Head to NBC and Peacock for an exciting MLB tripleheader this Sunday. First, at 12:00 PM ET, the Miami Marlins face the Washington Nationals in the MLB Sunday Leadoff game. Then, at 3:00 PM, the Houston Astros take on the New York Mets at Citi Field. Later, at 7:00 PM, Sunday Night Baseball heads to Wrigley Field as the Cincinnati Reds go head-to-head with the Chicago Cubs.See below for additional information on how to watch each game.
Play-by-play voice Matt Vasgersian, 2005 World Series champion Geoff Blum, former Mets infielder Todd Zeile, and reporter Ashley ShahAhmadi ,will call Sunday's Astros vs Mets game.
Hall of Famer CC Sabathia will provide “Inside the Pitch” commentary, giving viewers insight into the pitcher’s throw-by-throw approach against a hitter.
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
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NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
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Bills wide receiver Skyler Bell turns up the field after a catch across them middle during the opening day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in Pittsford. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Skyler Bell and Joe Fagnano are turning heads for the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. The two most recent NFL Combine invitees from UConn are having a great preseason so far.
A groin injury delayed Bell’s debut until the final week of the preseason. But his performance in that game has Bills fans thinking about another similarly sized receiver who was a huge playmaker for them a few years ago, Stefon Diggs.
On Thursday night against the Steelers, the fourth-round pick caught seven passes for 49 yards and took a jet sweep 28 yards to the house. It was a very familiar experience for UConn fans, but still a tremendous joy to see in an NFL uniform.
“Once the ball got in his hands, you felt the speed and he made the most of it,” Bills head coach Joe Brady said, according to the team site.
Bell is all-but a lock to make the final 53-man roster and should have a chance to break out on a team with a great quarterback in Josh Allen that’s looking for a top target.
Fagnano is his team’s leading preseason passer, with starter Lamar Jackson sitting the entire way and backup Tyler Huntley getting light action. He has looked sharp since his debut against the Eagles two weeks ago and has been over 75 percent completion with a touchdown in each of his two outings.
Fagnano will have his final shot to lock up a roster spot or practice squad QB3 role tonight at 6 p.m. against Washington.
“Joe came in, second week in a row, and managed the offense really well,” Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jason La Confora. “He got us down there a few times, and he made some key plays throwing the ball. Guys made some nice catches for him. I just like the way we played in the second half.”
La Confora heaped praise on the undrafted rookie, saying the third QB job is likely his.
“[Fagnano] had stellar film from thrashing the Eagles a week ago and coming out of nowhere to do so. Vikings aggressive defensive mastermind Brian Flores treats the preseason closer to the real thing than most who call plays on defense, and Fagnano entered this road game at a time when Baltimore’s offense was lifeless and suspect with No. 2 quarterback [Tyler] Huntley at the helm.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers handshake after the game on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If there’s one thing everyone loves doing at the end of August, it’s figuring out their plans for January. In this series, we are breaking down the Sixers 2026-27 schedule into chunks to try to preview how each stretch of the season will go. Part 1 is already available here.
The second quarter of the Sixers’ season starts with an interesting back-to-back before a long potential break. They’ll host a very young Memphis Grizzlies team on Dec. 1 before Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets come to town on the 2nd. Likely because it’s a back-to-back, this is a rare Sixers-Nuggets game that is not on national television, so there will be no player participation policy ramifications for anyone unavailable for it.
How the Sixers fare in the NBA Cup will determine their next game after that as there are 10 off days built into the schedule for the Knockout Round. The Sixers have yet to advance that far since the Cup’s creation, so they’ve been like the majority of the league that’s had two consolation games scheduled during this time. As discussed in Part 1, the Sixers will have a quite a gauntlet to run through to break that trend this season.
Normal play will resume on the 12th when the Sixers start a home-and-home with the Orlando Magic, wrapping up their three games with Orlando on the season. They’ll host a couple of Texan teams in the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets with a trip to Charlotte sandwiched in the middle before their yearly Disney on Ice December road trip.
That of course starts with a Christmas Day showdown in L.A. against the Lakers. Most expected the Celtics’ to be the Sixers’ Christmas opponent, but it’s not a huge shock they made the day centered around LeBron. They’ll also face the L.A. Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns while out on the West Coast before swinging by Milwaukee to finish the trip. It’s also worth noting that those Kings and Suns games are a back-to-back.
Six of their next seven games will come at home with a wide range of quality in opponents. They’ll have to deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, but they’ll also get the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards in that stretch. Interestingly enough, that Wizards game is on national television, so the league is curious what that team will look like with its mix of young and old, new talent.
This stretch of the season will be wrapped up with an MLK Day matinee in Atlanta. It’ll be the second time they see the Hawks in as many weeks, before heading back home to take on the Indiana Pacers for another back-to-back. Indiana will be another Eastern Conference team the Sixers will have played all their games against before the halfway point of the season.
Those 21 games are probably an easier stretch of schedule than the first leg. They play more teams that aren’t expected to be playoff teams, but teams like the Grizzlies and Wizards could be feistier than expected. The West Coast trip will be a good durability test. Playing five games in seven nights, the majority of them across the country, will give guys like Tryese Maxey and Jaylen Brown their chance to show their regular season value. It’s not the hardest stretch of Western Conference teams to go through, but the Kings are the only cupcake in there.
The ensuing homestand should be an equally fun response. Two of the harder teams in the West will be coming through this time. On top of that the Sixers will be seeing the Hawks and the Heat again, two Southeastern teams that could be vying for position with them in the East.
Like the first stretch of the season, the travel is once again pretty balanced, with a lot of off days coming before their first longest road trip of the season. As far as quality in opponents goes, it looks like an easier stretch than the first on paper, but they don’t play the games on paper.
