NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 28: First baseman Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees hits the ball while playing the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Benjamin B. Braun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
How many scoring chances can two teams accumulate without actually driving in runs? The Yankees and Red Sox played a game hellbent on figuring that out. In the end, one timely homer from Paul Goldschmidt was enough to supplement the effort from Cam Schlittler, the Yankees’ bullpen, and left fielder Cody Bellinger to earn a shutout win, beating Boston 1-0.
More than either lineup, failing to get anything going in the early innings of this matchup, no one was having a worse time than the umpire, Edwin Moscoso, seeing both offenses asking for challenges every other at-bat. The Yankees and Sox combined to get five challenges right in a row before Boston lost its first in the top of the third on a Schlittler curve to Willson Contreras, nicking the top of the zone—eventually punching out the first baseman.
With multiple changes in premium spots in the order against a left-handed starter, the Yankees needed those players to perform in favorable matchups, and in tonight’s game, they were 1-for-2 in that department. First came the frustration in the opening inning, seeing Heliot Ramos punched out on three pitches to strand Ben Rice at second, but a few frames later, the power of Goldschmidt showed up to give the Yankees the lead.
Goldy was looking hard in and ambushed a sinker right at the edge for a home run worthy of this team’s top sluggers.
Facing Schlittler for the fourth time this season, the Red Sox came up with a plan to be patient as a team, working five walks against him. While it is arguable that those free passes were as much his fault as Boston genuinely executing a patient approach at a high level, they managed to really drive up his pitch count, even if the zeroes remained on the board. By the time Schlittler completed the fourth inning, he was already well over 70 pitches and destined for a short start.
Although they had gotten players on before, the Red Sox had their biggest threat against Schlittler in the top of the fifth. A Ceddane Rafaela single—then Boston’s only second hit of the game—set up a two-on-one-out situation for the third-hole hitter. Wilyer Abreu hit a sinking liner to center that Trent Grisham caught, reading it well, certainly far better than Rafaela, who was left in no man’s land and thrown out at first for the double play to end the frame.
The Yankee starter was one out away from grinding out six innings, but a two-out walk not only led to a hook but nearly created a blowup inning. In continuity with the self-imposed challenges of handing out free baserunners, Brent Headrick faced a sequence of three pinch-hitters as the Sox turned over the bottom of the order against a lefty—Headrick allowed a walk and an infield hit to load the bases before narrowly escaping the inning, inducing a lineout to left from Andruw Monasterio.
It’s one thing to be leading a game, but another entirely to be in control of it. And with a 1-0 lead, the Yankees had the chance to seize that control with an opportunistic inning after escaping that bases-loaded threat in the top of the sixth, only to fall flat like the Red Sox offense in their scoring opportunities. New York loaded the bases with just one out against Sandoval, leading the Sox to bring in the righty Greg Weissert. The former Yankee retired George Lombard Jr. with a lineout too short for a tag play and then bullied Jazz Chisholm Jr. into a strikeout, whiffing on nothing but heaters.
Speaking of control, with the bullpens coming into play, the momentum of this game seemed to be continuously shifting all without the actual score moving. In the seventh, Paul Blackburn came in after Headrick retired the inning’s leadoff hitter and then experienced both sides of the coin when it comes to defensive impact. First, a jam was formed courtesy of a lousy read by Ramos on a softly-hit fly ball that dropped in down the right-field line—that double would’ve driven in a run had it not gone over the wall and out of play.
Much like the Yankees, the Sox also hit a sinking liner with a runner at third and fewer than two outs—Rafaela defied his third-base coach and tried to score on Cody Bellinger, an ill-advised move, and was gunned down at the plate to preserve the 1-0 score. At 99.7 mph, it was the third-fastest throw of Bellinger’s superb career and the third-fastest by a Yankee since they started tracking via Statcast in 2015.
After the seventh inning, the relievers on both sides actually started working clean innings, including the case for Blackburn himself in the eighth and David Bednar in the ninth, securing his 31st save of the season with three consecutive popups. It was a nailbiter, but the Yanks left with the 1-0 triumph.
Making up for a postponed game over two months ago, the Yankees and Red Sox will play a southpaw showcase split-admission doubleheader on Saturday. Carlos Rodón gets the ball in the opener against fellow lefty Jake Bennett, while Max Fried starts the nightcap against an unknown Boston starter (Brayan Bello is expected to at least get a chunk of those innings). Fried will be making his first start back after returning from an IL stint that turned out to be way shorter than expected. The first game will start at 1:05pm ET, while the second one has its first pitch at 7:05pm ET.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. (57) tallies a sack on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football matchup at EverBank Stadum on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Jacksonville Jaguars closed out the preseason on a high note Friday night, turning in a dominant performance from their depth players in a convincing showing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jacksonville’s defense controlled the game throughout, consistently making plays and giving the younger players an opportunity to make their case for roster spots. Several players made sure their performances would be difficult to overlook, with the defense and special teams taking the spotlight in the shutout performance featuring 5 sacks, a takeaway, no first downs surrendered after halftime, and Tampa going 2 of 12 on third down on the day.
Here’s everything you need to know from Jacksonville’s 2026 Week 2 preseason 19-0 victory over the Buccaneers.
Game Recap
With both the Jaguars and the Buccaneers sitting the majority of starters following a week of two joint practices, Friday’s matchup was about the depth players locking in roster spots. While QB Nick Mullens’ role on the roster was never truly in jeopardy, he played his two first-quarter drives like a man fighting for something. Following last week’s 6/7, 65-yard performance, Mullens’ day wrapped with a similar 5/7 for 62 yards and a 98.5 passer rating against Tampa. While both drives ended with no points, the offense showed multiple explosive plays and three total first downs prior to punting.
