Tennessee guard Manny Green (1) speaks at Tennessee basketball media availability on Aug. 27, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Tennessee basketball is so loaded with transfers that it’s easy to forget about the freshman class coming in. Manny Green is trying to change that, though.
Throughout summer practices, Green has been standing out to those in attendance. The 6-7 wing enters the equation in Knoxville buried under several veteran faces in the rotation, but he’s quickly proven that he belongs and could make a push for some minutes this season.
“Manny’s been a pleasant surprise,” Tennessee assistant coach Amarrow Morgan said. “Like, just his willingness and understanding of what needs to be done in order for him to potentially get on the floor. He’s coming and asking questions.”
Green has something a lot of freshmen don’t these day, which is a want to understand the culture that was created before him. At Tennessee under Rick Barnes, that means embracing defense — and the Volunteers have had plenty of examples through the years. He also realizes that defense could be his way onto the floor early on.
“He’s doing things that most freshmen don’t do,” Morgan said. “He’s asking to watch film of Jahmai Mashack. He’s asking to watch film of Zakai Zeigler, some of the greats that came before him.
“If there’s an area that we could potentially be deficient at right now, we got a lot of scoring, who’s gonna be willing to be one of those tough, hard-nosed connectors, guys that are willing to guard? And man, he’s trying to do what he can and give himself a chance to play. He’s asking questions, trying to learn about those guys that came before him. And Manny has also been making shots at a high clip. We’re really excited about Manny and his development and his growth for sure.”
Green comes to Tennessee as a 4-star prospect ranking just outside of the top 100 players in last year’s cycle. The Georgia native scored 23.7 points per game as a senior, leading Cedar Grove High School to a 5-3A state title in Georgia. Green committed to Tennessee over Alabama, Auburn and several others.
“Just defensively, in my opinion, just understanding that, hey, Tennessee is being a top 15 defense in the country year in and year out,” Morrow said. “How can we continue to sustain it? How can we continue to have it? And we just need to do that with having guys with that type of mindset that Manny has. Manny has the right mindset right now. He understands that as a freshman, it might not be his offensive night every single night, but he’s just trying to do whatever he can and find an opportunity to get on the floor. And then from there, you never know what could happen.”
Green will fight for time behind the Juke Harris, Dai Dai Ames, Tyler Lundblade, Troy Henderson and others, but the potential is there for him to carve out a role. Could he be the next defensive stopper for Rick Barnes? Jahmai Mashack has made a career out of that, which is exactly why Green is going to work studying him.
Barnes will undoubtedly get frustrated early in the season and tinker with the rotation, as he always does. Don’t be surprised if Green is tossed onto the floor in a big spot so Barnes can see what he’s got.
In Part Three of this series, we’ll take a look at the back half of the top 10 Anaheim Ducks prospects heading into the 2026-27 season. None of these prospects are likely destined to perform at the top of an NHL lineup in their careers, but they all play highly translatable games, and it would be somewhat surprising if they didn’t each play at least 100 career games in the NHL.
Due to the cap structure the Ducks’ front office is now forced to operate under, they’ll likely have to move forward with a top-heavy roster, and the development of these five players and the five players who will be highlighted in Part Four will be paramount if the Ducks are to keep their build on track. Luckily, they have a lot of arrows in the quiver, as their goal is now to fill out the middle of their depth chart with these young, translatable players.
Author’s Note: To qualify for this list, players must be rookie-eligible in 2026-27. Unfortunately, that disqualifies Tristan Luneau from this particular exercise.
In reverse order, let’s dive into the Ducks’ top 10 prospects:
10. Eric Nilson, 19, Michigan State University (NCAA)
C, 6-foot, 170 pounds, 45th overall in 2025
Nilson made the jump to North America the season after he was drafted in the second round by the Ducks with a pick they acquired in the trade that sent Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers. In his freshman season at MSU, Nilson was given a premium checking role and did well to become the goal line to goal line, matchup center that was required of him, but his production suffered as a result. He only tallied 11 points (3-8=11) in 35 NCAA games and added three points (1-2=3) at the 2026 World Junior Championships, where Sweden won a gold medal.
