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The NFL deadline for teams to get down to the initial 53-man rosters is at 3 p.m. PT Sunday. Teams are starting the process early and the Las Vegas Raiders could make cuts as soon as today.

The Raiders are entering a rebuilding season—owning the third-longest odds (+500) in the AFC to make the playoffs this season, per FanDuel Sportsbook—which makes it more interesting to see who the coaching staff keeps on the roster. A youth movement has already started in Las Vegas, so we could be in for a surprise or two on cutdown day.

This is your place to find out all the latest news and rumors about the Raiders’ moves plus decisions around the league that could affect your favorite team. Come back early and often.

After an ugly loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week, Jim Harbaugh wanted to see a better showing from his team in its final preseason test.

The third-year coach had his wish somewhat granted, as the Chargers presented several encouraging performances in a 20-18 loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Thursday.

Here are five takeaways from the Chargers’ final tune-up before 53-man rosters must be finalized Sunday:

Starters show up

The Chargers’ first-string defense, without safety Derwin James Jr. and outside linebacker Khalil Mack, did its part against the Rams’ second-stringers.

Chris O’Leary’s unit forced a punt on its first drive. And despite the Rams’ second drive starting at the Chargers’ 9-yard line, the defense limited the damage to three points.

Mike McDaniel’s bunch, meanwhile, started on the wrong foot. Quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled a handoff to running back Omarion Hampton on the Chargers’ second play from scrimmage, setting up that second Rams drive.

Justin Herbet LAUNCHES it to Quentin Johnston for a 65-yard TD 🎯

Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/h1wr48fiC4

— NFL (@NFL) August 28, 2026

Herbert and the starting offense, though, made sure they left something pleasing on film. On the second play of the Chargers’ second possession, Herbert connected with wide receiver Quentin Johnston over the middle on a spectacular 65-yard touchdown pass.

Herbert’s pass traveled 57.6 air yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

DJ Uiagalelei outduels Trey Lance

Lance, the incumbent backup quarterback, used his legs well and earned 22 yards on four rushes. Uiagalelei, however, looked like he could become the Chargers’ new backup signal-caller.

Uiagalelei made some nice, quick reads and completed 11 of 18 passes for 141 yards. He lost a fumble to seal the loss, though, after being strip-sacked by Rams outside linebacker Darryl Peterson.

Lance, hurting his case, looked rushed on most of his snaps and didn’t connect on his two passing attempts.

There hasn’t been much separation between Lance and Uiagalelei throughout training camp, but the St. John Bosco product was better on Thursday.

Read more:NFL ends the Pro Bowl game, will honor players in L.A. instead

Rookies Rodney Shelley, Greg Desrosiers Jr. make strong cases

Shelley, an undrafted cornerback, and Desrosiers, an undrafted running back, are on the bubble of making the Chargers’ 53-man roster.

Even with an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth, Shelley made his reps count, making five tackles and breaking up a deep pass from Rams quarterback Ty Simpson intended for Tyler Scott.

Desrosiers erupted for 118 yards on nine rushes, including a 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth.

Left guard race still going?

Kayode Awosika is the favorite to win the Chargers’ starting left guard job, and he played there during the first two series.

But when Lance and the second-stringers replaced the starters, Awosika moved to right guard. Trever Penning replaced Awosika at left guard.

Maybe Trey Pipkins III, who McDaniel said remained in the left guard competition, still has a shot. He played left tackle with the starters Thursday. Another candidate, Logan Taylor, started at right tackle.

Special teams not sharp

Cameron Dicker missed an extra-point attempt in the Chargers’ preseason win over the Houston Texans. Scott made unfavorable headlines against the 49ers after an abysmal tackling effort during Jacob Cowing’s 83-yard punt return for a touchdown.

On Thursday, Dicker missed a 49-yard field goal to end the first half, a distance he’s usually sharp from. And Scott, although he didn’t have to make any tackles, shanked a punt 20 yards down the right sideline from the Chargers’ 9-yard line, setting up a 29-yard Rams touchdown drive.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Chargers fell 20-18 to the Rams in a back-and-forth matchup inside SoFi Stadium.

