PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 27: Georgia Amoore #8 of the Washington Mystics handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Mercury on August 27, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Following a 94-84 victory on Tuesday, the Washington Mystics returned to the Mortgage Matchup Center for another tilt with the Phoenix Mercury.
Behind a career-high 25 points and six 3-pointers from Georgia Amoore, Washington earned an 80-73 road win.
The Mercury jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead before Shakira Austin got Washington on the board with two free throws. Phoenix’s advantage reached 13 points before Amoore drilled a pair of triples to settle her squad down.
After trailing 15-2, the Mystics answered with an 18-3 run to take a 20-18 advantage into the second quarter.
Kahleah Copper scored 20 of the Mercury’s first 25 points as they kept pace with the young Mystics.
Behind a trio of Kiki Iriafen buckets and a pair of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton assists, Washington embarked on a 10-0 run to open a 38-27 lead. But Phoenix held firm, trimming its deficit to just three entering halftime.
Copper’s dominance persisted in the second half as she reached 32 points on 13-for-18 FG to give her squad a 57-53 lead entering the final quarter.
Shay Ciezki drilled a 3-pointer and a five-foot jumper to push Phoenix ahead by nine to open the fourth. Washington was again on the ropes.
But spectators would soon find out that those moments are made for Amoore.
The second-year guard settled things down with an and-1 layup to trim the deficit to seven before she plucked the ball loose from her defensive assignment and tossed a dime to Austin for an easy layup. After a Sonia Citron steal, Amoore sunk her fourth triple of the contest to make it a two-point game.
And she wasn’t done there. Amoore slithered into the lane for an easy layup to put Washington ahead 67-65. After another Copper miss, Iriafen ran the floor and added three more to make it 70-65 with four minutes remaining.
In just three minutes, the Mystics had turned a 10-point deficit into a five-point advantage to quiet a once-lively Mortgage Matchup Center.
Phoenix scored twice in a minute as it eyed a late comeback. But Amoore had every answer.
The 5-foot-6 guard dribbled through the defense for a layup. Then she sank a cold-blooded corner three to put Washington ahead by four. Then she added another, this one a wing triple off a Citron feed that brought the Mystics’ bench to their feet and grew the lead to 78-73.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Ian Wheeler scored on a 2-yard run with 1:06 left, Steve Buechele completed an off-balance pass to Dante Pettis for a 2-point conversion and the Buffalo Bills beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 in the preseason finale for each team Thursday night.
The Steelers’ last chance to pull ahead ended with Drew Allar’s pass sailing behind tight end Lake McRee on fourth-and-7 with 44 seconds remaining. It was a disappointing finish for Allar in an outing the rookie was attempting to separate himself from Will Howard in the competition for the Steelers’ third-string job.
In squandering a 10-point lead over the final seven minutes, the Steelers closed the preseason 1-2. Buffalo was 3-0.
With Kyle Allen appearing to have locked up the primary backup job behind Josh Allen, Buechele handled the quarterback duties in finishing 26 for 38 for 196 yards. The go-ahead score was set up by a 42-yard pass interference penalty against Tamon Lymum on Pettis that gave the Bills the ball at the 7.
After Wheeler scored on third down, the Bills elected for the 2-point conversion. Buechele was back-pedaling in the face of pressure before getting off a pass to Pettis, who was open along the left side of the goal line.
Frank Gore Jr. scored on a 1-yard run for Buffalo, and receiver Skyler Bell also found the end zone on a 28-yard scamper off a reverse. Bell, a rookie fourth-round draft pick, also had seven catches for 49 yards.
BROWNS 37, PATRIOTS 13
CLEVELAND (AP) — Dillon Gabriel threw three touchdown passes — two to Luke Floriea — and Taylen Green directed a 98-yard touchdown drive to help Cleveland beat New England in the final preseason game for both teams.
Gabriel and Green got extended looks as they vie for the Browns’ third quarterback spot. Gabriel got the start and played the first half while Green saw the second-half snaps.