Compared to former Ducks center William Karlsson at the time of his draft by Ducks director of amateur scouting and assistant GM Martin Madden, Nilson is effortlessly smooth, intelligent, and technically proficient over the entire ice surface and on both sides of the puck. He performed in the role he was tasked with during his freshman season, but the hope is that with more comfort at the NCAA level in his sophomore season, he’ll see the production increase to the level he’s capable of.
If he can explore the limits of his puck skills, express his creativity, and add to his frame, his ceiling tops out at that of a middle-six forward. His IQ and skating raise his floor considerably, and should lead to him playing at least a couple hundred NHL games throughout his career.
NHL Arrival Prediction: 2028-29
9. Lasse Boelius, 19, Assat (Liiga)
LHD, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, 60th in ’25
Speaking of Madden, he certainly has a type when it comes to blueliners. In the mold of Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Shea Theodore, Marcus Pettersson, Jacob Larsson, Jackson LaCombe, and Pavel Mintyukov comes Boelius, drafted from Assat in Finland. Consistently playing above his age group, Boelius hasn’t produced much on the offensive side of the puck. He only totaled eight points (1-7=8) in 40 Liiga games a year ago. That’s not to say he’s incapable of offensive production, as he tallied seven points (2-5=7) in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
Boelius is mobile, long, and consistently makes crisp, smart outlets up ice. He hasn’t shown much willingness to activate and attack low in the offensive zone to this point, but is more than capable of patrolling a blueline and getting intelligent shots through traffic. Playing in professional men’s leagues has refined his defensive habits quickly and raised his projected NHL floor. He’ll return to Liiga for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
NHL Arrival Prediction: 2029-30
8. Lucas Pettersson, 20, San Diego Gulls (AHL)
C, 6-foot, 190 pounds, 35th in ’24
Like Nilson, Pettersson was also compared to William Karlsson by Martin Madden at the time of his draft in 2024. However, at this point in their careers, Pettersson has the offensive edge on Nilson, rendering him a bit more akin to that of another former Ducks player who developed alongside Karlsson: Rickard Rakell. Pettersson played his first full SHL season with Brynas IF in 2025-26, scoring 20 points (10-10=20) in 41 games and adding six (4-2=6) in six WJC games.
Pettersson is another 200-foot center, prolific on both sides of the puck and in every zone. He is an intelligent, high-pace attacker who cleverly finds ways to get pucks on his stick and make plays from there with quick cutbacks and changes in direction. He made the jump to the AHL at the tail end of 2025-26, and though he failed to register a point in four games, he can now hit the ground running and knows what’s expected of him to succeed with the Gulls in 2026-27.
NHL Arrival Prediction: 2027-28
7. Anton Wahlberg, 21, San Diego Gulls (AHL)
W, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, 39th in ’23
The Ducks acquired Wahlberg from the Buffalo Sabres along with a second-round pick (Jayden Kurtz) in exchange for defenseman Olen Zellweger just before the start of the 2026 Draft. Wahlberg is among the Ducks’ most NHL-ready prospects following two full seasons in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. In 2025-26, he increased his production from 30 points (11-19=30) in 63 games to 37 points (9-28=37) in 68 games the year before and added three assists in three playoff games.
Wahlberg can play up and down a lineup, providing a forechecking impact and a desire to get to the interior of the ice. He’s capable of protecting pucks low on the cycle or making connecting plays on the rush. He possesses the necessary skill to play in the top half of a lineup and the tenacity and powerful skating ability to play lower if tasked. He’ll likely start the 2026-27 season in the AHL with the Gulls, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he proves to be one of the season’s first call-ups among forwards for the Ducks.