12/1: vs. Grizzlies 12/2: vs. Nuggets (B2B) 12/12: vs. Magic (Cup Break) 12/14: @Magic 12/17: vs. Mavericks 12/21: @Hornets 12/23: vs. Rockets 12/25: @Lakers (Christmas) 12/27: @Clippers 12/29: @Kings 12/30: @Suns (B2B) 1/1: @Bucks 1/ 4: vs. Hawks 1/ 6: vs. Thunder 1/ 8: vs. Heat 1/ 10:@Raptors 1/ 12: vs. Wizards 1/ 14: vs. Nets 1/16: vs. Timberwolves 1/18:@Hawks (MLK Day) 1/19: vs. Pacers (B2B)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 27: Walt Weiss #22 and Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on August 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Was it last night? Him receiving his sword? Maybe some specific start from earlier this year… or 2024? Maybe, in retrospect, it’s just learning that he was acquired for Vaughn Grissom, with the Red Sox paying him to pitch in Atlanta that year.
Floor is yours, I’m gonna go back to watching last night’s performance.
Jul 20, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper (3) and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (27) during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Phillies will start a three-game series out in Anaheim tonight against the Angels. Of course, whenever these two teams play each other, the topic of Millville’s own Mike Trout is naturally discussed at length. Trout has obviously never played for the Phillies, but he’s been someone that fans have clamored for practically his entire career, as the three-time MVP not only grew up in the area but is still a very vocal (and visible) Philadelphia Eagles fan.
It’s likely that fans’ dreams will never come true though, as Trout is under contract until 2031, putting him with the Angels through his age 38 season. His name always comes up with unofficial trade discussions with the Phillies, but Trout has never really expressed much desire to leave Anaheim, and Angels ownership has never expressed a desire to move him either.
Trout is the most notable player from the Philadelphia area in recent memory, but he’s not the only one currently active in MLB. The Tigers’ star rookie Kevin McGonigle is also a local product, hailing from Media, Pennsylvania and having played high school ball at Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill. He was even in the stands at Citizens Bank Park as a fan when the Phillies played the Astros in the 2022 World Series. Flash forward to 2026, and McGonigle was one of the few non-Phillies who received cheers instead of boos at Citizens Bank Park during the All-Star Game introductions.
Nick Kurtz of the Athletics is also a young star that grew up around Philadelphia. He and his family are from Lancaster, PA and owned season tickets to the Phillies in section 116 at Citizens Bank Park. When the A’s came to Philadelphia in May, Kurtz remarked that getting to play in the stadium he used to go to with his family growing up was almost better than anything he’s done on the field in his young playing career.
None of those aforementioned three players have ever actually played for the Phillies though, but Tyler Phillips can say he has. The South Jersey native had a nice run of starts for the Phillies in 2024 including a complete game shutout before finding his way to the Marlins last season where he has found a home as a swingman in the bullpen. He may no longer have fond memories of playing in Philadelphia though, as he owns a 5.23 ERA in nine appearances against his former team.
These are just a few of the more notable MLB players that grew up around Philadelphia and were raised Phillies fans. There have been plenty more throughout history that were from here but may have never gotten to play for their hometown team. So, who is your favorite locally born baseball player?
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Alfonsin Rosario had one of his better games at Triple-A, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a stolen base. The only other multi-hit game belonged to Cooper Ingle, who went 2-for-5.
Kyle Manzardo doubled and walked while Dayan Frias tripled and stole a base and Blake Perkins also doubled and walked. Kody Huff went 1-for-3 with two walks.
Starting pitcher Ben Lively allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Jack Jasiak allowed another two runs in 2.0 innings and Daniel Espino had a clean outing with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts (please call him back up for September).
Nolan Schubart is still going strong. The three true outcome slugger went 2-for-4 with two more home runs and two strikeouts. He now has 10 home runs at Double-A and 30 overall on the season with a 1.018 OPS at Akron.
Alex Mooney also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base while Jaison Chourio doubled, walked and stole a base and Luke Hill doubled and stole a base. Tyresse Turner also went 1-for-3 with a walk and a steal and Logun Clark went 1-fo-3 with a hit by pitch.
Starting pitcher Braylon Doughty had a rough outing, allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits in 3.2 innings while striking out three and walking three.
Michael Kennedy was excellent in long relief, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts and Adam Tulloch finished off the game with another 2.0 scoreless innings.
Lake County’s offense has continued to bail out its pitching. A couple days after having to score 19 runs to scrape out a win, the Captains had to score 11 to earn the victory Thursday.
Leading the charge was Anthony Martinez, who had a monster game by going 4-for-5 with a home run and four runs batted in.
Tommy Hawke also had a spectacular game, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two walks and two stolen bases.
Juneiker Caceres went 2-for-4 with a walk and Welbyn Francisca went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a walk. Jose Pirela homered.
Starting pitcher Joey Oakie made his High-A debut, allowing three runs on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.
Luis Flores followed with 2.0 scoreless innings, but then Logan McGuire was blasted for six runs on two hits and three walks with a hit by pitch in his 2.0 innings. Both hits McGuire allowed were home runs.
Cam Schuelke earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The top of Hill City’s lineup was spectacular on Thursday.
Guardians 2026 fifth round pick Lucas Moore went 3-for-4 from the leadoff position with three doubles and a walk.
Catching prospect Reiner Herrera continues to impress. He went 3-for-4 with his seventh home run at Single-A and after starting the season in the Arizona Complex League. Herrera also stole a base. He has 18 home runs in just 68 games this season.
Guardians 2026 15th round pick Alejandro Garza also had a good game, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a walk while Pedro Dalmagro homered.
Starting pitcher Miguel Flores had his best outing of the season, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. He walked two and struck out four.
The bullpen barely preserved the victory, however. Guardians 10th round pick Ryan Bilka gave up two runs after walking three in 1.1 innings and Aaron Savary was blasted for four runs on five hits in the final 1.2 innings to barely hold on for the win.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - AUGUST 22: Miami Dolphins linebacker Cameron Goode (53) leaves the field following the preseason NFL game between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins closed out their 2026 training camp this week and host the Atlanta Falcons later tonight in the final preseason game of the year. We are closing in on the roster cut deadline, with teams required to drop from the 90-man preseason limit to the in-season 53-man roster size by 6 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, August 30.
Before last week’s loss to the New York Giants, I posted my first projection for the Dolphins’ 2026 53-man roster. A week later, it is time to update. I will be back on Sunday with my final projection with any changes after tonight’s game.