Justin Herbert and the majority of the starters got four plays on the night, headlined by a 65-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston.

The stars of the night for the Chargers were third-string quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and running back Greg DesRosiers Jr. “DJU” led the team with 141 passing yards with a completed pass for a two-point conversion. DesRosiers took nine carries for a whopping 118 yards, including a bruising 34-yard touchdown run.

Defensively it was a fine day as the Chargers stood their ground on fourth downs several times, but otherwise got diced up by rookie Ty Simpson who completed 18-of-23 passes. The Rams offense has always looked to get the ball out fast which made it tough for the Chargers pass rush to make plays.

With the preseason now over, final cuts are next. The deadline to cut a roster down to 53 players is this Sunday (August 30th) by 4:00 p.m.

First Quarter

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Rams offense found early momentum with a nine-yard pass to CJ Daniels and a two-yard run by Jordan Waters to move the chains. The Chargers starters then allow just five yards on the next three plays to force the first punt of the game.

Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense got started with a nine-yard pass to Charlie Kolar who authored a similar play to begin last week’s game against the 49ers. Unfortunately the starters’ first drive of the game was cut short after Herbert fumbled a handoff to Omarion Hampton and the Rams recovered.

Chris O’Leary’s unit held strong after the sudden change and held the Rams to a short 27-yard field goal as they took the 3-0 lead.

The second Chargers drive of the game was also just two plays, but the end result was as far as you can get on the other side of the spectrum.

Herbert took the snap, faked a handoff right, and lofted a moonshot to Quentin Johnston who caught it in stride for a 65-yard touchdown.

Simpson took the Rams on a long 17-play drive before the end of the quarter, but the Chargers shut the door on fourth down near the goal line to keep points off the board. Linebacker Marlowe Wax and safety Tony Jefferson each authored big stops on third and fourth down.

Second Quarter

Trey Lance took over for Herbert to begin the second quarter but his opening drive of the night was a three-and-out. Punter JK Scott, who has had a rough preseason thus far, shanked his first punt of the night for only 20 yards. Simpson and the Rams quickly turned it into a five-play drive that ended in an 11-yard touchdown pass to wideout Brennan Presley.

The Chargers offense was more successful on their next drive as they went 10 plays and 50 yards without Lance needing to complete a pass. Unfortunately Lance was sacked on fourth down at the LAR 30-yard line which forced a turnover on downs.

Simpson continued to slice and dice the Chargers defense on another lengthy drive that stretched 13 plays and 61 yards before stalling in the red zone. Harrison Mevis came on again to bang home a 27-yarder to push their lead to 13-7.

With less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, D.J. Uiagalelei stepped in for Lance and immediately brought the Chargers downfield with a pair of throws that went 21 and 20 yards, respectively. With nine seconds left, Uiagalelei was sacked for six yards and Dicker came on to attempt a 49-yard field goal but he pushed it wide right.

Third Quarter

The third quarter was a fast one as both teams leaned on their run games throughout. The Chargers took the second half kickoff and put together a nine-play drive that only went 23 yards due to a facemask penalty on rookie offensive lineman Alex Harkey. Scott’s second punt of the night went just 33 yards, continuing his very poor preseason performance.

The Bolts held the Rams to another punt after a short six-play drive. UDFA running back Greg DesRosiers Jr. then put the team on his back with runs of 15 and 14 yards. After stalling just inside the red zone, Dicker came on and converted from 34 yards out to bring the Chargers within three points.

Fourth Quarter

Rams quarterback Mattew Caldwell helped march their offense down the field on a seven-play, 60-yard drive that spanned over the break. Caldwell capped it off with an eight-yard pass to running back Dean Connors which pushed their lead back to 10 points.