NHL Arrival Prediction: 2026-27
6. Tyson Hinds, 23, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
LHD, 6-foot-3, 201 pounds, 76th in ’21
Hinds’ presence this high up the list may raise an eyebrow or two. His placement ultimately came down to the fact that he’s a surefire NHL defenseman right now. He’s in line for his first full season with the Ducks in 2026-27 after finishing the 2025-26 season on a recall and starting nine playoff games on the team’s run to the second round. With Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov clearly ahead of him on the depth chart and Stian Solberg nipping at his heels, it’s unlikely Hinds will become more than a third-pairing defenseman. However, he’s capable and in line to receive a sizable role on the penalty kill for the Ducks moving forward and has the capacity to eat tough minutes against quality NHL competition.
Hinds uses every bit of his length and four-way mobility to angle and shut down rush attacks, get his stick in lanes and on pucks, and close perceived gaps quickly. He has enough skill to retrieve a puck, make a decent first pass, and get pucks to the net from the point, but his value comes on the defensive side of the puck, where he can provide a steadying presence for a more offensively inclined partner and become a difficult defenseman to play against on a shift-to-shift basis. He was one of the few Ducks defenders during their playoff run who could be relied upon to clear the net front of pucks and bodies on a consistent basis.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Moses Itauma during the Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic: Natural Born Thriller workouts at Spitalfields on August 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ahead of this weekend’s heavyweight title fight between Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic, both fighters showed face for the final press conference before their fists start to fly. Itauma, who has the opportunity to become a world champion at just 21 years old, makes it clear that he’s focused on the belt more than any record.
“I’m not trying to become the second youngest heavyweight champion of the world, I’m trying to beat Filip Hrgovic and become a heavyweight champion,” Itauma said. “Second of all, listen, this fight is what I’ve wanted. I’ve asked Queensberry for so long. I think it’s a style matchup that I reckon I can thrive on, the pressure I can thrive on. Now, it’s just waiting until fight night.”
Hrgovic, 34, hasn’t shied away from the moment himself, having expressed a lot of confidence and being somewhat dismissive of Itauma during their promotional run up to this fight.
“I just telling you facts,” Hrgovic said. “I’m not playing games. I just tell you what I think in the moment. Like I said, I’m not so smart to play these mind games…I think he’s a kid, he’s not mature enough. I think I’m the man, I’m in much better age, much more experienced, and that’s it. No mind games…God willing, I’ll beat him. I’ll smash the kid on Saturday, I’ll send him back to high school.”
Hrgovic would continue to goad Itauma over the course of the event, and you can check out full highlights from the press conference in the link below!
Missouri and Learfield have partnered together for a “historic” sponsorship, the school announced on Friday. With it bring a jersey patch for the Tigers, coming to an agreement with Ambetter Health. This is just the latest college football program to add a patch ahead of the 2026 season.
“In less than three years, we have more than doubled our sponsorship revenue with over 130% growth, establishing significant NIL resources to help our teams secure the talent to compete for championships,” Mizzou athletic director Laird Veatch said in a statement. “That investment reflects the momentum and strength of the Mizzou brand and demonstrates the value we’re creating for our partners. We have asked the major corporate brands in our great state to seize this opportunity to partner with us to continue elevating our university brand and state economy – and many of those brands are responding in record fashion. We are incredibly grateful to these partners, and to our Learfield colleagues at Mizzou Sports Properties, and proud of the momentum we’re building together.
“As we continue to build these powerful partnerships across Missouri, we’re grateful for the incredible alignment we have with state leadership, particularly Gov. Kehoe and Sen. Schmitt, who have clearly demonstrated their support and recognition of the economic impact and brand development power of Mizzou Athletics for the State of Missouri.”
Football is not the only program to work alongside Ambetter Health. Missouri says Olympic sports will also have a patch on their jerseys moving forward. This includes men’s and women’s basketball, along with the baseball program.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Kenyon Sadiq of the Oregon Ducks poses for a portrait during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Remember the days when rookie tight ends took a year or two to get up to speed with the offense and contribute in fantasy football? Those days are over. Last season three rookie tight ends cracked the the fantasy tight end top 12. If the player is good and the situation is right, coaches are going to get them on the field.