One of those explosives came courtesy of Jacksonville’s stacked tight end room. Hunter Long completed his two longest receptions of the preseason on the opening two drives of the game. On the first, he rumbled down the right sideline on a 34-yard catch-and-run, then brought in a 13-yard catch in traffic before taking a hit that temporarily sent him to the medical tent in the first quarter.
On defense, second-year defensive end Jalen McLeod had a busy opening half with seven tackles, including a tackle for loss while in coverage, and a quarterback hit.
Meanwhile, undrafted free agent defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. heard his name called early and often in this one with a tackle (1-yard gain), a pass deflection, two sacks, and a quarterback hit that initially looked to be a Jalen Huskey fumble returned for a touchdown. However, replay later overturned the fumble, crediting BTJ only with the quarterback pressure and hit. It was a major performance by BTJ, in his final offseason opportunity to audition for the roster.
In the secondary, the roster battle between Jabbar Muhammad and Christian Braswell may be a photo finish. Both players ended Friday with similar days, as both had two tackles, with one being solo. However, Braswell added a first-half pass breakup that was nearly intercepted by Muhammad, while Muhammad made a splash on special teams with his solo tackle coming on the punt team. With the roster cut-down taking place on Sunday at 4:00 pm, this competition will be one to watch, with two deserving players potentially vying for one role.
Biggest play(s) of the game:
Cam Little drilling a 61-yard kick turns what most consider a long attempt into an extra point.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 28: Kyle Trask #14 of the Carolina Panthers looks to pass the ball during the first half of a preseason game against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium on August 28, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Quarter
If you thought a game in the rain featuring no starters was going to be a slog to watch offensively, you were right. Though there were moments to enjoy from a defensive perspective.
Trevis Gipson and Trevin Wallace each registered a sack to force a punt on the Texans’ first drive. The offense didn’t do anything and punted right back, but the defense got the ball right back with an interception by Lathan Ransom that was aided by more good pressure up front.
The Panthers at least got a couple of first downs on their next drive, but Kenny Pickett wasn’t able to find anyone on a 4th and 4 and the Panthers turned the ball over. DeVonta Smith broke up a couple of passes to get the ball back to the home team.
Pickett found Ja’seem Reed over the middle for a 17 yard gain as the first quarter came to a close.
Second Quarter
A false start by John Metchie III put the Panthers behind the sticks, and they couldn’t catch up. A Sam Martin punt downed the Texans at the 10.
The defense held up again and forced another punt. Kyle Trask checked in at quarterback and promptly through a very poor interception. That gave the Texans the ball in scoring range, so they were able to put a field goal on the board despite another stop by the defense.
The Trask-led offense picked up one first down before punting once again, but the defense got the ball back a couple plays later after a botched exchange was picked up by Cam Gill. Just like with the Texans, the offense couldn’t punch it in and settled for a field goal.
The Texans put together a decent drive in the two minute, but Brett Rypien overthrew a receiver and had his pass intercepted by Cam Miller. Trask strung together a couple of nice passes to get the Panthers into field goal range, where Ryan Fitzgerald knocked in his second kick of the night.
Third Quarter
The Panthers got the ball first and Ja’Seem Reed caught another 20 yard pass from Trask to get the offense moving. The drive stalled at midfield, and Sam Martin punted away. The Texans muffed the punt and recovered it inside their own five, but it was all moot as a flag for too many players on the field gave the Panthers a first down. Jimmy Horn Jr. had a nice run on a screen pass, but it was called back. Still, Trask was able to connect on a couple of passes to keep the drive alive into the red zone, though it wouldn’t make it to the end zone. Ryan Fitzgerald field goal number three put the Panthers up 9-3.
The Texans responded with a field goal drive of their own. There weren’t any explosives, but they nickel and dimed their way to a field goal to make it 9-6.
Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter with a couple of quick passes to move the Panthers out past midfield. Trask seemed to have found a rhythm and was delivering his passes on time and on target. He worked the team into the red zone, then Miles Davis picked up a hard two yards on a 4th and 2. On the next play, he battered his was through the defense for what was almost a 10 yard touchdown. A review took the touchdown off the board. It took a couple more tries, but Davis eventually got his touchdown.
The Texans marched back down the field in response as they went into chase mode. They picked up a bunch of small gains and capped off the drive with a touchdown to Zay Jones. The Panthers couldn’t put together a drive to clinch the game and had to punt back to the Texans with a little over two minutes to play.
It looked like the defense had done their job and gotten off the field with a fourth down interception, but the game was extended by a pass interference penalty. All that did was gave the Panthers a chance to rack up two more violent sacks from Elijah Garcia and Jeremiah Moon. The latter jarred the ball free, and Cam Gill pounced on it for his second fumble recovery of the game.
Overview
There’s not a whole lot to glean from a preseason game in which none of the starters played, but the defense showed out and a number of players put plays on film that are going to have the coaches talking.
Rosters have to be finalized by Sunday, and then the regular season kicks off two weeks later.
The preseason is officially in the rearview mirror for the Los Angeles Rams, and now the attention shifts toward the games that actually count. After wrapping up their preseason slate, the Rams have plenty of reasons to feel encouraged, but there are also several major questions that must be answered before the regular-season opener.
With the roster deadline approaching and the first game less than two weeks away, here are four takeaways from the Rams’ final preseason game.
First Down: Rams Put Together a “Historic” Offensive Performance
The Rams’ offense provided plenty of reason for optimism throughout the preseason, but the most impressive aspect may have been what happened — or didn’t happen — up front.
The Rams did not concede a single sack in any of their preseason games.
No team since at least 1999 has gone through the entire preseason with no sacks or turnovers until the Rams this year.