Gabriel, in his second year after being a third-round pick in the 2025 draft, completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and a 157.9 passer rating as he led the Browns (1-2) to points on the first five drives.
Green showed off his dual-threat ability during his four possessions. He was 5 of 7 passing for 27 yards along with eight rushing attempts for 66 yards.
Tommy DeVito started for New England (1-1-1) and was in for two drives and was 2 of 4 for 55 yards. He led the Patriots to their only touchdown on their opening possession, connecting with Kyle Williams for a 45-yard score in the first quarter to tie it at 7.
49ERS 18, RAIDERS 12
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza saw what it was like to face a strong NFL pass rush, even against a San Francisco defense comprised of reserves, and he was sacked twice and threw an interception in the 49ers’ preseason victory over the Raiders.
Eddy Piñeiro made all six field goal attempts, including 51- and 54-yarders in the final 1:51 for the 49ers (2-1). Las Vegas’ Matt Gay, who played briefly for San Francisco last season, made 4 of 5 field goals, his miss coming from 54 yards in the third quarter.
Mendoza completed 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards, making him 25 of 40 for 240 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and four sacks for the three preseason games. He led five drives against the 49ers, one ending in a field goal and another in the missed attempt.
It wasn’t quite the exclamation point the top overall draft pick wanted to put on the preseason, and now he will have to search for practice repetitions with Kirk Cousins expected to be the starter when the season begins. Cousins took the vast majority of snaps in training camp, and his workload figures to go only increase as the Raiders (1-2) go full time into game planning.
RAMS 20, CHARGERS 18
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Ty Simpson threw a go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter, Harrison Mevis kicked two 27-yard field goals and the Los Angeles Rams beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the teams’ preseason finale.
The Rams didn’t play any starters in keeping with coach Sean McVay’s approach to games that don’t count in the standings. Even backup quarterback Stetson Bennett was held out.
“Everyone stay healthy, please,” referee Shawn Hochuli urged the captains after the coin flip.
The Rams won all three of their preseason games and head to Australia in two weeks to open the season. They’re the clear early favorites to win the Super Bowl, which will be played at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played just two series. His fumble led to Mevis’ first 27-yard field goal early in the first quarter.
Herbert bounced right back, throwing a 65-yard TD pass to Quentin Johnston — the second-longest catch of the receiver’s career — on the second play of a drive that lasted 14 seconds and gave the Chargers a 7-3 lead.
New defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary chest-bumped safety Tony Jefferson after the Chargers forced the Rams to turn the ball over on downs inside the 1-yard line on a drive that lasted 9:41.
Trey Lance took over for Herbert in the second quarter, with his first series ending on a shanked 20-yard punt by JK Scott. The Rams quickly took the lead for good on third-stringer Simpson’s 11-yard TD pass to fourth-string receiver Brennan Presley for a 10-7 lead.
DYERSVILLE, IA - AUGUST 11: Owen Ayers #4 of the Iowa Cubs takes batting practice prior to the MiLB Field of Dreams game between the St. Paul Saints and the Iowa Cubs at MLB Field at Field of Dreams on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 03: Executive vice president, football operations & general manager Andrew Berry of the Cleveland Browns watches a drill during the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 03, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
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.
Barrister for former St Kilda player says he will appeal both the sentence and the conviction for unprovoked assault in May 2025
Former AFL star Nicky Winmar has been jailed for six months for attacking a woman in a violent assault.
Winmar, 60, dropped his head as he was sentenced in Bendigo magistrates court over the May 2025 assault against a woman at Cohuna in northern Victoria.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 22: A view of a New England Patriots helmet ont he bench during the second half of the preseason game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With training camp and the NFL preseason wrapped up, the New England Patriots are on to building their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season.
New England, including the league’s other 31 franchises, will need to reduce their rosters from a maximum of 90 to no more than 53 by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30. As a result, hundreds of players will hit the waiver wire and the open market over the next few days, including up to 37 Patriots.
In addition to the roster cuts, a multitude of other transactions, ranging from trades, waiver-wire pickups, free-agent signings and players being moved to injury lists, will be made. To not get lost in all the action, we have you covered: welcome to our annual Patriots roster cuts tracker.