DesRosiers Jr. ripped off a huge 34-yard run touchdown run on the ensuing drive, breaking numerous tackles on the way. Uiagalelei then found tight end Evan Svoboda for the two-point conversion which brought the score to 20-18.

After a short drive ending in a punt for either team, the Rams found their offensive momentum again. Caldwell moved the Rams 44 yards in 12 plays but could not overcome an ill-timed penalty near midfield. Once backed up, the Rams turtled up and the Chargers stuffed several runs before they punted once more. Fortunately for the Rams, their punter pinned the Bolts all the way back to their one-yard line.

But did that matter to Uiagalelei? Apparently not.

DesRosiers started the drive with a three-yard run to create some breathing room. Then, Uiagalelei found wideout Liam Clifford for a gain of 13 before hitting Gary Jennings for 24 yards. With a fresh set of downs and facing a first-and-five at the Rams 40-yard line, things quickly evaporated.

Uiagalelei was sacked for six yards, despite looking as if he pitched the ball before the whistle. On the very next play, DJU was stripped from behind and the Rams recovered to snuff out the final comeback attempt.

Rams coach Sean McVay does not play starters or players expected to be significant backups or contributors during the preseason, especially in the final game.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett did not play on Thursday night against the Chargers.

That would seem to indicate that Bennett, not rookie Ty Simpson, will open the season as Matthew Stafford’s backup.

Simpson led three first-half scoring drives in a 20-18 victory at SoFi Stadium.

Simpson, the 13th pick in the draft, completed 18 of 23 passes for 119 yards, including a second-quarter touchdown.

It was Simpson’s second no-turnover performance. In the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Simpson played all but the first two series and completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

Read more:Rams trade Jarquez Hunter to Miami to bring back Tutu Atwell

On Thursday, his most impressive play came early in the second quarter on third and seven from the Chargers’ 11-yard line. Simpson escaped pressure and rolled out to his left before firing a pass to diving receiver Brennan Presley for a touchdown.

“A lot of times, his first read wasn’t necessarily there and he did a great job progressing on, making plays, making plays with his feet,” offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase said of Simpson during an in-game television interview.

Matthew Caldwell, an undrafted free agent from Texas, started the second half and played into the fourth quarter before suffering an apparent injury. He completed five of 10 passes for 31 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown pass to running back Dean Connors.

Bennett, a fourth-year pro, took the vast majority of second-team snaps during training camp and preseason practices, and took first-team reps on days Stafford was held out. Bennett played the first half against the Saints and rushed for two touchdowns.

He appears on track to be No. 2 on the depth chart for the Sept. 10 opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 in Melbourne, Australia.

Other noteworthy items from the Rams’ victory:

No Jarquez Hunter

Running back Jarquez Hunter did not play — and was not in the building — but not because he was assured a roster spot with the Rams.

On Thursday, the Rams traded Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, to the Miami Dolphins for receiver Tutu Atwell, who played five seasons for the Rams before signing with the Dolphins last March.

“Tutu’s an alumni,” Rams general manager Les Snead said during an in-game television interview. “He should come back. He’s someone who knows Sean’s offense. He can come in and play all three [receiver] positions.”

Connors, who played at Murrieta Valley High and Riverside City College before finishing his college career at Rice and Houston, rushed for 69 yards in 18 carries. Jordan Waters rushed for 53 yards in 15 carries.

Defensive standouts

Outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III had two sacks, including one that resulted in a fumble in the final minute to preserve the victory.

Safety Nick Andersen recovered a fumble by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Cornerback Cam Lampkin also had a sack.

Edge rusher Wesley Bailey, who made a big impression in the first two preseason games, started against the Chargers but played only two snaps and had one quarterback pressure.

Kicker Harrison Mevis finishes perfect preseason

Mevis kicked two 27-yard field goals, making him six for six in three games.

Mevis kicked two field goals against the Chiefs and two against the Saints.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Dbacks were 8-1 on the season against the Giants coming into the game today. However the offense has not yet arrived in San Francisco as the Dbacks drop the first game of the series 6-1.