This year the rookie tight end class isn’t as deep as previous years, but there is talent there. And if things break the right way, we could again see a rookie tight end have fantasy value.
Kenyon Sadiq, Jets
Sadiq went in the first round to the Jets and is easily the best tight end prospect in the draft. Unfortunately, Sadiq had to deal with a hernia which slowed down his progress. He will be available Week 1, but he’ll likely be eased back in. But this is dynasty, and Sadiq is the clear first tight end off the board in rookie drafts.
Eli Stowers, Eagles
Stowers went in the second round of the draft and is the heir apparent to Dallas Goedert in Philly. But Stowers has true receiving chops and is quicker and more versatile as a route runner than Goedert. It will be hard to keep him off the field. Sadiq and Stowers are in their own tier for rookie tight ends.
Eli Raridon, Patriots
Raridon has gotten praise in camp this year and he appears to be next in line for the starting job after Hunter Henry. Raridon can block, but his hands and ability out of the slot are what we are banking on in fantasy. The rookie should get on the field in 2TE formations and be a possible fantasy asset this season if Henry misses any time.
Marlin Klein, Texans
The Texans have Dalton Schultz, but Klein has the upside to develop into a starting tight end. It won’t be this year most-likely, but his elite athleticism and Day 2 draft capital give him a real shot to for a starting job after Shultz is gone.
Captain Lawrence Shankland insists the Rangers players must take responsibility for the "sickening" and "embarrassing" European exit - but denied the club are in crisis.
Rangers are out of Europe before the league phase after defeat in the Europa League qualifiers to Jagiellonia Bialystok was followed by a shootout loss to Jablonec in the Conference League play-offs.
Since leaving Hearts to take charge at Ibrox in June, Derek McInnes has won just two of his first seven games in all competitions and his side already trail Premiership leaders Celtic by five points.
Speaking after Thursday's night's defeat in the Czech Republic, Shankland said: "There's not been too many times in my career where I've had to apologise to our travelling support, but tonight it's certainly one for the team to give them that apology.
"It's obviously been a difficult start to the season and ultimately going out of Europe, it doesn't get much lower than this.
"It's sickening, to be honest, and we need to take responsibility for that as players.
"Obviously we're trying to learn as we go. When results aren't coming, sometimes you can get away with it, and you get results along the way, but that's not happened for us.
"We're getting punished on all fronts, so it is difficult, but we need to keep working hard at it.
"I wouldn't say crisis, but it is obviously a concern. We know that as a team, and for this club to not be in European football, it's an embarrassing moment for us as a team and in that changing room.
"You can't hide behind it, there's nothing to hide behind. The proof is there, it's just not good enough."
Shankland started on the bench in both games against Jablonec and the striker's dream move to the club he supports has not gone as planned.
He admits the European exit is one of the lowest points of his career, while there is no escape from the scrutiny as a Rangers player.
"Everybody's trying to do well, but right now it's not happening, myself included," he added.
"It's just not been at the level required for the start of the season and we're trying to find that form individually and collectively.
"It's difficult, you're judged on everything you do and of course I would have loved to have come here and had a better start, but it's not been the case so far.
"I don't lose belief in what we're doing. Right now it's a horrific feeling, it's a bad moment, but we're going to need to move on at some point. We've got a league campaign to go into."
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 23: Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate poses for a studio portrait during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 wide receiver draft class wasn’t filled with transcendent players, but that’s not going to stop us from grabbing some high upside rookies this year. In dynasty, I want my rookie running backs to get on the field quickly and show that they can be fantasy relevant sooner than later. With receivers, I’m willing to take a longer look but I still don’t want them to be buried on the depth chart going into their rookie season.
I like this group of receivers. It’s been fun watching them throughout training camp and preseason. And during that time, we’ve seen a few shine and raise their profile. Below, I’ll go through some of the receivers making a move toward playing time this season and hopefully secure a spot on your fake teams for years to come.
