 2026-27 season. The NHL and its U.S. broadcast partners announced their national television schedule Wednesday, with the Flyers scheduled to appear in 19 nationally televised games throughout the regular season, and increase of five national broadcasts from last season.
Philadelphia will have nine games on TNT, six across ABC and ESPN and four exclusively available through ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu.
The Flyers will get their first taste of the national spotlight immediately, with their Sept. 30 home opener and playoff rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins airing on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Plenty of Rivalry Matchups
The Flyers will face off against the Penguins three times on national television, bringing quite a bit of attention to the Battle of Pennsylvania. In addition to Philadelphia's season opener against Pittsburgh, both the Jan. 31 and April 3 games at Pittsburgh will air on ABC.
Washington will also receive plenty of attention in the Flyers' national schedule. Philadelphia will visit the Capitals on Oct. 28 for a 7:30 p.m. ET TNT matchup before hosting Washington on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
The Flyers will also be featured against several notable opponents throughout the season, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues.
Philadelphia's national exposure picks up considerably during the second half of the season. They have four nationally televised games scheduled in February, including matchups against Tampa Bay, Dallas, the Rangers and Buffalo.
The Flyers will have several more national appearances down the stretch with a March 25 game against the Lightning, the Capitals on April 3 and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 8.
The regular season will conclude with Philadelphia hosting Washington on April 10 in a 12:30 p.m. ET game on ABC with what could be Alexander Ovechkin's last NHL game.
After ending their five-season playoff drought last season, the Flyers will have many opportunities to show a national audience what the next stage of the franchise's rebuild looks like.
INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 17: Jason Klotz #21 of the Texas Longhorns attempts a shot against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament March 17, 2005 at RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nevada won 61-57. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Multiple outlets reported earlier this week that former Texas men’s basketball standout Jason Klatz has died. Klotz was 44 years old.
Klotz was a memorable player on former head coach Rick Barnes teams. In his five seasons in a burnt orange jersey from 2000 to 2005, Klotz played at center for the Longhorns. Texas men’s basketball also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of those five seasons under Barnes: three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances and a Final Four appearance (back in 2003). Over that span, Klotz saw playing time in 12 NCAA Tournament matchups, which is tied for the most in Longhorns men’s basketball history.
Klotz logged seven minutes and scored one point in Texas’ Final Four loss to Syracuse.
He saw playing time or started in 131 games during that span, including 27 starts.
He averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17 minutes per game, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Prior to his college career, Klotz was a star at Klein High School in Houston.
We did one Q&A earlier in the week and had a ton of questions left over, so we thought we’d assemble a slightly different line up to tackle some more queries!
On today’s show, Martin, Sam, Jonny and Ant talk
• Attacking threat – in particular our wingers and forwards
• How many points would be a good return from the upcoming games?
• Which Sunderland player of the past would you add to the current squad?
• And loads more
All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.
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Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek works from the sideline during the second half of an NFL game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
With the preseason winding down this weekend, the NFL’s roster cutdown day—Sunday, Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. PT—is looming. That means the Las Vegas Raiders and the 31 other teams in the league will have to make decisions on which players to keep and let go. But with the Raiders being longshots to win the Super Bowl, +15,000 on FanDuel Sportsbook, cutdown day doesn’t mean Las Vegas’ roster is finalized before the season opener against the Miami Dolphins.
That’s where the NFL’s waiver wire comes in post-cutdown day.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Kubiak and general manager John Spytek take a long look at players who didn’t make another club’s 53-man roster but could help in Vegas. The organization’s decision-makers were different, but that’s how the Raiders acquired defensive tackle Jonah Laulu in 2024, who has started 22 games since getting waived by the Indianapolis Colts at the end of training camp two years ago.
But how does the waiver wire work, and how can the Raiders add players to the roster from it? Let’s dive in!
Who’s Eligible?
Any player who is cut and has less than four years of experience in the league, meaning they’ve been on a 53-man roster, physically unable to perform (PUP) list, or injured reserve (IR) for at least six games in four different seasons. That touches on why the Raiders are expected to scrounge the waiver wire on Sunday; they’re rebuilding, and every player who gets waived is young with three or fewer years of experience.
Players with four or more years of experience aren’t subject to waivers if they get cut and just become free agents. To clarify, a player who remains on PUP, the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, is on any sort of reserve list after cutdown day, or is put on IR ahead of cutdown day, is not available for another team to claim them. Those players are still under contract with their current clubs; they just aren’t on the active roster.
This is somewhat besides the point since it doesn’t apply to the post-cutdown day waiver wire, but after the trade deadline (Nov. 10), every player who gets released is subject to waivers regardless of how much experience they have. So, the rules will change a bit later in the season.
How do Raiders add players via waivers?
When teams submit their 53-man rosters to the NFL, they also include a list of the players who are waived or released. That creates the “waiver wire”, which is distributed to the rest of the teams and is publicly available. General managers and head coaches who are interested in adding players look over the list and see if there’s anyone that piques their interest.
If there is someone the GM and head coach want to add, they put in a claim for said player within about 24 hours of cutdown day. The timeline might be closer to 20 or 21 hours depending on the exact time of the two deadlines, but it’s roughly a day. So, a player gets cut on Sunday, another team puts in a claim for the player on Monday, and the player is officially on a new team’s roster by Tuesday.
Once all of the waiver claims are submitted, if two clubs want to claim the same player, the team that finished with the worse record last year/was higher on the draft order (removing trades) in April gets the player. That means the Raiders are in a pretty good spot with the waiver wire this year because they had the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft and, thus, will have waiver priority over any other team.
Also, the waiver wire/order isn’t like fantasy football where you have to submit a priority list if you want to add multiple players and hope that no one else in your league put in a claim for your second player. If the Raiders want to add five players on waivers, they get all five since they have priority over every team. However, they would have to cut five other guys by the following day to get back down to a 53-man roster.
Below is the waiver order to begin the 2026 season:
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
After three weeks, the order changes week-to-week to reflect the current NFL standings.
What happens after player gets claimed?
This one is pretty simple. Once a player gets claimed, he’s on the 53-man roster of the team that won the claim for him, and that team absorbs his current contract. Additionally, the club will have to waive or release another player to make room for the waiver claim, and the waiver process starts all over again if they have less than four years of service. It’s just on a much smaller scale since every team isn’t making roughly 37 transactions/cuts on the same day.
What happens if player clears waivers?
If a player gets cut and doesn’t get claimed on the waiver wire or “clears waivers”, they become a free agent and are eligible to sign with any team, including the one that just cut them. Typically, said players will sign practice squad contracts, though. The only exception would be if the player is on an expensive contract and other teams are interested in having him on the 53-man roster but not at his current price tag. However, that’s pretty rare. Even 2021 first-round pick Alex Leatherwood was claimed off waivers when the Raiders cut him in 2022.