Jose Cabrera got off to a rough start giving up a leadoff home run and throwing 30 pitches in the first. However he settled in nicely and was able to pitch into the 5^th inning and allowed only 2 runs. Exactly what you are asking for out of the rookie righty. The Giants were really not hitting him much at all as he gave up only 3 hits. The second run only scored due to some shaky defense from the Dbacks. After beaning Koss, the next Giants batter laid down a sacrifice bunt, however no one was covering 3^rd base allowing Koss to take the extra base. A rare defensive miscue for a Dbacks defense that has been its calling card. Its worth noting that just before the game, Nolan Arenado was scratched due to thumb discomfort and so it was the rookie Jose Fernandez that wasn’t covering 3^rd base.  Koss would then score on a sacrifice fly.

According to skipper Torey Lovullo in the post game show, Nolan Arenado is day-to-day with the right thumb discomfort.

Even thought the Giants scored 6 runs, it was really a much closer game than the final score showed. The Dbacks offense simply did not show up tonight against weak Giants pitching.  Notably Corbin Carroll went 0-4 and really only Gabi Moreno and Perdomo contributed to the offense tonight with 3 hits and some good at bats incuding a 4th inning HR from Moreno. The Dbacks were then able to load the bases in the 4^th inning, however they were unable to score any of the runs with the bases loaded and 1 out. If they were able to get a big hit there with the bases loaded, this game could’ve finished completely differently.

Another youngster will be starting a meaningful baseball game tomorrow night as Kohl Drake will make the start Friday. The offense is going to have to figure it out and quick because to expect Drake not to allow at least a few runs tomorrow is foolish. The Dbacks have got to take advantage of the schedule here against the Giants and prove that they wont play down to their competition with the season on the line. These guys have to step up and look like playoff contenders no matter who they are facing. The Philles and the Padres both had the night off tonight so the Dbacks lose just half a game in the wildcard standings falling to 1.5 games back.

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Los Angeles Chargers by a final score of 20-18 in Week 3 of the NFL preseason. Though the Rams began with the ball on offense, and Ty Simpson perhaps threw the best ball of his young career in this contest, the story of the game more or less begins with Justin Herbert, and some other notable Chargers taking the field in this preseason matchup.

The Chargers wanted to see parts of their first team offense as they gear up for Week 1. It started about as poorly as it could for the former team out of San Diego. Herbert bobbled his second snap as the Rams defense came away with the takeaway.

Safety Nick Andersen, who’s had a nice preseason, made the recovery, and it was a thrilling moment for the defensive unit full of backups and fringe players. The Rams scored a field goal on the turnover as the Chargers defense, also playing with some expected starters, stopped the Rams on a fourth and goal.

Before you could wonder if the Chargers and their offense were in serious trouble, Herbert showed that his regular season should be just fine when he found Quentin Johnston for a 65-yard TD strike. At that point, Jim Harbugh and Mike McDaniel had seen enough from Herbert who went to the sidelines with his one fumble, one touchdown day.

Ty Simpson’s go-ahead touchdown throw

Simpson played the entire first half, and opened the game failing to score a touchdown on his first couple drives, but Simpson did lead the team to a Harrison Mevis field goal before flashing on an 11-yard touchdown throw that should get plenty of media coverage on Friday.

Trailing 7-3 on a third and seven at the 11-yard line, Simpson took a snap, and was immediately faced with pressure. He sprinted out to his left as the Chargers chased him, and as he was about to run out of room at the sideline, he fired a strike to Brennan Presley into the endzone for the score.

The plan is for Simpson to have many more NFL throws and moments beyond this preseason, but at is stands this may be the best throw we have seen Simpson make at the NFL level. Preseason or not, it was a great play by the rookie first round quarterback.