Miami Dolphins offense (24)
Quarterback (2)
Malik Willis Quinn Ewers
Cut: Cam Miller, Mark Gronowski
Changes: None.
This seems pretty straightforward now. Unless Ewers reaggravates his injury or Miller absolutely balls out tonight, there should not be a change to the quarterback plan.
Running backs (4)
De’Von Achane Jaylen Wright Ollie Gordon II Jarquez Hunter
Cut: Coleman Bennett, Donovan Edwards, Carlos Washington, Jr.
Changes: Add Hunter
Miami traded for Hunter on Thursday, a day after signing Bennett. They are clearly looking for additional depth at running back. Hunter could prove to simply be a body for Friday’s game, but the trade and the signing could signal concern that Gordon’s rib injury might slow him for a little while. Adding Hunter gives the team some flexibility at the position.
Fullbacks (0)
Cut: DJ Herman
Changes: Cut Herman
I think Herman has a pathway to the roster, but the Dolphins listing Sims as their starting fullback, even though he is a tight end, is a concern. The Dolphins signed free-agent linebacker Stephen Dix, Jr. and assigned him the same number (34) as Herman; that cannot be a good sign. Herman could be a practice squad option.
Tight ends (3)
Greg Dulcich Will Kacmarek Ben Sims
Cut: Ethan Conner, Seydou Traore, Jeremiah Franklin
Changes: Cole Turner from cut to injured reserve; Cut Ethan Conner after signing this week
No major changes here. Sims makes the roster as the primary fullback option if the Dolphins want to use him there. There is an assumption that Sims will be healthy and ready for the start of the year – otherwise, I will have to find a way to add Herman back to the roster. Kacmarek has had a good training camp and preseason, showing his ability to be a strong option as a sixth offensive lineman. Dulcich starts. Traore is added to the practice squad with the exemption for being an International Player Pathway member.
Offensive lineman (9)
Tackles Patrick Paul Austin Jackson Caedan Wallace
Guards Kadyn Proctor Jonah Savaiinaea DJ Campbell Josh Priebe
Centers Aaron Brewer Andrew Meyer
Cut: Gottlieb Ayedze, Jim Bonifas, Charlie Heck , Kevin Cline, Marques Cox, James Ester
Changes: Cut Charlie Heck; Jim Bonifas removed after Dolphins cut him this week
Heck gets cut here because I need the roster space – mostly because I had an extra player on the roster last week. My math was all over the place and I should have triple-checked my count. Heck is on the roster bubble, however, and could make it depending on what the Dolphins decide for the center position. Bonifas was listed as a cut last week, then the Dolphins moved on from him. Meyer’s position is not guaranteed at center, with Priebe possibly filling in as a backup at both guard and center – though I would not say Priebe’s roster spot is locked in, especially once Miami starts making waiver claims after other teams cut linemen.
Wide receivers (6)
Malik Washington Caleb Douglas Chris Bell Kevin Coleman, Jr. Jalen Tolbert Jalen Reagor
Cut: AJ Henning, Donaven McCulley, Terrace Marshall, Jr., Ryan Miller, Theo Wease, Jr.
Changes: Tutu Atwell removed after trade to Los Angeles Rams; Cut Ryan Miller after being a waiver claim by the Dolphins this week; Tahj Washington removed after being waived
No changes for the six players projected to make the roster. The locks are Washington and the three rookies (Douglas, Bell, Coleman). Tolbert is close to a lock, but the Dolphins could consider swapping him out in a waiver claim after the cuts. Reagor is a bubble player who hangs on for special teams purposes; Henning has played well enough to push ahead of Reagor, especially with a strong performance tonight.
Chop Robinson Josh Uche Robert Beal, Jr. Max Llewellyn Clelin Ferrell Cameron Goode
Cut: Seth Coleman-Lyles, Rodney McGraw, David Ojabo
Changes: Cut David Ojabo; Add Cameron Goode; Add Clelin Ferrell
Last week, I had Ojabo ahead of Ferrell, but I think Ojabo’s stock has continued to fall and now he is on the wrong side of the bubble. Of course, this is assuming Ferrell and Goode are both healthy enough to make it to the roster – or that they will be on the roster then placed on injured reserve once waiver claims begin. Goode makes the roster to provide an additional edge rusher with the injury to linebacker Trey Moore.
Defensive tackle (5)
Zach Sieler Kenneth Grant Jordan Phillips Zeek Biggers Matthew Butler
Cut: Keith Cooper, Jr., Alex Huntley, Fatorma Mulbah, Cam Rice
Changes: Cut Mulbah; Add Butler
The bubble watch last week had Mulbah on the roster and Butler being cut. They flip this week. Mulbah had a strong opening preseason game, but Butler has probably been more consistent all summer. Plus, Mulbah should be able to be stashed on the practice squad.
Linebackers (6)
Jordyn Brooks Jacob Rodriguez Tyrel Dodson Kyle Louis Ronnie Harrison, Jr. Willie Gay, Jr.
Cut: Stephen Dix, Jr., , Cam Riley, Jackson Woodard
IR: Trey Moore
Changes: Add Gay; Trey Moore off roster to IR
Last week, I wrote, “Harrison and Gay are in a position battle to claim the final spot among the linebackers.” That changes this week because of Moore’s injury; he likely will start the season on IR, opening the roster spot Gay needs. Woodard needs to stay with the team, probably on the practice squad, unless the Dolphins are concerned he would be claimed off waivers – which could push Gay back off the roster. Miami cracked the seal on trades on Thursday, sending wide receiver Tutu Atwell to the Los Angeles Rams; Dodson and Gay could both be trade candidates as Miami looks to churn the roster.
Cornerbacks (5)
Chris Johnson JuJu Brents Jason Marshall, Jr. Ethan Bonner A.J. Green III
Physically Unable to Perform list: Darrell Baker, Jr., Storm Duck
Cuts: Alex Austin, Miles Battle, Ahmari Harvey, Jai’Onte McMillan, Marco Wilson
Changes: Cut McMillan after waiver claim from Colts; Cut Wilson from roster
Johnson, Brents, and Marshall are locked onto the roster. Bonner probably is safe as well. Green slides on as the final depth option. Wilson falls off the roster because of spot math: linebacker Trey Moore is injured which makes me think the team will keep an extra defensive end (Cameron Goode) which former me to make a cut here. If you told me any of the cuts were to make the roster over Green, I would not argue with you.