Make sure to bookmark and regularly visit this page, where we will compile all the latest news, rumors and instant analysis in one place. For an up-to-date look at the team’s roster, please click here. For all the latest odds about the Patriots’ 2026 season, head over to Fanduel Sportsbook.
Patriots moves
Soon to come.
Patriots cutdown tracker
Latest news at the top. The Patriots had 91 players on their roster coming out of their preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns.
The Raiders' preseason has ended. Both Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza played in the finale, against the 49ers.
After the game, coach Klint Kubiak still didn't name a starting quarterback.
The audio was dead for the first couple of questions during Kubiak's postgame press conference. Apparently, one of them dealt with the QB1 issue. Via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Kubiak said he's not ready to name a starter for the Week 1 game at Miami.
In the portion of the press conference for which the sound was on, Kubiak arguably spoke about Mendoza as a player who may not be spending extensive time practicing or playing moving forward.
"He needs another three preseason games," Kubiak said. "You know, all those rookies do. And now that the season's starting, you know, the practice reps get smaller, and that's just life. But, us as coaches, we gotta get them ready to play, keep developing them."
Later, Kubiak said regarding Mendoza, "We got him plenty of time, and I'm happy where he's at, but we just got to keep pushing him to be better."
Regardless, Kubiak hasn't named a starter. And the first real game is only 17 days away.
Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick believes that could actually end up working to Sanders' benefit.
Fitzpatrick expressed his thoughts about Cleveland's quarterback battle during Amazon Prime Video's broadcast of the Browns vs. New England Patriots preseason game. The 43-year-old voiced little faith in Watson holding onto the starting job for the entire season.
"Once [Watson] fails, Shedeur's gonna jump into this thing, and he's going to be the guy," Fitzpatrick opined. "And this city is gonna be behind him."
Prime Video's color analyst, Kirk Herbstreit, quickly jumped in to ask Fitzpatrick to confirm he believed Watson would fail as Cleveland's starter.
"Yeah, it's gonna happen," Fitzpatrick replied. "I mean, Shedeur's playing this year. I think all three of these guys – I think [Dillon] Gabriel's gonna have a chance to play as well."
Ryan Fitzpatrick: "Once [Deshaun Watson] fails, Shedeur (Sanders) is going to jump into this thing, and he's going to be the guy. And this city is going to be behind him."
Tony Romo is facing three charges after his July arrest in Milwaukee County.
Romo, who was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated on July 23, faces three charges stemming from that arrest, online court records show: unsafe passing on the right, possessing open intoxicants and operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). All three charges were filed on Thursday, Aug. 27.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS NFL analyst was stopped going southbound on I-43 and "performed poorly on SFSTs (standard field sobriety tests)." On July 28, new details emerged as body cam footage surfaced.
The arresting officer indicated that Romo was stopped for "unsafe passing on the right," and "cutting across the gore," the former of which is reflected in the citation. An open container was found in the passenger seat of Romo's vehicle during the stop.
Romo also refused to take a breathalyzer test following the arrest.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 21, court records show.
Days after Romo's arrest, traffic stop bodycam footage surfaced showing Romo explaining he was heading to his grandparents' house after visiting a nearby golf course where he played in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship. After a back-and-forth with the officer, Romo exited his vehicle and was placed under arrest and into the back of the police cruiser.
Later footage showed Romo undergoing a field sobriety test and declining to take a breathalyzer test.
The Dallas Cowboys owner was asked about his longtime quarterback during an interview with KDFW Fox 4, revealing that he had "been talking to" Romo in the aftermath of his arrest. Jones spoke glowingly about his former quarterback's character and talent.
"I love him," Jones said of Romo. "I love what he’s about. I love his character. I love his love of sport. And he’s a very, very unique talent. And the real question is – and I don’t even have to ask what the answer is: Do you think Tony Romo knows how to get up when he gets knocked down? He had a life of that. And absolutely, that’s one of his greatest attributes, is that he can handle adversity."