Ja’Kobi Lane, Ravens
The Ravens need help at receiver behind Zay Flowers, which pushed them to draft Lane in the third round and Elijah Sarrat in the fourth. So far, Lane has showed well in camp. He gets compared to Michael Thomas, with his sure hands and big frame. Rashod Bateman is the current WR2, but off field issues and just an inability to consistently put up numbers has that No. 2 job up for grabs.
Cyrus Allen, Chiefs
Kansas City needs help at wide receiver. Rashee Rice is good, but he’s not a strong WR1. Add in his off-field issues and injury concerns, and there is room for another receiver to rise in the depth chart. Allen could be that guy or an approximation of that guy. He’s played well in preseason and has gotten plenty of praise from beat writers. I’m willing to take him ahead of his ADP due to his opportunity and offensive environment in KC.
Chris Bell/Caleb Douglas, Dolphins
The Dolphins are in full tank mode, but they’ll still play football games and the players want to win. They lack any veteran wide receivers worth a darn, so their rookies, Bell and Douglas have plenty of room to win playing time. Douglas has been consistent this summer, already winning a starting job come Week 1. Bell is coming off a knee injury, but has finally returned to practice and shed his no-contact jersey. Both receivers could win starting jobs with Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington as their main competition.
Antonio Williams, Commanders
The Commanders offensive line is in shambles at the moment. The loss of Laremy Tunsil couldn’t have been bigger. Of course, one way to combat the pass rush are quick hitters and the rookie Williams specializes in just that. His ability after the catch should give him chances early on to be useful to the offense.
Germie Bernard, Steelers
Bernard hasn’t done enough this preseason to give us much hope he’ll be a useful fantasy player quickly, but I like his ability and think he can succeed in this offense. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have the hutzpah to go deep like he used too, which means he needs his receivers to catch passes close to mid-range and then make something happen.
RENTON, WASHINGTON - JUNE 11: Jadarian Price #8 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during practice at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on June 11, 2026 in Renton, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2025 draft was not brimming at the seams with offensive talent that will quickly transition into big time fantasy football, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t quality running backs to be had from this group. Unfortunately, none of the top backs landed somewhere they’ll quickly be asked to be a bell-cow back. Last year Ashton Jeanie landed with the Raiders to be the no-doubt starter his rookie year, but that didn’t work out quite as well as many, including myself, hoped.
This re-draft year we won’t want to draft a rookie running back in the first round, and with Jeremiah Love’s high-ankle sprain, we’ll need to be a little wary how early we get him. Yes, these are dynasty rankings, but what happens in their rookie years is extremely important in projecting their career. We want that least be able to imagine a pathway to a starting job sooner than later. Running backs don’t have long careers and we want them to get their fantasy stats early and often.
Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals
Love is the no-doubt No. 1 rookie pick in dynasty and the first rookie to go off the board in re-draft. His ability coming out of college is on par with the top backs around the league and if healthy, should have a productive career. He’s very much ahead of the pack as far as draft capital and skill. I’m fine with trading rookie picks, as unproven is still unproven, but if you can’t get a good deal, Love looks like the real deal.
Jonah Coleman, Broncos
The Broncos backfield looks crowded, but JK Dobbins is injury prone and closing in on the end of his career, while RJ Harvey isn’t as effective between the tackles as Coleman. If Dobbins were to go down, Coleman would most likely be the lead back and he has three-down ability. I like his upside and he could get there quicker than you’d think.
Mike Washington, Raiders
Washington has all the attributes to be a starter in this league. He fell in the draft, but his physical make up is right up there with the best in the business and he’s shown well in preseason. If Ashton Jeanty can’t play in Week 1 due to his ankle, Washington would be the next man up and I’d be more than happy to start him in fantasy right from the start.
Emmett Johnson, Chiefs
Johnson lasted until the fourth round, but he’s quickly become the RB2 behind Kennth Walker in Kansas City. That’s a situation I like, as Walker has some trouble staying on the field. This is a situation where I’d be super happy to have both backs on my team.