Safeties (4)
Dante Trader, Jr. Zayne Anderson Michael Taaffe Major Burns
Cuts: Lonnie Johnson, Jr., Louis Moore
I am sticking with my projection last week, but I am not locked into Burns making the roster. If either Johnson or Moore have a stellar game tonight or Burns slips, there could be a change to the prediction come Sunday.
OXNARD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 3: Sam Howell #16 of the Dallas Cowboys rolls out to pass during training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields on August 3, 2026 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With final cuts just days away, it’s time to see how the Cowboys’ projected 53-man roster has changed since training camp opened.
We published a roster projection summary prior to training camp featuring projections from Joseph Hoyt of the DMN, Todd Archer of ESPN, and Jon Machota of the Athletic. At the time (July 27), the three projections gave us a good idea of where public sentiment stood regarding the 2026 Cowboys roster.
Today, we turn to three more projections. One from Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas, another one from Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News,and a final one from our own Dan Rogers of BloggingTheBoys, subbing in for Jon Machota.
With only a few days left until the cutdown, it might be interesting to take a step back, and look at how the Cowboys’ 53-man projection has developed since the start of training camp. This should allow us to see which players moved up or down the depth chart over the entire training camp (and two preseason games).
As our goal today is to compare and contrast the current projections with those earlier iterations, the tables are color-coded accordingly and the tally from the July projections is shown at the end of the table for each player.
Green = current projection represents an improvement over July
Yellow = current projection is less certain/represents a decline
July column = previous consensus
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott
3/3
Joe Milton
Joe Milton
Joe Milton
2/3
Sam Howell
2/3
Winner: Joe Milton Questions: Sam Howell
What changed: Milton and Howell were both 2-for-3 in our July projection summary, but Milton is now the 3-for-3 unanimous pick as QB2. I’m with Archer though, who explains why the Cowboys may keep all three:
“Maybe in a perfect world the Cowboys would rather go with two quarterbacks, but Milton and Howell have fared well and if quarterback is the most important spot on the team, then maybe it’s wise to keep three.”
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Running Backs
Javonte Williams
Javonte Williams
Javonte Williams
3/3
Malik Davis
Malik Davis
Malik Davis
1/3
Jaydon Blue
Jaydon Blue
Jaydon Blue
3/3
Hunter Luepke
Hunter Luepke
Hunter Luepke
3/3
Winner: Malik Davis Loser: Phil Mafah Out: Israel Abanikanda, Jashaun Corbin
What changed: Phil Mafah entered camp on 2-of-3 projections, while Malik Davis felt like an also-ran at 1-of-3. But that changed dramatically, with Davis looking like a strong bet for the 53 and Mafah a likely PS candidate.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Wide Receivers
CeeDee Lamb
CeeDee Lamb
CeeDee Lamb
3/3
George Pickens
George Pickens
George Pickens
3/3
Ryan Flournoy
Ryan Flournoy
Ryan Flournoy
3/3
KaVontae Turpin
KaVontae Turpin
KaVontae Turpin
3/3
Jonathan Mingo
Jonathan Mingo
Jonathan Mingo
1/3
Camden Brown
Camden Brown
0/3
Winners: Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown Losers: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Anthony Smith, Traeshon Holden Out: Jordan Hudson, Tyler Johnson, Denzel Mims, Jaden Smith
What changed: Mingo got one roster vote in July, Brown got none; Mingo upped his to three, Brown to two. As such, they are both winners of camp, even if keeping six wide receivers would be an unusual luxury here. MVS, Smith, and Holden all made one pre-camp projection, so their stock clearly dropped. The remaining receivers were likely never more than camp bodies.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson
Jake Ferguson
Jake Ferguson
3/3
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Brevyn Spann-Ford
Brevyn Spann-Ford
3/3
Luke Schoonmaker
Luke Schoonmaker
Luke Schoonmaker
3/3
Losers: Michael Trigg Out: Zack Kuntz, DJ Rogers, Mitchell Van Vooren
What changed: There was some palpable excitement for Michael Trigg heading into camp, and he did show up on one of three pre-camp projections, but injuries and a steep learning curve as a blocker likely stopped him from making the jump to the 53.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Offensive Line
Tyler Guyton
Tyler Guyton
Tyler Guyton
3/3
Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith
3/3
Cooper Beebe
Cooper Beebe
Cooper Beebe
3/3
Tyler Booker
Tyler Booker
Tyler Booker
3/3
Terence Steele
Terence Steele
Terence Steele
3/3
TJ Bass
TJ Bass
TJ Bass
3/3
Nate Thomas
Nate Thomas
Nate Thomas
3/3
Drew Shelton
Drew Shelton
Drew Shelton
3/3
Nick Leverett
Nick Leverett
Nick Leverett
0/3
Ajani Cornelius
Ajani Cornelius
1/3
Winners: Nick Leverett, Ajani Cornelius Loser: Trevor Keegan Out: Marcellus Johnson, Shiyazh Pete, DJ Wingfield, Chris Glaser, Sebastian Gutierrez
What changed: The question on the offensive line may be more about whether the Cowboys keep nine or ten guys, and perhaps less about which specific players they keep. But heading into camp, Trevor Keegan was a lock on all three projections, so he clearly lost some momentum throughout camp. Ajani Cornelius was 1-of-3 in July, and is now 2-of-3, so also an improvement. But Nick Leverett may be the biggest surprise here, as he didn’t show up on any of the July projections but looks like a strong 53-man candidate here.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Outside Linebackers
Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary
3/3
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Donovan Ezeiruaku
3/3
Von Miller
Von Miller
Von Miller
0/3
Malachi Lawrence
Malachi Lawrence
Malachi Lawrence
3/3
James Houston
James Houston
James Houston
2/3
Marist Liufau
Marist Liufau
1/3
Sam Williams
3/3
Winner: James Houston Questions: Sam Williams, Marist Liufau Loser: Tyrus Wheat Out: Isaiah Land
What changed: Will McClay once coined the term “swarming rotation” to describe the Cowboys’ approach to their edge rushers, which may be one reason the Cowboys could keep six players here, and the Von Miller addition added even more pressure. All three projections agree on the first five. The only disagreement is over the sixth spot. Sam Williams was a 3-for-3 lock heading into camp but drops to 1-for-3 here, Marist Liufau was 1-for-3 and “improves” to 2-for-3, but both of them are likely in a battle with Tyrus Wheat (2-of-3 in July) for that last spot. James Houston was 2-for-3 in July and became a unanimous projection, so for now, he emerges as the winner here.