Young players and fringe roster hopefuls saw most of the action. Coach Mike McCarthy chose to rest most of his starters and top depth players with the goal of staying healthy ahead of a Week 1 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13 back home at Acrisure Stadium.
Nevertheless, the game carried some intrigue for the team’s depth. Here’s a look at the evening’s winners and losers:
The rookie receiver had not flashed the return skills that the Steelers drafted him in the fourth round for back in April. That was, until the fourth quarter of this one. The Iowa product took a punt back 44 yards for a touchdown that put his team ahead, 27-17. He broke multiple tackles on the play to show why he averaged nearly 30 yards per punt return during his final season with the Hawkeyes. The explosive play was badly needed to solidify his spot on the 53-man roster come cut-down day this weekend. His passing game contributions were limited at Iowa, so expectations for him are low in that realm. This is where the Steelers need him to shine, and he came through in a big way.
Eli Heidenreich
The Pittsburgh-area native and Navy product carried nine times for 35 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He capped the first drive of the second half with a 9-yard scamper for his score. Heidenreich was another player drafted with an eye toward special teams contributions, but roster spots are limited behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle at running back. He’s needed to show the coaching staff that he can be relied upon for solid carries, and this game was a step in that direction as he competes with names like Lew Nichols, Travis Homer and Kaleb Johnson. At the very least, it was a cool moment to see him score for the team he grew up watching after he was embraced by fans on stage at the NFL draft, which was held in Pittsburgh this year.
Max Hurleman
The second-year receiver signed as an undrafted free agent in 2025 is not perceived to be a 53-man roster threat by many. DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard are likely locked in as the top four. Wetjen is projected to get a spot for his return skills. And Ben Skowronek is a returning Pro Bowler as a special teams ace. Still, Hurleman has done about as much as you could ask for from a guy in his position. His three catches for 50 yards Thursday against Buffalo pushed his preseason totals to seven catches for 99 yards. He’s also returned some kicks, so if the Steelers are looking for more receiving utility than Wetjen offers – or if there’s a significant injury – McCarthy could do worse than giving him a shot at some point in 2026.
Losers
Max Iheanachor
The team’s first-round pick in 2026 made his long-awaited debut against Buffalo. He’d missed most of training camp and the preseason with an injury. He promptly gave up a sack of Will Howard on his second series. Things settled in a little bit better thereafter – he threw some nice lead blocks on Heidenreich’s touchdown. Still, it was clear that he’s probably not ready to challenge Dylan Cook and Troy Fautanu for starting reps quite yet.
Will Howard
The second-year quarterback wasn’t bad, per se. He completed nine of 15 passes for 69 yards and threw two touchdown passes. He also floated an interception to Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin on an apparent miscommunication with tight end Lake McRee. And he needed two Buffalo mistakes – a muffed punt and a shanked punt – to set up his scoring drives, which went just 13 yards and 28 yards, respectively. Through three preseason games, he drove the offense the length of the field for points one time, and that came in the two-minute drill of the opening game against the Green Bay Packers. That probably shouldn’t be enough to justify a roster spot for a former sixth-round draft pick. Not when the starter is a future Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers, the backup is a proven veteran in Mason Rudolph and the other option is a 2026 third-round pick in Drew Allar, who was actually brought in by the current coaching staff. Maybe the Steelers will make an exception and carry four QBs with an eye toward a 2027 competition. But that would be in spite of the preseason results, and not because of them.
Drew Allar
Before the Howard fans get cranky, let’s call the Penn State product’s performance what it was, too: Not great. After he completed three of four passes on the first drive of the second half to set up Heidenreich’s touchdown, the misses piled up. He finished nine of 18 for 88 yards. He averaged 4.9 yards per attempt, barely more than Howard’s 4.6. And he didn’t come close to getting the job done on the final drive with the Steelers trailing by a point. He missed on three of his four attempts to turn the ball over on downs. As exciting as his three-touchdown performance in the opener was, he’s shown in the last couple of games that he still needs to develop within McCarthy’s system. The one big positive that stands out from his preseason as a whole is the lack of turnovers compared to Howard.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 14: Kayshon Boutte #9 of the New England Patriots is congratulated by head coach Mike Vrabel after scoring a touchdown reception against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Had Kayshon Boutte remained on the Patriots’ roster for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, he would have been inactive.