Supporting Simpson was his leading receiver CJ Daniels with five grabs for 42 yards, running back Dean Connors who continued to flash for the Rams with burst and physicality and fellow RB Jordan Waters who helped carry the load on the ground. Defensive back Cam Lamkin had a huge sack that led to a Cameron Dicker missed field goal to close out the first half.

At halftime, the Rams led 13-7 with Simpson having played all of quarters one and two. The young QB went 18/23 with 119 yards, one TD, and two rushing attempts for 11 yards.

Surely there were plays that Simpson wants back and plenty for Sean McVay and the Rams to learn from the tape. Still, Simpson had a fine day before being replaced by Matthew Caldwell in the third quarter.

To some degree, with the second half not truly featuring Simpson or Hebert, it wasn’t as high stakes or exciting, but it was still NFL football, and the final chance for some of these guys to shine at this level.

Simpson later came back out deep into the fourth quarter when Caldwell appeared to get hurt, but Simpson was just asked to hand the ball off and not get hurt, solidifying the idea McVay and the Rams had seen enough from Simpson today.

The Rams and their rookie running back battle

Waters picked up a solid 19-yard run as the third quarter wound down while Connors capped off the drive with a receiving score from Caldwell to make the score 20-10 in the fourth quarter.

With Jarquez Hunter being traded to the Miami Dolphins today, there should be an opening in their running bac room. It’s expected either Connors or Waters fills that void. Both looked decent and comparable today. Neither were exceptional as both were stuffed on goal line carries early in the game.

You could say it was Chargers running back Gregory Desrosiers who had the best box score on the day with 100+ yards and a rushing score.

The Rams gave up a two-point conversion

The Rams gave up a two-point conversion against the Chargers in this one. L.A. gave up a number of crucial two-point conversions in 2025, including a costly one to the Philadelphia Eagles early in the season, and more than one big one to the Seattle Seahawks late. Something to monitor for 2026.

The Final (for preseason)

The score eventually was 20-18 in favor of the Rams, but McVay seemed to prioritize avoiding injury and running the clock, especially when Caldwell went down for them, and had to be replaced by Simpson. McVay’s offense just ran the ball, while the Chargers called time outs and made stops to give themselves a real chance to win this preseason game.

The Rams defense instead made a huge play when Darryl Peterson forced a final fumble. L.A. recovered and L.A. (the Rams) won.

Now, both teams get ready for Week One.

After a preseason showdown against the Cleveland Browns, the New England Patriots will begin cutting down their 90-man roster. The team needs to make 37 moves ahead of the NFL’s deadline on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. ET. A majority of those personnel changes will come through the most straightforward roster reduction method: cutting players.

However, not all 37 transactions will be the same. The NFL has separate protocols for so-called vested veterans and players with less league experience. Veterans immediately enter the open market as free agents after being released, while the latter must pass through the waiver wire, where they can be claimed by another franchise or enter free agency if unclaimed.

What exactly does all of this mean for the Patriots and the NFL’s other 31 teams, though? Let’s break it down.

What is the NFL waiver wire?

Franchises will make their final preparations before the season, with substantial changes being made to league rosters. Players will either be waived or released, but not all will instantly become free agents and be free to sign with any team.

When a player is “waived,” they are subject to the waiver wire, where any team can claim them and assume their current contract. Currently, the waiver wire order is dependent on the NFL Draft order from this past April, but without any trades.

Teams file waiver claims at the same time. That being said, only the team with the highest claim in the order will successfully pick up the player and their current contract.

Which NFL players are subject to go on waivers and not be released?

A player’s time in the NFL determines whether they enter the waiver wire or become a free agent. Players with at least four years of accrued NFL service time are released. If a player is released, their contract has ended, and they are eligible to sign with any team.

However, if a player has less than four years of service time, they are waived and subject to waiver wire claims. Any player who is not claimed after being waived is eligible to sign wherever they’d like, including their former team’s practice squad.

The group of players being waived primarily consists of those who are not currently eligible for unrestricted free agency status entering the season. They would instead be either an exclusive rights free agent (less than three years of service) or a restricted free agent (three years of service).