That’s an impressive accomplishment regardless of the competition, especially considering how many different combinations of offensive linemen typically receive playing time during the preseason. Protection is one of the biggest concerns for any offense entering a new season, and Los Angeles appears to have established a strong foundation with their starters but also their depth in this case.
Keeping quarterbacks upright has been a consistent priority for Sean McVay, and the Rams’ ability to avoid giving up sacks throughout the preseason could be an early indication that the offensive line is ready for the regular season. Kudos to Ryan Wendell.
Second Down: Tight Squeeze for Rams Draft Picks
The Rams’ 2026 draft class has generated plenty of excitement, but the final roster could tell a different story for some of the team’s rookies.
Wide receiver CJ Daniels and defensive tackle Tim Keenan III appear to be on the bubble as the Rams make their final roster decisions.
That would be notable considering Los Angeles entered the draft with limited draft capital. If Daniels and Keenan don’t make the 53-man roster, two of the Rams’ five draft picks would fail to make the initial team.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the draft class was unsuccessful. Players can develop on the practice squad and eventually work their way onto the active roster. Still, it would be an unusual outcome and shows just how difficult it is for rookies to immediately establish themselves in a competitive NFL roster.
Third Down: Ty Simpson May Have Been the Right Pick
There were plenty of analysts who believed the Rams reached when they selected quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick.
The preseason, however, has provided some evidence that Los Angeles may have identified a potential gem.
Simpson has shown enough to make the Rams’ decision look increasingly defensible. His physical tools, poise and ability to operate within McVay’s system have stood out, particularly for a young quarterback making the transition to the NFL.
It’s obviously far too early to declare Simpson a franchise quarterback based on preseason performances. But if he continues developing, the Rams could eventually look back at No. 13 of the 2026 draft as one of the more important picks of the McVay era.
Fourth Down: Potential Suspensions Loom
Perhaps the biggest uncertainty surrounding the Rams isn’t even related to the roster.
With the regular-season opener now less than 14 days away, questions remain regarding potential suspensions for Alaric Jackson and Puka Nacua.
The possibility of either player missing time continues to be a major talking point as Los Angeles prepares for the regular season. Jackson’s potential absence would impact the offensive line, while losing Nacua would create an even more significant challenge for an offense expecting him to be one of its primary weapons.
The Rams can prepare for several possibilities, but until the NFL makes its decisions, there remains a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the roster.
The preseason is over. Now, the Rams have to turn their attention toward making the final cuts, preparing for potential absences and getting ready for the games that matter most.
Aug 28, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Jesus Sanchez (12) reacts as he gets hit by a Seattle Mariners pitch during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mariners 1 Blue Jays 8
Today’s game was soooo much more fun than yesterday’s.
First, Dylan Cease was excellent—six innings, just four hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. The run against was a home run by the second batter of the day. We were a little worried for a moment. But just a moment. He came out at 92 pitches. I’m happy that John didn’t have him go 100+
And we scored early and often. It’s been 10 days since we’ve scored 8 runs (10 really, against the Rays). Today we scored:
Three in the first: Brett Bateman singled and stole second. Nathan Lukes ground out to the pitcher, who tagged him, but hurt something while doing it. They talked for a bit, but left him in the game. Vladimir Guerrero followed with a double down the right-field line, scoring Bateman. George Springer singled. Jesús Sánchez was hit by pitch. Kazuma Okamoto drove Vlad in with a sac fly. And Andrés Giménez singled home Springer.
Two in the fifth: Lukes homered and an out later Springer homered.
One in the sixth: Okamoto homered.
Two in the seventh: Lukes walked, and an out later, Springer singled. And Myles Straw singled, bringing in run #7. Okamoto reached on an error by J.P. Crawford, bringing in the 8th run.
We had 11 hits, but, even better, we had 3 home runs. Springer had 4 hits, bringing his average up to .251 from .243. Bateman had 2 hits. Sanchez (0 for 2, hit batter), Clement (0 for 4, k), and Valenzuela (0 for 3, walks) had the 0-fors.
Valenzuela made a great throw to second to catch Randy Arozarena stealing in the third inning, when the game was still close.
Jays of the Day: Cease (0.19 WPA) and Springer (0.13).
No one gets the Other Award. The low mark was Valenzuela at -0.02, but then the caught stealing would have erased that.
Tomorrow, we have a 3:00 Eastern start time. Kade Anderson, making his second MLB start, goes for the Mariners. He went 5.2 innings, giving up 3 earned runs in his first start. José Soriano (1-1, 4.22 in four starts with the Jays) is our guy.
The Yankees emerged from Friday's series opener against the Boston Red Sox with a 1-0 win to start this
Takeaways
Evenwhen RHP Cam Schlittler does not have his best stuff, he owns Boston. Schlittler (12-6, 2.09 ERA) allowed a season-high-tying four walks, issuing three or more free passes for the third straight start, but kept the Red Sox (73-61) scoreless with two hits in 5.2 IP. Throwing 63 strikes on 102 pitches, Schlittler fanned eight, becoming the fourth-youngest Yankee to 200 strikeouts in a season. He has a 0.56 ERA across five games against Boston in the regular season and playoffs, allowing two earned runs over 32.2 IP.
His dominance was necessary on an evening in which the Yankees (76-58) once again struggled offensively after Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros. Leadoff-batting 1B Paul Goldschmidt's one-out solo shot in the third inning on a 1-0 fastball at 97 mph against Patrick Sandoval was a home run to left field that the Yankees desperately needed. Goldschmidt's 17th homer of the season broke a scoreless tie and gave Schlittler a lead to work with, putting New York ahead and turning into the decisive offense by either team. Goldschmidt's first long ball since July 24 was the difference in a 1-for-4 night that brought his slash line to .247/.311/.455 with 45 RBI through 91 games this season.
