Nacua is awaiting the ruling on a potential suspension after what’s been an egregious offseason of choices by him. The timing comes at the end of the NFL preseason, the same time when most NFL fans conduct their fantasy football drafts.
Puka Nacua practicing with the Los Angeles Rams during NFL training camp. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
ESPN currently has Nacua listed as wide receiver two, behind Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, but if he is suspended, team owners might be reluctant to take him in the first round, which could mean he could become the steal of your draft if he falls to the second round.
Nacua has gone from fantasy football long shot to finishing as last year’s wide receiver one, when he led the league in receptions (129), and finished second in yards (1,715) and in the top ten for touchdowns (10), scoring 375 points in most ESPN fantasy football leagues.
The risk of taking Nacua with a top pick is extremely high, but the good part is his position comes with flexibility, as wide receivers are viewed as indispensable in fantasy football.
It’s unknown how long Nacua could be suspended, which raises the biggest question on if it’s worth selecting him. But if it’s not for the long term, it could be a risk worth taking, as the wide receiver position is seamlessly indispensable and filled with depth.
Owners could look to add another wideout after selecting Nacua by targeting players like Eagles’ Devonta Smith and Broncos’ Jaylen Waddle — who will be wide receiver one for their respective teams this season.
Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua standing alongside his teammate, Davantae Adams. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Owners could also look to pivot towards a young rookie, such as Titans receiver Carnell Tate, who could emerge as wide receiver one for the Tennessee Titans this year — depending on how Calvin Ridley performs.
Alongside Tate, his fellow rookie, Makai Lemon, is another intriguing name that could be selected in the later rounds of the draft, as he will play a similar role in the Eagles’ revamped offense under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
Buying into an organization that isn't based in a marquee city like New York or Los Angeles, but rather a place built on a winning attitude and a constant drive to improve, was once one of the Detroit Red Wings' greatest strengths.
Now, the franchise finds itself somewhere it's rarely been, stuck in a decade-long playoff drought, with the winning culture behind the Winged Wheel wearing thin enough that a cornerstone piece like Dylan Larkin has stopped trusting the process.
What Detroit is chasing is something it used to be, a destination where the winning culture matched the appeal of an underrated city like Detroit, Hockeytown in every sense of the word. That kind of destination-building has played out recently just north of the border, with the Winnipeg Jets.
Despite years as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, the Jets still sit on plenty of players' no-trade lists. So how did a market like that build itself into a Western Conference power, one that won the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best team during the 2024-25 season?
A lot of it traces back to longtime general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who has steered the franchise since its relocation from Atlanta and built something that both the team and the city have earned.
While free agents on the open market have often steered clear of Winnipeg, the Jets' own core has stayed. Stars at nearly every position, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor up front, Josh Morrissey on the back end, and Connor Hellebuyck in net, have all signed long-term deals and bought into the organization, something that would have seemed unlikely for a franchise with little track record of sustained success before recent years.
Winnipeg took a step back this past season due to some free-agent signings that didn't pan out and rough injury luck, and it's currently navigating its own controversy surrounding Hellebuyck's future.
But even that situation reflects the strength Cheveldayoff has built. Convincing Hellebuyck to sign long term in the first place, and now holding the leverage to trade him on Winnipeg's terms if it comes to that, all while a three-time Vezina winner and Olympic gold medalist still has term left on his deal, is the kind of position most organizations would envy.
In many ways, that's exactly what Detroit has lost. The Red Wings could use Winnipeg's handling of the Hellebuyck situation as something of a mirror for their own with Larkin.
A player wanting out doesn't have to mean blowing up everything an organization is building, and that appears to be the mentality guiding Winnipeg as it continues to look like not just a playoff contender, but a team that has proven several times that they can win a series against some of the best in the West. Detroit is looking for its own version of that formula from whoever becomes its next general manager, and league insiders seem to agree on what that will take.
Discussing the Red Wings' GM search on a recent episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman relayed that the organization has made clear it wants a new hire who comes in with a plan, one that shows they can make players proud to wear the Winged Wheel once again.
The blueprint from a place like Winnipeg is straightforward enough as they will need to draft smart, prioritize player development above all else, lock core players in early, and convince them the organization's direction is built around winning first.