Head coach Mike Vrabel revealed that detail Thursday night, speaking for the first time since Boutte was traded to the Houston Texans on Monday.
“That was one place where we do have some depth, and I think for all parties involved, that was probably the best thing,” Vrabel told reporters in Cleveland. “Without injuries, Kayshon probably would have been inactive. Unfortunately, it just, it’s kind of the way it was. It’s just with him not playing special teams.”
As Vrabel noted, New England’s wide receiver room is the deepest position on the roster, with A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism. All six are expected to be on the team’s 53-man roster.
The Patriots added both Brown and Doubs to the mix this offseason, pushing Boutte down the depth chart. Vrabel made sure to show appreciation for Boutte, as he often did throughout last season.
“I tried to thank Kayshon as many times I could. I texted him again today,” Vrabel said. “It’s just his maturity, his growth, his ability to put into words last year and share his own personal struggle, but also the growth that he made from that. That’s positively going to affect a lot of people. And I know that that wasn’t easy for him to do, and I tell him all the time about how much I respect him for being able to do that.”
The Patriots traded Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick. Reed will add depth at safety while also providing another option on special teams.
LAS VEGAS — The Raiders wrapped up their preseason Thursday with an 18-12 loss to the 49ers.
They finished the preseason with a 1-2 record and now set their sights on their season opener against the Dolphins on Sept. 13.
Here are some takeaways from a sluggish preseason finale:
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins throws during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP Photo/John Locher
Quarterback competition may have been settled
With Kirk Cousins opening the game and directing two field-goal drives before giving way to Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders got one final side-by-side look at the two quarterbacks ostensibly competing for the starting job.
How genuine that competition ever was remains open to debate. But until coach Klint Kubiak makes an official declaration, Mendoza technically remains in the running to start the season opener.
Practically speaking, however, every logical sign points to Cousins.
The Raiders brought in the veteran specifically to buy Mendoza time and to avoid the mistake so many teams have made by rushing a young quarterback onto the field before he is ready. Mendoza may be the future face of the franchise, but Cousins was signed to protect that future while stabilizing the present.
If there were any lingering questions about the pecking order, Cousins may have answered them Thursday night.
He was hardly spectacular. In fact, it is worth noting that the Raiders’ first-team offense failed to reach the end zone on either of his two possessions against a defense made up largely of 49ers backups. That is not exactly the emphatic closing argument Cousins might have hoped to make.
But he was steady, efficient and, most importantly, mistake-free. Cousins was 8-of-11 passing for 51 yards, moved the Raiders into scoring position twice and avoided the kind of damaging play that can swing a game — and a quarterback competition.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza leaves the field after an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker) AP Photo/David Becker
Mendoza’s night was considerably more uneven.
For the second consecutive game, the rookie was intercepted, this time sailing a pass to Jalen Nailor over the middle. Nailor climbed to make the catch, but the ball glanced off his hands and into the arms of 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune.
The throw was high, but it was not entirely on Mendoza. Nailor had a chance to make the play, just as Mendoza had to operate under increasingly difficult circumstances once the Raiders began turning to their backups in the second quarter.
The offensive line offered him little protection. Mendoza was sacked twice in the second half and spent much of the night throwing with defenders closing around him. That pressure helped explain his ragged first-half numbers — 5-of-9 passing for only 38 yards — and made it difficult for him to establish any rhythm.
Mendoza finished 7-of-14 passing for 57 yards.
Still, quarterback competitions are often decided as much by who avoids losing the job as by who emphatically wins it. Cousins provided calm and control. Mendoza supplied another reminder that, for all his promise, he remains a rookie navigating the mistakes and growing pains the Raiders signed Cousins to absorb.
Thursday night did not necessarily reveal which quarterback has the brighter future.
It may have confirmed which one is better prepared for the present.