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Defensive Tackles
Quinnen Williams
Quinnen Williams
Quinnen Williams
3/3
Kenny Clark
Kenny Clark
Kenny Clark
3/3
Otito Ogbonnia
Otito Ogbonnia
Otito Ogbonnia
3/3
LT Overton
LT Overton
LT Overton
3/3
Jonathan Bullard
Jonathan Bullard
3/3
Jay Toia
0/3
Questions: Jonathan Bullard, Jay Toia Out: Adedayo Odeleye, Kevin Gilliam, Tommy Dunn
What changed: Note that teams can designate up to two players at the final cut down as “IR to return,” no longer requiring them to be on the roster for a day. For the Cowboys, Jonathan Bullard (groin and abdomen tendonitis) at DT and Julius Wood (concussion) at safety could qualify – and that may be the chance for Jay Toia to temporarily grab that fifth spot at DT.
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What changed: No real surprises here, except for Watkins including Curtis Robinson, which he explains with “special teams work helps Robinson in this area.“
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What changed: Derion Kendrick was 3-for-3 heading into camp, Caelen Carson was 2-for-3, but both are hanging on by a thread. Dan Rogers explains:
“How they stack after [Carson] is anyone’s guess, but for my guess, I’m going a little off script and predict that Derion Kendrick snags one of those last spots, but guys like Reddy Steward and Ameer Speed aren’t dead in the water just yet.”
Todd Archer adds perhaps the most intriguing wrinkle in the entire projection with his ‘veteran not on roster’ pick. This is the only position where Archer explicitly projects outside help. Our own RJ Ochoa writes:
“Archer is among the most plugged-in Cowboys insiders on the beat so when he says something like this we should listen. The four that he has on the team make sense, Devin Moore hasn’t popped but he is a draft pick, but that TBD is interesting.“
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Safeties
Jalen Thompson
Jalen Thompson
Jalen Thompson
3/3
Caleb Downs
Caleb Downs
Caleb Downs
3/3
Malik Hooker
Malik Hooker
Malik Hooker
3/3
PJ Locke
PJ Locke
PJ Locke
3/3
Markquese Bell
Markquese Bell
Markquese Bell
0/3
Winner: Markquese Bell Out: Julius Wood (possible “IR to return”), Alijah Clark, Zion Childress
What changed: Brian Schottenheimer’s recent comments about Bell as a special teams ace seem to solidify him as a 53-man roster lock. Bell was 0-for-3 on the projections prior to camp.
“Markquese Bell is one of our most trusted leaders on special teams. He’s a really good football player. He’s a good defender. But I think he’s a great special teams player.
And there’s guys like that, they play eight, nine, 10, 11 years sometimes, because they have a trait that is needed.“
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Archer ESPN
Watkins DMN
Rogers BTB
July
Specialists
Brandon Aubrey (K)
Brandon Aubrey (K)
Brandon Aubrey (K)
3/3
Bryan Anger (P)
Bryan Anger (P)
Bryan Anger (P)
3/3
Trent Sieg (LS)
Trent Sieg (LS)
Trent Sieg (LS)
3/3
No surprises on special teams.
So that’s where we stand with the roster a few days left until roster cuts. Summarized, the biggest individual movements and unresolved questions look something like this:
Nick Leverett: 0/3 → 3/3
Markquese Bell: 0/3 → 3/3
Jonathan Mingo: 1/3 → 3/3
Camden Brown: 0/3 → 2/3
Sam Williams: 3/3 → 1/3
Phil Mafah: 2/3 → 0/3
Tyrus Wheat: 2/3 → 0/3
The unresolved sixth OLB spot
Archer’s mystery veteran at CB
The roster isn’t changing everywhere, but where it has changed, some players have moved dramatically.
For me, the biggest surprise isn’t any of the rookies—it’s Markquese Bell, who went from 0-for-3 before camp to a unanimous projection for the 53.
Who is the most surprising name on the projected 53-man roster for you?
Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier (22) rides a young fan's bicycle through the parking lot of Lambeau Field before a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Happy Friday one and all.
We have made it to the final game of the 2026 preseason, game four for the Cardinals.
I actually think what the Cardinals have been dealt by the NFL is a bit dirty. One of two teams to play four preseason games, then not getting their bye week until Decemeber.
So, let’s hope for health in this one, because really at this point, nothing else matters.
Enjoy the game.
Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026 Time: 5:00 p.m. AT Location: Lambeau Field — Green Bay, WI National TV: CBS (Channel 5 locally) National online streaming: NFL+, NFL Network TV announcers: Paul Calvisi (play-by-play) Sam Acho (analyst) Dani Sureck (sideline) Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Radio announcers: J.P. Shadrick (play-by-play), A.Q. Shipley (analyst) Spanish Radio: Latino Mix 100.3 FM KQMR Spanish Radio announcers: Jesus Quinonez (play-by-play) and Irving Villanueva (analyst) Betting line: Cardinals +1.5 per FanDuel Sportsbook
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 01: A detail of the NCAA logo on a baseball prior to the game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas A&M Aggies in the Astros Foundation College Classic at Daikin Park on March 01, 2025, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Tuesday, college baseball took one step closer to implementing technology that can ensure more accuracy in the game.
The automated ball-strike system, known as ABS, was approved for use across all divisions of college baseball starting next season.
BREAKING: The automated ball-strike system has been approved for use in all college baseball divisions next season.