Despite New York's disappointing offense, the defense made a pair of game-saving plays. With one out in the fourth inning, 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s heads up play -- turning CF Trent Grisham's throw to the infield into a toss to first, doubling up Ceddane Rafaela after Wilyer Abreu's lineout -- got Schlittler out of a potential jam. In the seventh inning with one out and the bases loaded, LF Cody Bellinger's perfect throw to the plate sniped Rafaela at home and doubled up the Red Sox on Willson Contreras' flyout, keeping the Yankees' 1-0 lead into the eighth.
With the win, the Yankees even the season series with the Red Sox at 5-5 and go up three games on Boston in the Wild Card standings. The Rays' 9-4 win over the San Diego Padres keeps Tampa Bay (80-54) ahead of New York by four games in the division, but the Yankees rebounded after dropping 2 of 3 against the Astros this week. Will they make the most of their one-score survival entering a pivotal weekend?
Who's the MVP?
Schlittler, whose scoreless start paved the way for the bullpen of LHP Brent Headrick, and RHPs Paul Blackburn and David Bednar -- who earned his 31st save -- in a game that the Yankees needed.
New York and Boston continue their four-game series Saturday when they return to Yankee Stadium for a 1:05 p.m. start, the first of two games for a doubleheader in the Bronx. The Yankees have not announced a starting pitcher, but LHP Max Fried(4-4, 2.81 ERA) will start one of Saturday's games as he returns from his left elbow bone bruise. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are set to start LHP Jake Bennett (8-6, 3.49 ERA).
Aug 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Baltimore Ravens left nothing on the field on Friday night, dominating the Washington Commanders start to finish and leaving with a 41-3 victory to close out an undefeated preseason. Here are Baltimore Beatdown’s reactions to the win:
This was about as dominant of a performance that you will ever see. Baltimore’s defense was absolutely suffocating for the third game in a row this preseason. With so many quality players on defense, the Ravens are going to have to make several difficult decisions to get the roster down to 53 players. It was encouraging to see the rushing attack come alive on offense after struggling to get going in the first two games. Joe Fagnano had another excellent outing, making a strong case for Baltimore to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. The lone negative from this game is of course the performance of Tyler Loop. Loop entered this game on shaky ground and may have forced the Ravens to go to the street to find another kicker after two more misses tonight. – Dustin Cox
If there’s one thing that I take away from this game, it’s part of a larger whole: this defensive staff looks like they’re going to do great things.
This game wasn’t even close, and much of that was owed to the defense being disruptive early and often. You saw PBUs in big spots, several plays where the ball-carrier was blown up in the backfield, and Ethan Burke with another impressive play as he forced a fumble. Even with the grain of salt that Washington’s O-line is in terrible shape, having this defense allow only a single touchdown across the entire preseason with their second and third team defenses out there is a testament to how organized Coaches Minter and Weaver have this bunch. If that side of the ball is as organized as it looks and the offense can keep LJ upright, this team is going to be a squad to be reckoned with. – Kevin McNelis
It was a dominant preseason debut for Jesse Minter’s Ravens, finishing 3-0 and only allowing one score in each of their three games. It’s hard to tell what roster questions were answered. Both Adam Randall and Rasheen Ali played well enough to justify carrying three or four backs. There’s no clear winner on the center starter. Even with Jenkins and Washington sitting out this game, they could still get traded with Peebles, Okoye, Benny and Olajiga all making plays to make the roster. Fagnano certainly made his case for keeping three quarterbacks but can the Ravens truly do that with how massive the roster crunch is this year? All three of Burke, Rucker, and Isaac made plays. In fact, with how many questions weren’t answered, we had another question added: will Tyler Loop make this roster? Loop only went 2/4 and his struggles from distance continued after going 1/5 last year from 50+. The Ravens should really consider signing a free agent. – Zach Canter
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - AUGUST 28: Cam Miller #15 of the Miami Dolphins slides after a run against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on August 28, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins closed out their preseason schedule on Friday night, losing to the Atlanta Falcons in South Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins played well for much of the game, at least well enough to not be blown out like they were in their first two preseason games.
Miami did not play their starters in the game, giving the roster bubble, depth, and developmental players a bigger opportunity to make their final pitch for a roster spot. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they now finish the preseason without a win in three tries.
Next on the NFL calendar are roster cuts, which are due by 6 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. Waiver claims and practice squad signings will happen early next week, then the team will start their preparations for the regular season. Miami opens the season on September 13 at the Las Vegas Raiders.
Final Score
Falcons 17 – 12 Dolphins
Dolphins second-team defense stands up to Falcons starters
Miami elected to sit all of their starters for this game, using the final preseason game as a chance to get an extended look at the depth players one last time before cutdown day on Sunday. The Falcons played their starters, using the game to tune up the first team and prepare for the regular season. A philosophical coaching difference put a tough task in front of Miami’s second-team defense – but they stepped up to the test.
After Miami punted to end the opening drive of the game, the Falcons were able to drive down the field and score on a three-yard run from Brian Robinson, Jr., but the Miami defense stiffened after that.
After Miami kicked a field goal, Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, making his return to South Florida after six seasons with the Dolphins, fumbled the first snap of Atlanta’s second drive, with Miami linebacker Willie Gay, Jr., recovering. Miami was unable to score on the resulting possession, having a long field goal attempt blocked, but the defense again made something happen. On a 1st and 10 from the Miami 18-yard line, linebacker Tyrel Dodson hit Robinson on the ball and forced a fumble, with linebacker Jackson Woodard falling on the loose ball.