Detroit has the pieces to follow that path, however, the harder task will be convincing players like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, the two players expected to define the franchise's future, to stay locked in and believe better days are ahead.
If Detroit can pull that off, there's a real path to the other side of the rebuild, and a chance to become the kind of consistent contender the Jets have built themselves into.
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On Thursday, the hockey world was rocked by the news that Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck had requested a trade, confirmed in a public statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau.
The confirmation follows Hellebuyck's pointed comments during his end-of-season media availability back in April, when he made clear that after winning gold with Team USA at the Olympics, all that's left on his mind is winning a Stanley Cup.
The Jets have already come close at least once to moving the 33-year-old Michigan native. Around the draft, a deal reportedly came together that would have sent the fourth overall pick and additional assets to Winnipeg in exchange for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, but the trade ultimately fell through.
In his statement, Hellebuyck said he first made the request privately several months ago and had "tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options."
He didn't leave much ambiguity about where things stand now. "My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family," he wrote, while also thanking the organization and its fans, adding that Winnipeg "has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there."
With training camp fast approaching, the trade request appears likely to carry into the season unresolved. The Jets responded with their own statement, attributed directly to general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.
"Connor has been open with us about his desire for a change," Cheveldayoff said. "He has been an important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years and we have tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here. While we will continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time."
It's a tough development for a Jets team already dealing with plenty of uncertainty, and Hellebuyck's statement leaves little doubt that his preference is to begin the season somewhere else.
Still, there's a case to be made that Winnipeg can find its footing either way. If the situation drags into camp, the Jets already have a reliable option in net in Stuart Skinner, brought in via free agency this summer, and whatever return eventually comes back in a Hellebuyck trade could give the front office real assets to retool the roster.
Just because Hellebuyck no longer believes in the team's current direction doesn't mean the Jets can't make the best of the situation, using a deal involving a genuine superstar to reshape the roster and push back toward playoff contention.
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1870: Tom Morris Jr. won the Open Championship at Prestwick, claiming his third consecutive British Open title.
1899: Willie Smith captured the U.S. Open at Baltimore Country Club by 11 strokes, one of the most dominant victories in tournament history.
1901: The Detroit Tigers routed the Cleveland Blues 21-0 in the most lopsided shutout of baseball’s modern era to that point.
1921: Babe Ruth hit his 55th home run of the season, surpassing the major league record of 54 he set the previous year, as the New York Yankees swept a doubleheader from the St. Louis Browns.
1923: Bill Tilden defeated Bill Johnston to win the U.S. National Championships, securing his fourth straight national singles title.
1938: Pittsburgh’s Lloyd and Paul Waner became the first major league brothers to hit consecutive home runs, connecting in the fifth inning against New York Giants pitcher Cliff Melton.
1950: Johnny Mize hit three home runs for the sixth time in his career, establishing a major league record though the New York Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers.
1953: The National Boxing Association adopted the 10-point must scoring system, a significant business and rules change that became the standard for professional boxing.
1960: Montreal Canadiens legend Maurice “Rocket” Richard announced his retirement after 18 NHL seasons, ending a career that concluded with a then-record 544 goals and eight Stanley Cup championships.
1963: Felipe, Matty and Jesús Alou became the first three brothers to play together in the same major league outfield, appearing for the San Francisco Giants against Pittsburgh.
1969: St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Steve Carlton struck out a major league-record 19 batters in nine innings but lost 4-3 to the New York Mets after Ron Swoboda hit two two-run home runs.
1971: Houston’s Larry Yount injured himself while warming up after being announced as a relief pitcher and left without throwing a pitch, making his major league debut and final appearance in the same game.
1978: Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks by unanimous decision in their 15-round rematch at the Louisiana Superdome, becoming the first boxer to win the world heavyweight championship three times.
1979: Bob Watson became the first player in major league history to hit for the cycle in both the National League and American League.
1982: The Houston Rockets traded reigning NBA MVP Moses Malone to the Philadelphia 76ers for Caldwell Jones and a future first-round draft pick; Malone led Philadelphia to the 1983 championship and won another MVP award.
1990: Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen became the first major league pitcher to record 50 saves in a season, securing a 7-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
1995: St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith set a major league record with his 1,554th career double play turned.
1996: The Texas Rangers retired No. 34 for Nolan Ryan, the first retired number in franchise history.