Mike Washington Jr. continues to make his case
With the Raiders still holding their breath over Ashton Jeanty’s sprained ankle, Mike Washington Jr. continued doing everything he could to lower their anxiety.
The fourth-round rookie out of Arkansas punctuated an impressive preseason Thursday night by rushing eight times for 49 yards — an average of 6.1 yards per carry. That pushed his preseason total to 168 yards on 23 attempts, a striking 7.3 yards per carry.
Yes, much of Washington’s production came against backups. But eventually, production demands attention, regardless of who is lined up on the other side. Washington repeatedly displayed the combination of size, burst and power that persuaded the Raiders to invest a fourth-round pick in him.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. (30) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker) AP Photo/David Becker
More importantly, his success appears transferable. Washington runs decisively, gets downhill quickly and has enough speed to turn a crease into a substantial gain. He has not merely collected yards; he has consistently looked like an NFL running back.
That matters considerably while Jeanty’s immediate availability remains uncertain.
Washington cannot replace everything Jeanty brings to the offense, nor should the Raiders expect him to. But if Jeanty misses time, Washington has shown enough to give them confidence he can handle a meaningful portion of the workload without forcing the offense to dramatically change course.
In the short term, he looks capable of serving as a sturdy replacement. In the bigger picture, Washington may establish himself as something even more valuable: a powerful, complementary running mate who can lessen Jeanty’s workload and give the Raiders a potentially formidable one-two punch for years to come.
Wide receivers remain missing in action
Kubiak spent much of the preseason prodding the Raiders’ wide receivers, challenging them to create separation, execute their assignments and establish themselves as dependable pieces of the offense.
Against the 49ers, they once again failed to answer the call.
The Raiders’ receivers were largely invisible Thursday night. They did not consistently separate from coverage, make their presence felt or produce the kind of explosive play that might have changed the complexion of the offense.
Or Kubiak’s evaluation of the room.
It has become a recurring theme throughout the offseason.
Yes, the Raiders operated with vanilla game plans designed to reveal very little about what Kubiak intends to run during the regular season. And inconsistent quarterback play and shaky pass protection did the receivers few favors. But basic route-running, separation and playmaking ability should still emerge, regardless of how much of the playbook is being used.
Instead, the Raiders reached the end of the preseason without anyone emphatically seizing a prominent role.
That does not mean the receivers are incapable of contributing once Kubiak unveils the full offense. But after repeatedly challenging the group to step forward, the coach received few convincing answers. At some point, continued invisibility becomes more than a preseason footnote. It becomes a roster concern.
Fortunately for the Raiders, they hold the first waiver claim after finishing last season with the NFL’s worst record. That gives them the first opportunity to claim any eligible player waived during the league-wide roster reduction.
Given what their wide receivers showed — or failed to show — this summer, it would hardly be surprising if the Raiders used that advantage to add another option on cutdown day.
Rebecca Allen of the New York Liberty looks to pass the ball during a game against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. (2026 NBAE)
When the Liberty performance staff greenlit Leonie Fiebich’s return, the starting lineup inevitably had to change.
Rebecca Allen was the odd woman out. After a month as a starter, she shifted back to the bench for Saturday’s win against the Indiana Fever.
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In her 11th and final season, Allen knows this is how it goes.
“It just carries on as normal,” Allen said before Thursday’s 79-60 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. “It’s just starting the game at a different point.”
She also sees the bigger picture and understands what Fiebich brings.
“I mean, having Leo back is such a luxury for all of us,” Allen said. “You’ve got this length, this defensive, you know, she goes on all the best players as well defensively but offensively, we saw such a great game, especially the last one, so I think, I mean, there’s only good things having her back in the lineup. My role changes a little bit, but still my mindset doesn’t.”
Feibich scored just three points on 1-of-7 shooting in 32 minutes in her second game back Thursday. Allen had five points on 2-of-6 shooting in 12 minutes.
When Fiebich went down with a left foot injury in early July, coach Chris DeMarco had no choice but to tinker with the starting lineup that also included Sabrina Ionescu, Pauline Astier, Breanna Stewart and Jones.