The first quarter ended during Miami’s possession and the Falcons pulled their first team on the next possession. Atlanta’s starters were only able to score a touchdown on three drives against Miami’s second-team defense, with the Dolphins getting two takeaways during the period. Tagovailoa finished the game 7-for-8 for 95 yards, 59 of them to tight end Kyle Pitts who had a 37 yard gain on the opening drive, and Robinson picked up 15 yards on five carries, including the touchdown push, so it was not perfect. But, overall, Miami’s second defense was able to stand up against the Falcons’ first-team offense.
Special teams could be key to making or missing the roster
Making an impact on special teams is an easy way to stand out among the crowd of players hoping to make it to the 53-man roster. Cornerback Ethan Bonner, who is likely already locked onto the roster, was flying downfield on the first punt from the team – he overran the tackle, but he was moving out there. Cameron Goode was in on the tackle on that punt, and he likely needs to get noticed on special teams to claim a roster spot.
Wide receiver Jalen Reagor had one catch for 17 yards for his offensive production, but his return work on kicks and punts is what makes him likely to stick around this year. He had one punt return for 10 yards and he returned three kicks for 96 yards, giving him a 32-yard average; his long return was 46 yards.
On the other end of the spectrum, punter Bradley Pinion continues to make me nervous for the season. Miami is going to need its punter to be consistent and a field-position-changing weapon, and Pinion has not been that this summer. He has some good kicks, but he shanks them just as often. After the Preseason Week 1 game against the Washington Commanders, I wrote, “Punter Bradley Pinion is a concern, with some of his kicks tonight seeming off. He may work off the rust and be ready by the regular season, but his performance tonight didn’t instill confidence.” Nothing tonight changed any of those concerns. I would not be surprised if the Dolphins start shopping for a punter – and given the adventure that was field goal attempts tonight, breaking up the long snapper to punter/holder to the kicker battery is not going to be a major issue.
Chris Bell makes impact
Rookie wide receiver Chris Bell, who was on the non-football injury list for much of the summer as he recovered from an ACL tear he sustained in his final year at Louisville, made his debut with the Dolphins on Friday night. He was targeted often early in the game, catching two passes for 22 yards.
The coaches rightfully got him out of the game fairly quickly, giving him just enough time to take some hits and play at the NFL speed, but then got him to the sideline and protected him for the regular season. It was a solid debut for the receiver.
Miami is proving to be allergic to the endzone
The Dolphins scored a touchdown on the opening drive of their first preseason game, the only drive the Miami starters played this summer. Miami did not score again in that game. Last week, they kicked a second-quarter field goal, their only points in the game. This week, they had a field goal in each quarter.
The Dolphins cannot find the end zone. Hopefully, their allergy to touchdowns is only a depth issue and not something the starters have developed as well.
Quarterback Mark Gronowski at least created a discussion
The Miami Dolphins will likely head into the regular season with Malik Willis as the starting quarterback and Quinn Ewers as the backup. Cam Miller started the game, then gave way to Mark Gronowski for the second half. Both players are likely to be waived in the roster cuts that are coming, but Miami could consider bringing one back to the practice squad – and Gronowski made an argument that he could stick around as a developmental option.
The undrafted rookie finished 4-for-8 for 97 yards, giving him a 94.3 passer rating. That is fine, but it was his ability to run for chunk yardage that could make him an interesting project. He rushed four times for 28 yards and looked fast. He may not stick around, especially since the Dolphins already cut him once this summer only to bring him back when Ewers was injured, but there might be enough there to warrant a practice squad spot.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - AUGUST 28: Jack Velling #84 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts to his touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on August 28, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Falcons turned the ball over twice and still went into halftime with a 17-6 lead, which says a lot more about the Dolphins than it does the Falcons. Then things got predictably slow and ugly.
Atlanta’s offensive gameplan seemed to be heavily predicated on screens and short passes, and that had the dual effect of not revealing much of what Atlanta plans to get up to on offense this year and making this something of a slog. Tua Tagovailoa’s fumbled snap, Brian Robinson’s fumble, and a comically tipped and bobbled Jack Strand pass that was intercepted made for an ugly night, even if the Falcons were very obviously if narrowly the better team against Miami’s reserves. The defense got plenty of pressure and did a nice job against the run all night, but saw the cornerbacks implode a bit to give Miami a real shot at climbing back into this one.
Ultimately, the defensive effort up front and just enough offense combined to give Atlanta a 17-12 win, but that’s the less important result. The more important one is that the Falcons have enough information between these games and training camp to make the roster decisions they must make before Sunday at 6 p.m., especially at spots like running back, inside linebacker, and cornerback where the decisions might have been tougher before Friday night.
Here’s the drive-by-drive recap of the game you just watched.
1st Quarter
Jalen Reagor took the kickoff to about the 25 yard line, but an illegal formation call on the Dolphins backed them up immediately. A quick pass to Chris Bell picked up about five yards on a comeback route working against A.J. Terrell. A handoff to Carlos Washington Jr. (former Falcon sighting!) lost multiple yards after Samson Ebukam hit him. Cam Miller scrambled for a first down, but a penalty backed the Dolphins up 10 yards. Miller then ran backwards away from pressure and threw it away, with Brandon Dorlus almost getting him. The punt saw a nice return from Zachariah Branch that got the Falcons close to midfield.
Tua Tagovailoa took the field as the starting quarterback and hit Jahan Dotson for a first down. Brian Robinson Jr. was swallowed up on the secnod down carry for no gain. A penalty backed the Falcons up to 2nd and 17, and then Tua hit Kyle Pitts over the middle for six yards. On 3rd and 11, Pitts took a screen almost to the 10 yard line for 37 yards. Robinson then took it about seven yards through contact. Robinson then took it again and picked up the first down. On first down, Tua rolled away from pressure but had to throw it away. On second down, though, Robinson pushed his way through to the end zone to make it 7-0 Falcons.