The Division I Baseball Oversight Committee and the Division II and Division III Playing Rules Oversight Panel voted to give teams the option, when available, of… pic.twitter.com/FeLIi8GcTt
Following NCAA approval in July, Tuesday’s statement was that the Division I Baseball Oversight Committee and the Division II and III Playing Rules Oversight Panels approved the usage of the technology.
Considered an experimental rule, individual teams will have the option to use the system as long as the technology is available at their facility.
The SEC experimented with ABS during their conference tournament in Hoover for the 2026 season. It was highly successful with a conversion rate of 56.2%. There were 105 challenges and 59 of those were overturned. Each team started the game with 3 challenges and retained them upon a successful attempt.
With umpiring being far from perfect, especially in the SEC, ABS feels like a no-brainer. It’s quick and barely slows down the flow of the game. The pitcher, catcher, or hitter can simply tap their hat/helmet a few times, the umpire announces the challenge, and the video board displays a box representing the strike zone and whether or not the ball touched the zone. The call is either changed or upheld and the game carries on all in the matter of 10-15 seconds.
LSU benefitted from ABS twice in the 9th inning of their final game of the year. With a loss meaning the end of their season, the Tigers were down 3-1 to Auburn and needing a rally. Derek Curiel was called for strike 3 with a 3-2 count, but immediately tapped his helmet and was correct.
Later that inning, Brayden Simpson was also called for strike 3 on a 3-2 count, which would have ended the game. He challenged and it was overturned, which awarded him a walk and he became the tying run on 1st base. LSU was unable to complete the rally, but neither of those players would have reached base if not for ABS.
I was told by a source close to the situation that while the technology will be allowed to be used through super regionals, it will not be available at the College World Series in Omaha. The reason for that was not explained, but as of now, they will revert back to full umpire control for the biggest tournament of the year.
The use of 18-inch bases was also approved for all three divisions of college baseball next year. As of now, 15-inch bases are the standard.
The double first base will now be required for all games. The SEC was first to experiment with that rule at the conference tournament in 2024. It became optional in 2025, then mandated for all Division I schools in 2026. Now, all of college baseball will be required to use it.
Division I baseball will use a 30-second timer for between batters, along with mound visits and offensive timeouts.
Other experimental rules that are on the table for all three divisions include a pitcher having two free disengagements with a third needing to result in a pickoff out or it would be considered a balk. It’s also possible that pitchers entering a game will face a three batter minimum, unless the inning ends.
Each of the last two possible rules are standard in the MLB.
Do you like these rule changes? Which ones do you look forward to and which would you rather not see in the college game?
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JULY 28: Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Arizona Cardinals participates in a team practice ahead of the NFL season at State Farm Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Below you will find our dynasty rankings for the year’s NFL rookies. We of course need to take a long view in dynasty leagues, but we know that an offensive rookie who doesn’t get playing time in year one is going to have an uphill battle for fantasy relevancy. That means we want to pick players with at least a decent path to playing time, and it wouldn’t hurt if they are also on a team with a strong base offensively.
As evaluators we can love a player in college, but if he isn’t drafted early, giving him strong draft capital, he’ll need a lot of things to go his way before putting up consistent fantasy numbers. This means you can go off script a little when picking rookies, but you don’t want to wander too far from the first few rounds of the draft.
This year also is a little weak in offensive rookie depth overall, so if you do have a player you feel can make a jump despite poor draft capital, feel free to grab him, as there just aren’t a lot of strong prospects going in the 4th rounds of your rookie draft this season.
First overall pick
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Cardinals
His high ankle sprain is worrisome for this season, but he’s still the no-doubt No. 1 dynasty rookie pick. His ability should transition well to the NFL and despite landing on a down Cardinals team, he should see enough work to instantly be a fantasy asset when healthy. See if you can use his inauspicious start to trade for him or trade up to the No. 1 pick. He’s truly the cream of this crop.
When to draft Jordyn Tyson?
The Saints didn’t mind Tyson’s injury history, taking him 8th overall, with Carnell Tate as the only receiver ahead of him with pick No. 4. Tyson’s ability is great, but his injury history is scary, especially when you consider he suffered yet another hamstring injury during preseason and will miss at least the first few games of the year. We’ve seen players deal with recurring hamstring injuries that can plague them for years, but we’ve also seen players getting past the injury bug and put up strong, healthy careers.
I don’t love the overall talent in this bunch of rookies, so I’m willing to go after Tyson with the second or third pick despite the injury issues.
Rookie risers
Each training camp and preseason elevates few rookies into positions where they could see work early on. Here are some I’ve moved up my draft board.
Mike Washington, RB, Raiders
Washington has looked great so far and has shown that his odd college career won’t define him. His speed and elusiveness are NFL caliber and he’s already won the backup job to Ashton Jeanty. And if Jeanty’s ankle isn’t ready for Week 1, Washington could be a flex start from Day 1.
Emmett Johnson, RB, Chiefs
The Chiefs are going to rely more on the run this season after Patrick Mahomes’ ACL tear and signing Kenneth Walker. They also drafted Johnson, who has already won the No. 2 job behind Walker. Walker is a great runner, but does miss games due to nagging injuries. I expect we’ll see Johnson get his shot sometime this season.
De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, 49ers
Stribling wasn’t draft evaluators favorite receiver, but there’s no doubt he has the physical attributes to play in the NFL and now it looks like he’ll have the opportunity. He still has Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey ahead of him on the target tree, but that tree is looking ancient and hollow right now. Stribling will get work this season and what he’s shown in preseason looks more than legit.
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 25: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers bats in the first inning during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Sheridan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
New York, N.Y.: New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after his 3 pointer in the 2nd quarter as New York Knicks take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY on May 4, 2026. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
The 2012 edition of the famed Madden game was graced by Peyton Hillis. He earned that honor after a season where he rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. What followed was a season where he missed six games, he ran for less than half as many yards (587), and only found the end zone three times. In fact, after his double-digit touchdown season, he only found pay dirt six more times for the rest of his career.
This is just one example of what is known as “The Madden Curse.” A phenomenon where NFL players are destined for a terrible season (and, in the case of Hillis, a terrible career) whenever they are bestowed with the privilege of being on the cover of the sport’s most popular game.