Initially, DeMarco plugged Rebekah Gardner into the starting lineup.
After back-to-back losses, he decided to go big and start Han Xu alongside Stewart and Jones.
After another loss, he went with Marine Johannès.
None of it worked.
On a four-game losing streak, DeMarco turned to Allen.
Up to that point, Allen had sparingly cracked the rotation. Some of that was because she gradually eased into the season after missing most of training camp as she worked her way back from an undisclosed injury.
Allen appeared in only 10 of the Liberty’s first 25 games and logged the second-fewest minutes among players on the 12-player roster.
But Allen’s start resulted in a win. And then another. And then another.
DeMarco stuck with it, keeping Allen in the starting lineup for 12 consecutive games. New York went 9-3 during that stretch.
The five-player starting lineup featuring Allen was the Liberty’s best five-player grouping during that span, posting a net rating of plus-9.5.
Allen found her flow too.
“That was sort of obvious to see,” she said. “You sort of go those extended minutes, you can feel the ball a little bit more and it was good for myself and my confidence, too.”
Allen averaged nine points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from deep.
When the Liberty performance staff greenlit Leonie Fiebich’s return, the starting lineup inevitably had to change.
We’ve got you covered on the Liberty beat
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.
She also sees the bigger picture and understands what Fiebich brings.
“I mean having Leo back is such a luxury for all of us,” Allen continued. “You’ve got this length, this defensive, you know, she goes on all the best players as well defensively but offensively, we saw such a great game especially the last one, so I think I mean there’s only good things having her back in the lineup. My role changes a little bit, but still my mindset doesn’t.”
When Fiebich went down with a left foot injury in early July, DeMarco had no choice but to tinker with the starting lineup that also included Sabrina Ionescu, Pauline Astier, Breanna Stewart and Jones.
Initially, DeMarco plugged Rebekah Gardner into the starting lineup.
Rebecca Allen looks to shoot the ball during the second half of the Liberty’s 79-60 loss to the Valkyries on Aug. 27, 2026 at Barclays Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After back-to-back losses, he decided to go big and start Han Xu alongside Stewart and Jones.
After another loss, he went with Marine Johannès.
None of it worked.
On a four-game losing streak, DeMarco turned to Allen.
Rebecca Allen looks to pass during the Liberty’s loss to the Valkyries. NBAE via Getty Images
Up to that point, Allen had sparingly cracked the rotation. Some of that was because she gradually eased into the season after missing most of training camp as she worked her way back from an undisclosed injury.
Allen appeared in only 10 of the Liberty’s first 25 games and logged second-fewest minutes among players on the 12-woman roster.
But Allen’s start resulted in a win. And then another. And then another.
Leoine Fiebich looks on during warmups before the Liberty’s loss. Michelle Farsi for NY Post
DeMarco stuck with it, keeping Allen in the starting lineup for 12 consecutive games. New York went 9-3 during that stretch.
The five-player starting lineup featuring Allen was the Liberty best five-player grouping during that span, posting a net rating of plus-9.5.
Rebecca Allen looks on during the Liberty’s win over the Fever on Aug. 22, 2026, at Barclays Center. NBAE via Getty Images
Allen found her flow, too.
“That was sort of obvious to see,” she said. “You sort of go those extended minutes, you can feel the ball a little bit more and it was good for myself and my confidence, too.”
Allen averaged nine points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from deep.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch enters the field prior to a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Levi's Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers just finished up their final preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders and now will be scrambling to make final roster cuts to the 53-man roster. We say scrambling because the team needs to get on a plane to Melbourne, Australia, to play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. With that in mind, they need to figure out who is and isn’t going so they can make travel arrangements.
Over at FanDuel Sportsbook, the 49ers are currently sitting as 3.5-point underdogs in their game against the Rams. Since the game is in Australia, not in San Francisco or Los Angeles, it’s safe to say many of those odds were initially set based on the rosters.
While the 49ers are a bit more urgent, all NFL teams will be trimming their rosters from 90 to 53 in the coming days. The deadline to have a 53-man roster is Sunday, August 30 at 3:00 PM PST.