Miller hit Jalen Tolbert, who made an impressive 19 yard leaping grab. Cameron Thomas then sacked Miller on first down. Miller then ran up the middle and slid to gain back the lost yardage. Miller then hit Bell over the middle for 18 yards. Washington then picked up three yards. Miller then threw it too low for Reagor, and then Mike Hughes and DeMarcco Hellams combined to knock out a pass to Bell. The field goal attempt was good to make it 7-3 Falcons.
The kick went out of bounds, giving the Falcons the ball at the 40. Unfortunately, Tua couldn’t get his hands on the snap and fumbled it, giving the Dolphins the ball around the 35.
Miller threw a floater that Bell nearly reeled in on the sideline, with CJ Henderson working in coverage. A quick pass to Tolbert picked up six or so yards but Henderson was there to wrestle him out of bounds. Miller then almost threw a pick as Mike Hughes and DeMarcco Hellams arrived. The field goal was blocked by Chris Williams, who made a hell of a leap.
A quick Tua pass to Brian Robinson went for eight yards. Then he hit Pitts over the middle and Pitts high stepped away from a tackle for a first down and much more. A quick sideline ball to Jahan Dotson went for about seven yards, and a penalty on Miami was declined. A false start on Jawaan Taylor backed the Falcons up. A quick pass from Tua to Dotson went for another first. Unfortunately, Robinson fumbled on the next carry and the Dolphins recovered.
Miller missed badly on first down. Washington got six yards on second down. Miller then tried to run and did not make it to the first down marker.
2nd Quarter
Dylan Drummond returned the punt for a handful of yards. Then a quick pass from Cooper Rush went for five yards, and a handoff to Tyler Goodson went nowhere. The Falcons did not pick up a first down on the next play. Punt.
A false start backed the Dolphins up. Miller then tried to roll out and Jammie Robinson got him. Washington then took a toss and got upended after about four yards. Miller held on to the ball too long and Harold Perkins Jr. got him with the sack as the ball squirted out of bounds. Punt.
Cooper Rush got away from pressure and hit Jack Velling for a first down. Goodson was stymied on first down. Then Rush hit Nick Muse just short of a first down, and the run was stuffed. A fourth down pass to Chris Blair was good for a first down. Rush then hit Nate Carter for a very small gain. Rush under pressure threw it very low and Blair scooped it for a first down. A quick pass to Goodson picked up five yards. Rush then folled out and hit Vinny Anthony for a first down. Goodson then pushed his way down to the three yard line. Rush then threw it a little behind a tumbling Drummond for an incompletion. On third down, though, Rush hit Jack Velling over the middle for a touchdown to make it 14-3 Falcons.
Reagor then got back to almost midfield on the return. Miller then completed a pass over the middle for a first down. A toss to Washington went for about two yards. A quick throw to Tolbert picked up four yards. Miller then had the pass dropped with Henderson hitting him. Riley Patterson juuuuust hit the 45 yard field goal try to make it 14-6 Falcons.
Goodson took it across the 30, but a penalty backed up the return. Rush patted it and then hit Drummond for about five yards. Rush then ran away from pressure and just missed Velling to the sideline. Rush under pressure tried to hit Blair and just missed him. Punt, and it was a beauty from Bailey to prevent much of a return.
Miller was almost sacked on first down by Christian Harris. Miller was under a ton of pressure on second down and then nearly threw a pick. Another incompletion followed, and then it was punt time. Bradley Pinion’s punt went out of bounds.
Cooper Rush then threw a low pass that Anthony tried to reel in but just couldn’t. Rush then got Velling for about eight yards over the middle. Rush then hit Blair again for a first down. Then Rush finally uncorked one after a lot of short passes, hitting Goodson in stride, with Goodson hitting a nice spin move and spiking it to set up the field goal try Nick Folk easily hit. 17-6 Falcons.
3rd Quarter
The punt was muffed, but recovered. Jack Strand handed it to Nate Carter for a good pickup, but a penalty on Atlanta backed things up. Strand then hit Keelan Marion for about six yards. Strand followed that up with a very quick pass to Muse for a couple of yards. Strand then tried to get away from pressure and was sacked on third down. Punt.
Washington made it nowhere on first down. Under pressure, new quarterback Mark Gronowski rolled away and threw it away. Gronowski then threw a pretty downfield ball and Terrace Marshall simply got leverage on Cobee Bryant to make the big grab. Gronowski then hit Tolbert for another first down, this one against Clark Phillips (who also got called for a pass interference call). Washington then picked up about six yards. Washington then almost picked up the first down and then almost got it again. On fourth down, Washington powered through before Phillips finally got him. Washington then tried to get a touchdown but was stymied at the one yard line. Then Washington was hit by Josh Woods and Carlos Allen Jr. on second down. Gronowski then threw it a bit low and the receiver couldn’t get it. A false start by the Dolphins backed them up, and they settled for the field goal. 17-9 Falcons.
Carter picked up three yards, and then made a couple defenders miss en route to another six yards. Strand then tried the sneak and came up just short. Punt, but a five yard penalty brought Bailey back out.
Gronowski got Reagor for a first down. That was followed by a one yard run. Gronowski then got blocking and went for a first down. Then Gronowski had a pass simply doink off a receiver’s hands, followed by a one yard run. Gronowski then ran for a first down again. The Dolphins then picked up a yard.
4th Quarter
Gronowski then threw for about seven yards. A faked handoff and scramble was stopped cold after a yard or two. Then there was a fumbled snap that Josh Woods recovered. Falcons ball.
A two yard gain beget a Strand pass to Cash Jones for seven yards. The third down carry went nowhere, and the team punted again.