Kaelon Black, 49ers
The 49ers make some odd picks at times, but they also sometimes work out. Kyle Shanahan is a master at scheming his offense, and rookie backs, if called upon, can take advantage of that. Black hasn’t secured the RB2 job behind Christian McCaffrey, but he’s shown the coaching staff enough to be right in the thick of it.
Feb 3, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur with wife Lauren LaFleur and their children, parents Denny and Kristi LaFleur and brother Matt LaFleur and wife BreAnne LaFleur and son pose for photos at the introductory press conference at the Cardinals training facility. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
You may have heard that there’s a family reunion happening in Green Bay this week. Have you heard about this? Apparently Matt LaFleur and his younger brother Mike are both NFL head coaches, and their teams are playing each other for the first time.
I’m sure this is news to everyone reading this.
The LaFleur family storyline is fun, but both of these organizations need to focus on finalizing their rosters after Friday night’s game. For Packers fans, that should be the biggest priority here — identifying what the team’s last roster moves will be and getting a bit more clarity on how the lower levels of the depth chart stack up.
Of course, the family angle plays much better for big media sources, so that will surely be a main area of focus during the game broadcast and preview coverage leading up to the preseason finale. So, are you ready for a bunch more fawning coverage about the LaFleur family? We sure hope so, because here it is (along with some other newsy bits).
The league is making it clear that you can’t just go back and forth between college and pro football whenever you want. That’s probably for the best, but the recent legal rulings have the sport in a very strange place.
Head to NBC and Peacock for an exciting MLB tripleheader this Sunday. First, at 12:00 PM ET, the Miami Marlins face the Washington Nationals in the MLB Sunday Leadoff game. Then, at 3:00 PM, the Houston Astros take on the New York Mets at Citi Field. Later, at 7:00 PM, Sunday Night Baseball heads to Wrigley Field as the Cincinnati Reds go head-to-head with the Chicago Cubs.See below for additional information on how to watch each game.
Play-by-play voice Matt Vasgersian, 2005 World Series champion Geoff Blum, former Mets infielder Todd Zeile, and reporter Ashley ShahAhmadi ,will call Sunday's Astros vs Mets game.
Hall of Famer CC Sabathia will provide “Inside the Pitch” commentary, giving viewers insight into the pitcher’s throw-by-throw approach against a hitter.
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood.
Why are some MLB games unavailable to stream on Peacock?
Due to territorial blackout restrictions, select regular season, special event, and Postseason games may be unavailable on Peacock. Television territory blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a Club is home or away and regardless of whether a game is televised in that Club's home television territory. For more information, visit Peacock’s Help Center.
Bills wide receiver Skyler Bell turns up the field after a catch across them middle during the opening day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in Pittsford. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Skyler Bell and Joe Fagnano are turning heads for the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. The two most recent NFL Combine invitees from UConn are having a great preseason so far.
A groin injury delayed Bell’s debut until the final week of the preseason. But his performance in that game has Bills fans thinking about another similarly sized receiver who was a huge playmaker for them a few years ago, Stefon Diggs.
On Thursday night against the Steelers, the fourth-round pick caught seven passes for 49 yards and took a jet sweep 28 yards to the house. It was a very familiar experience for UConn fans, but still a tremendous joy to see in an NFL uniform.
“Once the ball got in his hands, you felt the speed and he made the most of it,” Bills head coach Joe Brady said, according to the team site.
Bell is all-but a lock to make the final 53-man roster and should have a chance to break out on a team with a great quarterback in Josh Allen that’s looking for a top target.
Fagnano is his team’s leading preseason passer, with starter Lamar Jackson sitting the entire way and backup Tyler Huntley getting light action. He has looked sharp since his debut against the Eagles two weeks ago and has been over 75 percent completion with a touchdown in each of his two outings.
Fagnano will have his final shot to lock up a roster spot or practice squad QB3 role tonight at 6 p.m. against Washington.