Which Patriots cuts are subject to waivers?

In total, 40 of the Patriots’ depth players (not including starters and primary backups, or “roster locks”) will first have to pass through the waiver wire, where they might get claimed by any NFL team, before entering the open market.

• QB Mehren Morton
• RB Lan Larison
• RB Jam Miller
• WR Cameron Dorner
• WR Kyle Dixon
• WR Nick DeGennaro
• WR Tejhaun Palmer
• TE Tanner Arkin
• TE Jack Westover
• TE C.J. Dippre
• OT Dametrious Crownover
• OT Lorenz Metz
• OL Jacob Rizy
• OL Joseph Michalski
• OL Darrian Dalcourt
• OL Jack Conley
• OL Mehki Butler
• OL JonDarius Morgan
• DT Eric Gregory
• DT Isaiah Iton
• DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
• DT Casey Rogers
• DT Leonard Taylor III
• ED Bradyn Swinson
• ED Xavier Holmes
• ED Quintayvious Hutchins
• ED Amari Gainer
• LB Khalil Jacobs
• LB Namdi Obiazor
• LB Riley Wilson
• CB Karon Prunty
• CB Charles Woods
• CB Kobee Minor
• CB Channing Canada
• CB Marcellas Dial Jr.
• CB Brandon Crossley
• S Dell Pettus
• S John Saunders Jr.
• S Eric Butler
• S Peter Manuma

Which Patriots cuts are not subject to waivers?

Seven of New England’s depth players are vested veterans. If released, they would become free agents as soon as the respective moves were made official, meaning that they would all be free to sign with any team of their choosing.

• RB JaMycal Hasty
• RB Hassan Haskins
• OT James Hudson III
• OL Greg Van Roten
• LB Chad Muma
• LB K.J. Britt
• CB Kindle Vildor

What is the NFL waiver order right now?

The NFL waiver order during the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season mirrors the 2026 NFL Draft order. Once we get through four games, it resets to the current NFL standings. So, the Las Vegas Raiders have the first crack at every player on waivers.

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. Houston Texans
28. San Francisco 49ers
29. Los Angeles Rams
30. Denver Broncos
31. New England Patriots
32. Seattle Seahawks

How does the NFL waiver system work?

Let’s assume the 31st-ranked Patriots and 32nd-ranked Seahawks are the two teams to place a claim for a player. He will end up in New England due to the organization’s superior ranking. The team with the lowest bid will always end up with the player.

Teams can add as many players through waivers as they want, but they might have to make corresponding roster moves to fit them on their 53-man team and/or under the salary cap.

Have the Patriots made any moves yet?

In order to stay on top of every transaction involving the Patriots’ roster cutdowns on Sunday, ahead of the waiver claim deadline on Monday, make sure to regularly visit our Patriots roster cut tracker.

All eyes were on Buffalo Bills second-year cornerback Maxwell Hairston during the team’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hairston started at cornerback Thursday night, and there’s been plenty of attention paid to his missed tackle in the open field early in action.

To that end, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic shared that head coach Joe Brady gave a very definitive and public vote of confidence in Hairston, stating to reporters that “(h)e’s our starting corner” when asked if there’s a competition at CB2. That competition query of of course refers to the presence of rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun.

The question now for One Bills Drive is whether or not they write Hairston’s name in pencil or permanent marker. That’s something Hairston will have to influence in his second season, and likely hold off any incursion by Igbinosun.

After putting a difficult rookie year behind him that saw his first season bookended by significant injuries, it appeared as though Hairston was setting up to take off in year two. Well, at least that seemed like the plan for as long as Sean McDermott was the head coach.

The trouble for Hairston may have been that McDermott’s future at One Bills Drive perished the same night of Buffalo’s playoff loss to the Denver Broncos last January. Though that could appear short-sighted when considering that the main person responsible for selecting him in the first round was still in house — Brandon Beane — and received a promotion to include president of football operations within his executive title as general manager.