A quick loss was offset by Falcons’ defensive holding. The subsequent first down run went nowhere, and a quick pass over the middle picked up six yards that moved back owing to an illegal formation call. A quick screen then went for a huge gain after multiple Falcons missed their shots. A fake handoff and deep shot fell incomplete after Reagor lost it, though he handily beat Malcolm DeWalt IV on the play. A quick run only picked up three yards. GroThe nowski was run out of bounds after losing a yard on a run. Punt.
Strand hit Antwane Wells Jr. for a first down, but a penalty backed things up. Strand then hit Anthony for about six yards over the middle. His next pass went off Nate Carter’s hands, was tipped off another Miami defender’s hands, and ultimately picked off.
On first down, Gronowski tried to run and James Pearce Jr. got him for no gain. Washington then got a yard or two. Gronowski then tried to run again and was taken down by Pearce again. The field goal try was good, making it 17-12 Falcons.
Vinny Anthony had a huge return, getting past midfield and further cementing his case for a spot. After a nothing first down, Strand then slid for a yard with nobody open and hit Wells for a first down. The Falcons then picked up nothing on the first down handoff to Jones. Strand then rolled out and hit Velling for about seven yards. Strand then faked the handoff and ran it for a first down. The Falcons then kneeled it out.
Aug 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) pitches against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Though the Mets struck first in this game, they ultimately fell to the Astros 3-1, as Hunter Brown out-dueled Christian Scott, who was let down by the usually solid Nate Lavender in the sixth.
Technical difficulties with both television broadcasts due to a power outage in the truck meant that just like everybody else, I did not see the first four outs of this game, but both teams went quietly in the first inning. This repeated itself in the second inning; Christian Scott induced three ground ball outs in the top of the frame and Francisco Lindor made a very nice play to his right on one of them. Hunter Brown struck out six Mets in the first three innings, while Scott still had no strikeouts through four, but was still efficient.
The Mets finally managed to break through against Hunter Brown in the bottom of the fourth. Francisco Lindor led things off with a single. Bo Bichette was then retired on a fly out, but Carson Benge then doubled off the center field wall and Lindor scored on an aggressive send by Tim Leiper. Luckily for the Mets, the relay throw was off line to an almost absurd degree and Lindor scored easily, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. Brown avoided further damage in the inning and then wriggled his way out of a jam in the fifth when Marcus Semien hit a leadoff single and Luis Torrens advanced him to third with one out. This was another situation where the Astros had a chance to nab a Met on the base paths with an accurate throw, but again the throw—this time by Daulton Varsho from center—was comically inaccurate. But Brown rendered this irrelevant by getting A.J. Ewing, who continues to struggle mightily at the plate, to ground into a double play, as his month without any runs batted in continued.
The sixth turned out to be the decisive frame for the Astros. Scott, who had been cruising, struck out Jeremy Peña to lead off the inning, but then issued three straight walks, the third of which to Jose Altuve on nine pitches. That ended Scott’s evening just shy of 100 pitches and Andy Green turned to Nate Lavender to navigate out of the bases loaded jam. Unfortunately, Lavender—who had been so steady since being called up—cracked this time. Daulton Varsho muscled a low pitch into right field for a single to give the Astros a 2-1 lead. Yanier Diaz followed with a single of his own off the end of the bat to plate the third run of the inning. All three runs were charged to Scott, but they ended Lavender’s spotless record with inherited runners.
Jonathan Pintaro pitched a scoreless seventh for the Mets, thanks in part to an excellent stab by Bo Bichette on an Isaac Paredes hot shot to third, which Bichette was able to convert into an inning ending double play. In the bottom of the frame, Marcus Semien laced a single with two outs, which finally ended Hunter Brown’s night. Brown did what other Astros pitchers have mostly been unable to do this season: go deep into the ballgame. He made way for Bryan Abreu, who allowed Semien to advance into scoring position on a wild pitch, but he bounced back to strike out Brett Baty to end the threat.
Both Dedniel Núñez and Kodai Senga kept the Mets within striking distance with dominant innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively, each notching a pair of strikeouts. But the Mets were retired in order in the eighth by Abreu and in the ninth by Josh Hader, who earned his 20th save of the season.
Big Mets winner: Christian Scott, +12% WPA Big Mets loser: Nate Lavender, -26% WPA Mets pitchers: -6% WPA Mets hitters: -44% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Carson Benge’s RBI double in the fourth, +14.7% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Daulton Varsho’s go-ahead RBI single in the sixth, -24.4% WPA
The 2026-27 season is almost here for the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are entering this campaign with the goal of taking another step forward from their very successful 2025-26 season.
The Canadiens also have multiple pending free agents heading into the new season.
Due to this, here is a complete list of the Canadiens' pending unrestricted free agents and pending restricted free agents heading into the 2026-27 season.
Canadiens' Pending UFAs
Josh Anderson, F
Kirby Dach, F
Phillip Danault, F
Alexandre Carrier, D
Samuel Montembeault, G
Alex Belzile, F
Lucas Condotta, F
Reilly Walsh, D
Kaapo Kahkonen, G
Samuel Poulin, F (Group 6 Pending UFA)
Canadiens' Pending RFAs
Alex Newhook, F
Oliver Kapanen, F
Brett Berard, F
Jayden Struble, D
Florian Xhekaj, F
Filip Mesar, F
Owen Beck, F
Sasha Pastujov, F
Jared Davidson, F
Hunter McKown, F
Adam Engstrom, D
Ethan Samson, D
Maksymilian Szuber, D
Canadiens Have Some Notable Players Entering The Final Years Of Their Contracts
When looking at the Canadiens' pending UFAs and RFAs, there are a few notable names. Among the most notable are Newhook, Anderson, Dach, Kapanen, Carrier, Danault, Struble, and Montembeault. With that, the Canadiens will have some decisions to make, but especially with their pending UFAs.