Why am I bringing this up? The NBA has something of a curse of its own brewing. You’ve likely heard some variation of this stat: there has not been a back-to-back champion since 2018. We’ve had eight brand new teams hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the last eight years. Even more damning, no reigning champion has even made it back to the NBA Finals in their title defense.
The reason for this is mainly due to the introduction of aprons making it hard to maintain your core for very long, but that’s besides the point. Right now, the New York Knicks are the top dogs in the association, staring down the brutal Curse of a Champion. But do they have what it takes to end this nonsense once and for all?
What’s Changed?
The Knicks do have quite a bit of continuity. Eleven of their 13 top players in total minutes played from last year are back. However, one of the two guys missing from that group is Mitchell Robinson – the second-best offensive rebounder in the NBA (Steven Adams is the king of the crop) and the heart and soul of a team that has finished top-six in the advanced version of that stat in four of the last five years. And the other loss was his heir apparent: Ariel Hukporti.
Their big addition is Andre Drummond – a veteran journeyman who is also known as a chairman of the boards. He should be able to mitigate some of the loss felt by Robinson. And offensively, their perfectly-fine tuned machine should keep running smoothly.
The East has become more challenging. Both Robinson and Hukporti went to contenders, and the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and Cleveland Cavaliers all made trades in the last six months that should (theoretically) improve their teams. The San Antonio Spurs – the final boss for the Knicks this past postseason – are another year older and more battle-tested. The Oklahoma City Thunder are still a looming giant, and, for their sake, hopefully the injury gods aren’t so cruel this go around. The Los Angeles Lakers are re-tooled and frisky.
Can The New York Knicks Go Back-To-Back?
The big question for me is how much of last title run was real. According to Spotrac, the Knicks had the second-fewest dollars lost due to injury last season. Their postseason strength of schedule wasn’t exactly a Murderers’ Row, either. Before the Spurs (2nd in net rating), they beat the Atlanta Hawks, 76ers, and Cavaliers, who ranked 12th, 18th, and 9th in net rating, respectively.
These points aren’t intended to dismiss the scope of their accomplishments. All past champions have benefitted from luck in some form or the other, but that doesn’t change the fact that luck played a part, and that luck isn’t something you can consistently bank on.
Even more than that, the Knicks unlocked were in a special kind of flow state for the final 16 games of the postseason – winning 15 of those contests by an average margin of victory of 17.1. Their ball movement and variance in attack points was exquisite, while their defense moved together like five puppets on a string in harmonious fashion.
The New York Knicks have outscored their opponents by 272 points in the past 12 games
That's the best 12-game stretch from any team in NBA history, regular season or playoffs pic.twitter.com/BxQEJjDUca
Did the Knicks crack the code and find basketball nirvana? Is this just who they are now? Or was this just lightning in a bottle – brought upon by a perfect confluence of factors?
On FanDuel, the Knicks currently have the third-highest odds (best odds in the Eastern Conference) of winning the 2027 NBA Championship at +900 (an implied probability of 10%). I’m personally bullish on the Toronto Raptors and think they have the best blend of two-way balance on their roster of any East team, but even with that view, I still think they are only slightly better than the Knicks. And to me, I’d say that the oddsmakers are right to rank them as a top tier Eastern Conference team.
At the end of the day, it’ll come down to how well they can overcome the loss of Robinson, how much their continuity gives them an edge over the teams playing with new toys, how much of their postseason success carries over to next year, and if they can get another relatively clean bill of health.
If those storylines end up falling in their favor, I certainly wouldn’t be shocked to see the Knicks repeat as champions and put an end to this dreaded curse once and for all.
Aug 21, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Jets defensive tend Nate Lynn celebrates with New York Jets defensive end Paschal Ekeji (54) after sacking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Anyone who has followed the Jets at any sort of detailed level over the years knows they have seen their fair share of preseason standouts. For the most part, these players don’t work out.
For every Wayne Chrebet, there have been countless guys who Jets fans have gotten excited about, only for them to never make much of an impact at the NFL level. Zach Sudfeld, Rontez Miles, Chris Streveler, Ryan Spadola, Clyde Gates…well, you get the point.
Preseason normally doesn’t tell us much, and unfortunately, beating up on a bunch of backups and fringe roster players doesn’t necessarily translate to making valuable contributions during the regular season. However, what if I told you there was a player on the 2026 Jets who might actually be able to make an impact going forward because of his intriguing profile and history?
Listen, listen. I know how this sounds.
I just gave you a complete warning about why you cannot delude yourself into buying into positive preseason performances. I’m always reminded of Tobias Fünke’s hilarious line from Arrested Development whenever I start talking myself into one of these guys:
That pretty much sums it up. It never works. Or, at least, it hardly ever works in NFL terms. But as fans, we delude ourselves into thinking there’s a chance.
This year, my guy is Nate Lynn.
Lynn is a recent acquisition who stood out in the Jets’ preseason opener last week. And while it would be incredibly premature to suggest he’s going to become some sort of impact player (or even make the team), there are enough things about his background and profile to make me at least a little more interested than I normally would be in a preseason standout.
Let’s take a look at Lynn’s history and why there might be something here.
Background
Lynn is a 24-year-old edge rusher entering his third season in the NFL.
He originally came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2024 after a strong collegiate career at William & Mary. Known for his versatility, Lynn played all over the defensive line in college, often moving inside despite weighing around 255 pounds.
That versatility was a big part of what made him interesting. He had impressive speed for someone who spent so much time lined up around the B-gap, although his testing numbers were much more modest when viewed strictly through the lens of a stand-up edge rusher.
Still, Lynn evidently did enough to impress then-Lions general manager Brad Holmes and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
After a solid offseason and training camp, Lynn’s rookie season was unfortunately cut short in his very first preseason game against the Giants. He suffered a torn ligament in his shoulder, which was particularly discouraging considering he had already flashed with a sack in the game.
Lynn spent the entire 2024 season on injured reserve. Then came 2025.