“Joe came in, second week in a row, and managed the offense really well,” Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jason La Confora. “He got us down there a few times, and he made some key plays throwing the ball. Guys made some nice catches for him. I just like the way we played in the second half.”
La Confora heaped praise on the undrafted rookie, saying the third QB job is likely his.
“[Fagnano] had stellar film from thrashing the Eagles a week ago and coming out of nowhere to do so. Vikings aggressive defensive mastermind Brian Flores treats the preseason closer to the real thing than most who call plays on defense, and Fagnano entered this road game at a time when Baltimore’s offense was lifeless and suspect with No. 2 quarterback [Tyler] Huntley at the helm.”
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: The NCAA logo is shown at the NCAA's National Headquarters before the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Michigan Wolverines and the Connecticut Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In 2024, UNC fielded a football team with 105 players on the roster. In between seasons, Bill Belichick brought in 70 new players, which meant 70 had to depart. After last season, 60 players were sent packing to make room for 60 new players. We even have guys like Taron Dickens who commit, come to campus, and then decommit to go somewhere else — all in one off-season.
In basketball, the 2024-25 team lost nine of the top 10 scorers, retaining only Seth Trimble from that list for the next season. In turn, only one player from last year’s top 10 scorers returns for 2026-27. The situation wasn’t quite the same as Dickens (different reasons), but UNC basketball just experienced something similar with Cameron Fens, eligible and ineligible as various judges pass judgement on NCAA rule changes.
Even coaches and staff don’t seem immune to the upheaval. See Steve Belichick (medical leave), Michael Lombardi (paid administrative leave), and Kim English (pulled a Taron Dickens).
YouTube channel SEC Shorts earlier this week opened their fall season with a sketch aimed straight at that fan frustration. Worth a watch, if only to know you’re hardly alone:
Are you one of those fans? Let us know in the comments below.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers handshake after the game on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If there’s one thing everyone loves doing at the end of August, it’s figuring out their plans for January. In this series, we are breaking down the Sixers 2026-27 schedule into chunks to try to preview how each stretch of the season will go. Part 1 is already available here.
The second quarter of the Sixers’ season starts with an interesting back-to-back before a long potential break. They’ll host a very young Memphis Grizzlies team on Dec. 1 before Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets come to town on the 2nd. Likely because it’s a back-to-back, this is a rare Sixers-Nuggets game that is not on national television, so there will be no player participation policy ramifications for anyone unavailable for it.
How the Sixers fare in the NBA Cup will determine their next game after that as there are 10 off days built into the schedule for the Knockout Round. The Sixers have yet to advance that far since the Cup’s creation, so they’ve been like the majority of the league that’s had two consolation games scheduled during this time. As discussed in Part 1, the Sixers will have a quite a gauntlet to run through to break that trend this season.
Normal play will resume on the 12th when the Sixers start a home-and-home with the Orlando Magic, wrapping up their three games with Orlando on the season. They’ll host a couple of Texan teams in the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets with a trip to Charlotte sandwiched in the middle before their yearly Disney on Ice December road trip.
That of course starts with a Christmas Day showdown in L.A. against the Lakers. Most expected the Celtics’ to be the Sixers’ Christmas opponent, but it’s not a huge shock they made the day centered around LeBron. They’ll also face the L.A. Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns while out on the West Coast before swinging by Milwaukee to finish the trip. It’s also worth noting that those Kings and Suns games are a back-to-back.
Six of their next seven games will come at home with a wide range of quality in opponents. They’ll have to deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, but they’ll also get the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards in that stretch. Interestingly enough, that Wizards game is on national television, so the league is curious what that team will look like with its mix of young and old, new talent.
This stretch of the season will be wrapped up with an MLK Day matinee in Atlanta. It’ll be the second time they see the Hawks in as many weeks, before heading back home to take on the Indiana Pacers for another back-to-back. Indiana will be another Eastern Conference team the Sixers will have played all their games against before the halfway point of the season.