It will be interesting to see how these players can perform during their contract years from here.
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 28: Dylan Cease #84 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre on August 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite working with some of his worst stuff of the season, Dylan Cease carved through the Mariners’ lineup tonight. The Cy Young frontrunner did it the same way he did when he faced Seattle two months ago: sliders and changeups tumbling, pushing the Mariners to chase the fastball high. The meanest pitch was the one sinker he threw, a beauty that started out of the zone and snuck back in, freezing J.P. Crawford like a statue. Frankly, it was excessive.
Across two starts against the Mariners this season, Cease now has 17 strikeouts in 13 innings, against two walks and seven hits. For a guy who’s more of a whiff generator, the 33 called strikes stand out as a master class in getting what should be a good offense utterly puzzled as to what’s happening.
But even while he’s been locked in, he has not mastered his own humanity. And a classic human failing is hubris. So when he got Dominic Canzone to just stare helplessly at a middle-middle fastball in the first inning, Cease thought he could do no wrong. He tried it again. It didn’t go as well. A 113-mph rocket to right field gave Dom his 20th home run of the season. He’s gone yard off of four-seamers, two-seamers, cutters, sliders, curveballs, changeups, and splitters. He’s hit ‘em on the road and he’s hit em’ at home, on native soil and abroad, against righties and against lefties. It’s been a minute since we got a Dom bomb, but he’s been looking just fine, and you cannot sneak the same pitch by him twice, even if you’re one of the best pitchers in the game. This big fly, essentially the Mariners only offense in a blowout, and a salve from the barrage of hits off the bat of George Springer, gets Canzone his third Sun Hat Award.
The Mets offense couldn't muster much of anything in a 3-1 loss in the team's home series opener against the Houston Astros.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Right-handed flamethrower Hunter Brown didn't allow a single Mets baserunner until the third inning, when Marcus Semien drew a walk to lead off the frame.
-- Francisco Lindor led off the following inning with a single to notch the first Mets hit of the night. With one out, Carson Benge drove Lindor all the way home from first base with a double which clattered off the wall in center field. Benge moved up to third base on a Luis Robert Jr. ground out, but Jared Young flied out to left field to leave him on base with the Mets leading 1-0.
-- Brown escaped a jam in the fifth, with the Mets putting runners on first and third with one out. A.J. Ewing grounded into a double play.
-- Mets starter Christian Scott held the Astros to just one hit through five innings. However, in the sixth inning, after striking out Jeremy Pena to open the inning, Scott lost control, walking three straight batters to load the bases. Interim skipper Andy Green took the ball from his starter and called in lefty Nate Lavender from the bullpen. Lavender allowed his first runs (inherited, not earned) of 2026 when Daulton Varsho golfed a low breaking ball on an 0-2 count into right field to drive in two runners. The Astros tacked on a third run in the inning after Yainer Diaz poked a soft line drive into right field to beat New York's defensive shift. The inning ended with the Mets trailing 3-1.
-- After the wheels fell off in the sixth inning when all three Astros batters he walked came around to score, Scott's final line was stamped in as 5.1 IP, one hit allowed, five walks allowed, two strikeouts, and three earned runs across 96 pitches.
-- Semien's second single of the night finally knocked Brown out of the ballgame in the seventh inning. Houston's ace pitched to the tune of 6.2 innings, 10 strikeouts, one walk, five hits, and one earned run allowed. Bryan Abreu came in to relieve Brown with two outs away, and his wild pitch allowed Semien to advance to second base, but Abreu battled back to strike out Brett Baty and end the seventh inning.
-- Astros closer Josh Hader notched his 20th save of the season to put the nail in the coffin on a 3-1 Mets loss.
Game MVP: Hunter Brown
Brown was dominant all night, delivering a much-needed performance for an Astros team that is clinging onto a narrow lead in the AL West.
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 28: George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre on August 28, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Blue Jays 8, Mariners 1
Notes from a secret admirer: Dominic Canzone, +0.03 WPA Keeping secrets: Emerson Hancock, -0.26 WPA
TAMPA, Fla — The Tampa Bay Rays got county approval Friday on a financing plan that will allow them to build a new stadium, a day after city officials approved their part for the $2.3 billion ballpark project that will replace the domed Tropicana Field.
The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 on Friday to approve its $796 million share of the mixed-use entertainment district that includes a new 31,000-seat stadium that will be near Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rays’ new stadium is expected to open in 2029. The Tampa City Council city voted 4-3 on Thursday to approve $80 million.
Rays CEO Ken Babby said the team’s partnership with the county and city on the project secures the long-term future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay.
“We now look forward to celebrating before breaking ground with Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa on a future that has long been doubted, but will indeed happen,” Babby said. “By making the Forever Home a reality, the Rays are now home forever in Tampa Bay.”
The Rays have committed to contributing at least $1.3 billion, plus any cost overruns. Another $30 million will come from federal disaster recovery funds.
The Rays ownership reached an agreement earlier this year with Hillsborough College to build the stadium and entertainment district on the campus and to renovate some of the school’s buildings. The property is located next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from the NFL stadium.
Since the team’s inception in 1998, the Rays have played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, except for moving home games to the Yankees’ George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025 following hurricane damage at the Trop. The Rays’ lease runs through at least the 2028 season. The team returned to the Trop last month for the start of this season.
A proposed $1.3 billion redevelopment deal for a new ballpark adjacent to the Trop fell through last year, raising new questions about the future of the team, which was bought last September by Patrick Zalupski’s ownership group.
“This has been a long and challenging process, and we know that transformational projects rarely come easily,” Zalupski said Friday. “Today’s vote represents an extraordinary milestone, not simply for the Rays or for a ballpark, but for the future of Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay region.”