Those injuries to his knee and ankle now behind him, it almost seems as though Hairston’s role on defense is more confusing than ever. The new regime saw fit to select Igbinosun early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mind you, not as early as Hairston, but it was a significant addition considering the team’s defensive needs elsewhere. It was a decision met with quite a bit of confusion and controversy in the early going.

One can only imagine what Hairston thought of the move.

Hairston’s potential and athletic ability are both undeniable and off the charts. To think that only a select few were in on drafting him early is foolish. Any team would be happy to have Max Hairston, but it’s possible teams that prioritize man-cover cornerbacks wouldn’t place the same premium on rostering him.

Hairston spent the bulk of his college career playing zone-based coverage, and he was an observably solid fit for that scheme under McDermott. When Brady was chosen as the new head coach, he decided to go in a new direction on defense, hiring Jim Leonhard who has brought along a 3-4 base system that prioritizes attacking offenses while asking boundary corners to play press man.

At least we believe that to be the crux of the situation in 2026 and beyond. It’s possible that Leonhard has a plan for Hairston that defies any limitations exposed of him in man coverage. It’s also possible that Leonhard’s defense runs an exotic hybrid that allows Hairston to shine in zone looks. All we’ve seen of the new defense to this point is as bland as a flavorless snow cone.

We won’t know what’s true until Week 1 kicks off against the Houston Texans. Even then, it’s possible the team pivots based on need. Brady sounds like a straight shooter as someone who’s fairly generous with his time and effort at the podium. As such, he should be taken at his word. At least for now.

Outfielder Kevin Alcántara has been optioned down to Triple-A Iowa, in what I assume is a prelude to Matt Shaw being activated off the injured list tomorrow.

Catcher Michael Carico has been activated off the Development List and rejoined High-A South Bend.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs used an umbrella to ward away the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 7-6.

Andrew Wantz put the I-Cubs in a great place to win, giving them five scoreless innings on just three hits. Wantz struck out three and walked two.

Wantz left with a 5-0 lead, but Antoine Kelly gave all five runs back in the sixth inning, retiring only one batter before exiting.

Jaxon Wiggins tossed another scoreless inning of relief. He gave up a leadoff double and then after one out, he tossed a wild pitch to move the runner to third. But he got out of the jam with a strikeout and a line out to center.

Grant Kipp let the Storm Chasers take the lead in the eighth with a run, but he got the win when Iowa walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. Kipp allowed one run on one hit and two walks over two innings. He did not strike anyone out.

Catcher Owen Ayers hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth two score two runs and win the game. Ayers went 1 for 5.

Third baseman James Triantos led off the ninth inning with a single. He then stole second and went to third on an error on the throw. He scored the tying run in the ninth on Ayers’ double. Triantos went 2 for 4.

After Triantos made it to third with no outs in the ninth, first baseman Owen Miller walked and stole second. He then scored the winning run. Miller went 1 for 4 with the walk and two runs scored.

Left fielder Chas McCormick went 2 for 4 with a stolen base. He drove in two runs and scored twice.

Second baseman Ben Cowles was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs batted in.

DH BJ Murray led off the second inning with his league-leading ninth triple. This after not hitting a single triple in all of 2024 and 2025. Murray was 1 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.

Ayers’ walk-off double. Maybe a major league center fielder catches that. Maybe he doesn’t. In any case, it would have tied the score.

Nice defense from shortstop Greg Jones.

And nice defense in center field by Justin Dean,

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies got shelled by the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 8-1.

Jake Knapp started and took the loss after going 2.2 innings and allowing five runs on five hits. Two of those five hits were two-run home runs. Knapp did strike out seven while walking just one.

Brewers 2025 first-round pick Andrew Fisher had three home runs in this game, giving him 42 on the year.

Left fielder Carter Trice went 2 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk.

This game was delayed by rain in the seventh inning for an hour and 51 minutes.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were bitten by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 9-0.