Those 21 games are probably an easier stretch of schedule than the first leg. They play more teams that aren’t expected to be playoff teams, but teams like the Grizzlies and Wizards could be feistier than expected. The West Coast trip will be a good durability test. Playing five games in seven nights, the majority of them across the country, will give guys like Tryese Maxey and Jaylen Brown their chance to show their regular season value. It’s not the hardest stretch of Western Conference teams to go through, but the Kings are the only cupcake in there.
The ensuing homestand should be an equally fun response. Two of the harder teams in the West will be coming through this time. On top of that the Sixers will be seeing the Hawks and the Heat again, two Southeastern teams that could be vying for position with them in the East.
Like the first stretch of the season, the travel is once again pretty balanced, with a lot of off days coming before their first longest road trip of the season. As far as quality in opponents goes, it looks like an easier stretch than the first on paper, but they don’t play the games on paper.
12/1: vs. Grizzlies 12/2: vs. Nuggets (B2B) 12/12: vs. Magic (Cup Break) 12/14: @Magic 12/17: vs. Mavericks 12/21: @Hornets 12/23: vs. Rockets 12/25: @Lakers (Christmas) 12/27: @Clippers 12/29: @Kings 12/30: @Suns (B2B) 1/1: @Bucks 1/ 4: vs. Hawks 1/ 6: vs. Thunder 1/ 8: vs. Heat 1/ 10:@Raptors 1/ 12: vs. Wizards 1/ 14: vs. Nets 1/16: vs. Timberwolves 1/18:@Hawks (MLK Day) 1/19: vs. Pacers (B2B)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 27: Walt Weiss #22 and Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on August 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Was it last night? Him receiving his sword? Maybe some specific start from earlier this year… or 2024? Maybe, in retrospect, it’s just learning that he was acquired for Vaughn Grissom, with the Red Sox paying him to pitch in Atlanta that year.
Floor is yours, I’m gonna go back to watching last night’s performance.
Jul 20, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper (3) and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (27) during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Phillies will start a three-game series out in Anaheim tonight against the Angels. Of course, whenever these two teams play each other, the topic of Millville’s own Mike Trout is naturally discussed at length. Trout has obviously never played for the Phillies, but he’s been someone that fans have clamored for practically his entire career, as the three-time MVP not only grew up in the area but is still a very vocal (and visible) Philadelphia Eagles fan.
It’s likely that fans’ dreams will never come true though, as Trout is under contract until 2031, putting him with the Angels through his age 38 season. His name always comes up with unofficial trade discussions with the Phillies, but Trout has never really expressed much desire to leave Anaheim, and Angels ownership has never expressed a desire to move him either.
Trout is the most notable player from the Philadelphia area in recent memory, but he’s not the only one currently active in MLB. The Tigers’ star rookie Kevin McGonigle is also a local product, hailing from Media, Pennsylvania and having played high school ball at Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill. He was even in the stands at Citizens Bank Park as a fan when the Phillies played the Astros in the 2022 World Series. Flash forward to 2026, and McGonigle was one of the few non-Phillies who received cheers instead of boos at Citizens Bank Park during the All-Star Game introductions.
Nick Kurtz of the Athletics is also a young star that grew up around Philadelphia. He and his family are from Lancaster, PA and owned season tickets to the Phillies in section 116 at Citizens Bank Park. When the A’s came to Philadelphia in May, Kurtz remarked that getting to play in the stadium he used to go to with his family growing up was almost better than anything he’s done on the field in his young playing career.
None of those aforementioned three players have ever actually played for the Phillies though, but Tyler Phillips can say he has. The South Jersey native had a nice run of starts for the Phillies in 2024 including a complete game shutout before finding his way to the Marlins last season where he has found a home as a swingman in the bullpen. He may no longer have fond memories of playing in Philadelphia though, as he owns a 5.23 ERA in nine appearances against his former team.
These are just a few of the more notable MLB players that grew up around Philadelphia and were raised Phillies fans. There have been plenty more throughout history that were from here but may have never gotten to play for their hometown team. So, who is your favorite locally born baseball player?