Those cut are either released outright or waived—depending on their time in the league. There are a few wrinkles in 2026 the 49ers can take advantage of. First is IR.
If a player is placed on IR, two players can be tagged as designated to return and can come back after missing at least four games. Teams must tag a player in this category, however. They can’t pick and choose players later in the season after putting them on IR months earlier. Any other players placed on IR (READ: Ricky Pearsall) are done for the year.
Then there’s the physically unable to perform or PUP list. If a player is on this list, it means they were placed on it before the season began. The moment they practice or play in even a preseason game, they are off the PUP list. Any players on PUP are subject to the same four-game minimum as one on IR. The difference is that PUP players didn’t practice or play in the preseason.
Players with at least four years of experience are released and become unrestricted free agents. They can go anywhere and sign with any team. No restrictions. Those under the four-year threshold are subject to waivers and the waiver wire. The following players have been, or are associated with, the 49ers’ 90-man roster this year and are subject to waivers:
QB Kurtis Rourke QB Adrian Martinez RB Kaelon Black RB Jordan James RB Sincere McCormick WR De’Zhaun Stribling WR Jacob Cowing WR Jordan Watkins WR Wesley Grimes WR Will Pauling TE Brayden Willis TE Hayden Rucci TE Khalil Dinkins OG Dominick Puni OG Connor Colby OL Carver Willis OL Drake Nugent OL Enrique Cruz Jr. OL Isaac Alarcon DL Romello Height DL Alfred Collins DL Gracen Halton DL CJ West DL Sebastian Valdez DL James Thompson Jr. DL Bryson Eason DL Evan Anderson LB Jaden Dugger LB Tatum Bethune LB Nick Martin LB Larry Worth III CB Renardo Green CB Upton Stout CB Ephesians Prysock CB Jakob Robinson S Malik Mustapha S Patrick McMorris S Marques Sigle S Jalen Stroman
On waivers, teams can claim players, but the order is determined by the draft order from earlier this year. The 49ers picked 27 (or at least their pick was 27, since they traded it to the Miami Dolphins), so they will be the 27th team to make a selection. So if there’s any player on waivers they want, then they have to wait for 26 other teams to decide they don’t want that specific player. Any team that makes a waiver claim must open a roster spot to keep the roster at 53 players. If the player is claimed, another player is waived/released in return.
Also, this isn’t like fantasy football; a team can’t place four waiver claims in order of importance and get only one before things switch to the next team. Any team can make multiple claims, and if they’re ahead of the 49ers, they can get all the players the 49ers may want—provided the team has opened roster spots for those players. That means the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets can be much more active on the waiver wire than the Seattle Seahawks, who go last due to winning the Super Bowl.
The current waiver order is as follows:
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
The 49ers have a lot of waiting to do if they want any hot players that couldn’t fit on any of the teams before them. That said, the teams before them need to do a lot of roster reshuffling. The one thing to take from all of this is that the 53-man roster you see on Monday isn’t going to be the same 53-man roster you see on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez expressed frustration at the pace of contract talks earlier this week, and the sides don’t appear close on an extension.
After the Patriots' 37-13 loss to the Browns in the preseason finale, coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Gonzalez's frustration with negotiations.
"I have conversations with Christian, and I understand that this is probably something that's difficult," Vrabel said, via Sophie Weller of Patriots Wire. "I've never been in that position to this extent. Try to treat it with class, but he and I communicate, and our players are always free to feel how they feel. They just have to stay patient and just hope that we can work to some kind of agreement."
The Seahawks recently signed cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a four-year, $132 million deal, which should provide a template for the Patriots. Gonzalez and Witherspoon have the same agent, Reggie Johnson.
Gonzalez is under contract for the next two seasons and is scheduled to make a base salary of $2.259 million this season.
The 17th overall pick in 2023, he made second-team All-Pro in 2024 and the Pro Bowl in 2025. He has totaled 145 tackles, two interceptions, 24 pass breakups and a sack in three seasons.