Starter Nazier Mulé took the loss after getting hammered for five runs over 2.1 innings. Mulé surrendered three hits, walked four and had two wild pitches. Mulé struck out three.

South Bend only had four hits in the shutout. The only extra base hit was a double by second baseman Matt Halquist, who was 1 for 3.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans landed in the water against the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 8-4.

Starter Kevin Camacho allowed a two-run home run in the first inning and that was enough to give him the loss. He was good after that, going four innings and allowing two runs on just two hits. Camacho struck out three and walked one.

Center fielder Caden Sorrell kept the Pelicans in the game with a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, It was Sorrell’s third home run. Sorrell also had an RBI single in the first inning, giving him all four RBI on the game. Sorrell went 2 for 4 with a stolen base.

Corey Nunez was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

Sorrell’s home run.

The Cleveland Browns have 59 players who are subject to waivers if the team includes them among their roster cuts as they work to figure out who the initial 53-man roster will be. This becomes particularly relevant if Cleveland waives a player who you hope they can still eventually sign to the 16-man practice squad. During the waiver claim process, it’s possible another team can jump in and add them to their 53-man roster.

Which Cleveland Browns are subject to waivers?

• QB Dillon Gabriel
• QB Shedeur Sanders
• QB Taylen Green
• RB Ahmani Marshall
• RB Davon Booth
• RB Dylan Sampson
• RB Quinshon Judkins
• RB Raheim Sanders
• WR Ben Patterson
• WR Denzel Boston
• WR Gage Larvadain
• WR Isaiah Bond
• WR KC Concepcion
• WR Kole Wilson
• WR Luke Floriea
• WR Malachi Corley
• TE Carsen Ryan
• TE Drew Biber
• TE Harold Fannin Jr.
• TE Jermaine Terry
• TE Joe Royer
• C Kingsley Eguakun
• C Parker Brailsford
• T Austin Barber
• T Izavion Miller
• T Jeremiah Byers
• T KT Leveston
• T Spencer Fano
• G Zak Zinter
• DE Adin Huntington
• DE Jamil Muhammad
• DE Jared Verse
• DE Khordae Sydnor
• DE Logan Fano
• DE Tyreak Sapp
• DT Coziah Izzard
• DT Elijah Chatman
• DT Mason Graham
• DT Mike Hall Jr.
• DT Patrick Jenkins
• DT Travis Bell
• LB Carson Schwesinger
• LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
• LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
• LB Justin Jefferson
• LB Nathaniel Watson
• LB Winston Reid
• CB Jeremiah McClendon
• CB Michael Coats Jr.
• CB Myles Harden
• CB Nate Evans
• S Christopher Edmonds
• S Donovan McMillon
• S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
• S Zion Washington
• K Andre Szmyt
• LS Rex Sunahara
• P Nik Constantinou
• P Wes Pahl

Which NFL players are subject to go on waivers and not be released?

Whether or not a player enters the waiver wire of becomes a free agent depends on a player’s NFL service time. Players with at least four years of accrued NFL service time are outright released. For example, if Deshaun Watson was released, he would immediately become a free agent. He would be eligible to sign with any team, with no waiting period involved.

However, if a player has less than four years of service time, they are waived and subject to waiver wire claims. Any player who is not claimed after being waived is eligible to sign wherever they’d like, including their former team’s practice squad.

What is the NFL waiver order right now?

The NFL waiver order during the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season mirrors the 2026 NFL Draft order. After Week 3, the order resets to the current NFL standings. Will the Browns’ Super Bowl odds improve by the time that time rolls around? According to FanDuel, the Browns are 225/1 odds to win the Super Bowl, heading into final roster cuts. If they start winning early, by Week 4, maybe their waiver wire priority will be near the bottom of the pack.

The first batch of waiver claims will be due by 1:00 pm ET on Monday, August 31.

The Raiders will have first waiver claim priority for cutdowns to 53-man rosters, while the Browns will be sixth in line.

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