Once again, Lynn generated buzz throughout the offseason, with Brad Holmes publicly describing him as “impressive.” And his preseason performance backed that up. In four preseason games (the Lions played in the Hall of Fame Game) Lynn accumulated 10 total pressures and a sack. Those 10 pressures ranked among the top three of all edge rushers that preseason, while his PFF grade and pass-rush win rate were both in the 99th percentile among qualified pass rushers. Despite all of that, Lynn was cut.
That came as somewhat of a surprise. A quick look at the Lions 53-man roster projections from beat writers that summer shows that Lynn was generally expected to make the team. The overall sentiment seemed to be that he had done enough to stick around. Instead, he ended up signing with the Titans’ practice squad.
Then came another regime change, and Robert Saleh ultimately opted not to keep him around. That brings us to the Jets.
So, What Do We Make of Him?
Lynn has played just one preseason game with the Jets, but he immediately looked like one of the best players on the field, even if he was doing it against backups. He finished with two sacks against the Steelers and was the Jets’ second-highest graded defensive player in the game. One of those sacks came against Steelers starting tackle Broderick Jones.
Obviously, none of this means Lynn is suddenly going to become a star. If anything, he might still be more likely not to make the Jets’ 53-man roster. That’s the reality of being an undersized, relatively unproven edge rusher who has bounced around the league. The intriguing part though, is Lynn has now produced in essentially every preseason setting in which he’s been given an opportunity. In 2025, he was one of the most productive pass rushers in the entire preseason and still couldn’t crack the Lions’ roster. Now, a year later, he has joined another team and immediately flashed again.
Maybe this is just another case of a guy dominating against players who won’t be on NFL rosters in a few weeks. There are certainly plenty of reasons to believe that. But unlike some of the classic Jets preseason stars we’ve fallen in love with over the years, Lynn at least has a track record that makes me a little more interested. He has collegiate production, legitimate versatility, and he has already flashed on multiple occasions in preseasons.
Now he has one more preseason game to make his case. He’s got a lot to play for tonight. And I’ll be rooting for him.
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 21: Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos looks on in the second half of a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field At Mile High on August 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tue Denver Broncos host the Minnesota tonight for their preseason finale. Coming off an embarrassing blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers last week, the Broncos have a lot of issues to work out. Here are several storylines to watch this evening in Denver’s last gridiron battle before the regular season kicks off in a few weeks against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
Can the Broncos play disciplined and dial back the penalties?
The Broncos have experienced an impressive turnaround with Head Coach Sean Payton leading the way. Despite incurring a historic amount of dead cap by moving on from Russell Wilson several seasons ago, Denver has assembled one of the best rosters in the NFL. Moreover, General Manager George Paton has done a tremendous job inking the team’s best players to long-term contracts that have aged well as the market continues to explode at premium positions.
Coming off their first AFC title in a decade and 14-win season, the Broncos are in the best spot they have been in ages. However, they have one of the toughest schedules for the upcoming 2026 season. They face a gauntlet in the first half of the season—going head-to-head against a lot of playoff teams and potential Super Bowl contenders. It’ll be tough to win those games, especially if they continue their poor trend of drawing flags.
Last season, the Broncos were the fourth-most flagged team in football. A lot of offensive drives were stalled due to them, and many drives for the opposition were extended due to consistent defensive holding, pass interference, or roughing the passer penalties. So far this preseason they have had 18 called against them. That’s a nine per game average which is absolutely alarming.
This is a well-coached team, but the miscues and penalty issues that have plagued them for the past several seasons needs to be addressed. Payton was visibly upset with their lack of discipline after their loss to the Packers and mentioned it has to be rectified. That’s one of the major things I’m looking forward to seeing.
Will the Broncos’ rushing attack bounce back?
One of the reasons why the Broncos were able to trounce the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason opener was because of their ground game. They rushed for over 160 yards. By doing so, they set the pace of the game and controlled the clock. Against the Packers last week, they had less than half of that and barely averaged three yards per carry.
That isn’t going to cut the mustard when it matters most. The Vikings have a well-coached defense led by Brian Flores who has a penchant for being aggressive and blitzing. Sometimes, that can backfire on them, and they were in the bottom half of the NFL last season with respect to run defense. I want to see Denver take advantage of that and have a strong rushing performance this evening.
Having a solid ground attack will make a huge difference for the Broncos this season. Fans across Broncos Country saw what happened in the second half of the season without J.K. Dobbins. I’m hoping to see Denver deploy a formidable rushing attack against Minnesota and would like Dobbins, alongside RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman, to show what kind of trio they can be in the regular season.
What players make the strongest case to make the final 53-man roster?
Continuity was a major theme for the Broncos this offseason. Outside of trading for Jaylen Waddle and their 2026 NFL Draft class, Denver didn’t opt to bring in a lot of outside players to their roster. It’s a team loaded with quality starters and solid backups at most positions. Truth be told, there aren’t a lot of positions up for grabs.
The preseason finale against the Vikings will be the last chance for fringe roster players to make a case to earn a spot on the roster. The spots I’m looking at the most are who impresses the most at safety. With Taylor Rapp in the fold alongside Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga, those three will be locks for the final roster.
The last two spots, if Denver opts to keep five safeties like last season, will come down to Devon Key, Tycen Anderson, J.L. Skinner, and Miles Scott. Key, given his prowess as an All-Pro special team’s player seems likely. Whichever player flashes the most in their defensive reps, in my opinion, will be the one to make the squad.
Outside of safety, the battle for two depth spots behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad looms large. Karene Reid has played well in both preseason games and seems like a good bet to make the squad. The last spot will come down to Red Murdock, Taurean York, and Jordan Turner. My gut tells me Murdock has the inside track for this one given the praise he has received from Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph throughout training camp.
Last but not least, I’ll be keeping a close eye on the offensive trenches. The Broncos have been banged up at center and most all the reserve lineman struggled immensely last week against the Packers. While I’m confident in the team’s starters to play at a high level, finding the right combination of depth players behind them will be crucial. There have been far too many offensive line penalties and blown blocks the past two weeks.
What about you, Broncos Country? What things are you keeping a close eye on in the preseason finale against the Vikings? Sound off in the comments section and let me know what you think.