1996: Andrés Galarraga’s three-run homer helped the Colorado Rockies break the modern major league record for runs scored at home in a season; Colorado finished the year with 658 runs at Coors Field.
2002: Arizona’s Curt Schilling recorded his 300th strikeout of the season, making him and Randy Johnson the first major league teammates with 300 strikeouts apiece in the same year.
2004: Arizona’s Randy Johnson surpassed Steve Carlton to become the career strikeout leader among left-handed major league pitchers, finishing a victory over Colorado with 4,139 strikeouts.
2013: Suzann Pettersen won the Evian Championship by two strokes, capturing the event’s first edition as an LPGA major championship.
2019: Suzann Pettersen sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the final match to give Europe a 14½-13½ Solheim Cup victory over the United States, then announced her retirement.
2020: The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 104-89 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, becoming the first NBA team to overcome two 3-1 series deficits in the same postseason.
2022: Roger Federer announced that the upcoming Laver Cup would be his final ATP event, bringing to a close the career of one of tennis’ most accomplished champions.
— USA TODAY Network
This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Aug 2, 2026; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) participates in a receiving drill during Detroit Lions training camp at Meijer Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Detroit Lions closed out training camp with a competitive scrimmage-style practice. And after a very strong month from the Lions defense, it was nice to see the offense put together a solid string of practices to close out camp.
As a reminder, you can get the latest news on injuries and participation in these practices with our daily injury report.
For these final observations, I’m going to package them by unit, going drive-by-drive.
First string
Drive #1 — Starting on own 1-yard line
Result: 99 yards, TD
Key plays:
Back shoulder catch from Jameson Williams on the first play for 21 yards (Rock Ya-Sin in coverage)
Third-and-12 conversion to Williams on a screen play
Amon-Ra St. Brown 22 yards on a crossing route with Malcolm Rodriguez in coverage (!!)
Play-action bootleg pass to Isaac TeSlaa for 14 yards
Fourth-and-goal catch from Williams at the back of the end zone, where he just barely got a knee in (D.J. Reed in coverage
Other notes:
The starters on offense and defense were who you would normally think, but Levi Onwuzurike, Skyler Gill-Howard, Rodriguez, and Devin White all got some rotational work
Run game was pretty ineffective with runs of 5 yards, -2, -1, 2, and 1.
Drive #2 — Starting on own 24-yard line
Result: Debatable three-and-out
Key plays:
Tyleik Williams batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage
On third-and-10, Williams caught a post route for a first down, but a holding penalty negated it
On third-and-10, St. Brown caught a screen pass and looked to convert thanks to good downfield blocking, but Dan Campbell called him short
Drive #3 — Starting on own 29-yard line
Result: 2 plays, 71 yards, TD
Key plays:
TeSlaa catches a quick curl, makes Jack Campbell miss, and turns it into 12 yards
Gibbs, following a block from Tate Ratledge, takes a 59-yard run to the house
Drive #4 — Starting on own 45-yard line
Result: 52-yard FG
Key plays:
Play-action screen pass to Sam LaPorta goes for 18 yards
Avonte Maddox completely blows up a third-and-short run for a 5-yard loss
Drive #5 — Starting on own 45-yard line
Result: Three-and-out
Key plays:
Rodriguez tallies a sack on third-and-long…. although the whistle came awfully quick, and Jared Goff completed a pass to a wide-open LaPorta that would’ve gained at least 20. Goff was not happy about the whistel.
Drive #6 — Starting on opponent’s 40-yard line
Result: Missed 63-yard field goal
Key plays:
Jack Campbell blew up a second-and-short run for a 2-yard loss (Tyleik Williams was also close)
Another holding penalty erased a third-and-5 conversion
Pressure from Skyler Gill-Howard and DJ Wonnum force a third-down incompletion.
On second-and-long, Gibbs kept his feet moving and with the help of the offensive line pushing him, set up a third-and-1
Roger McCreary had tight coverage on St. Brown on an end zone shot. It looked like St. Brown came down with it, but out of bounds
On fourth-and-1, the Lions pitched it out to Gibbs with Penei Sewell as the lead blocker and he took it to the house with only seconds remaining
Overall takeaways:
Thought this was perhaps the wide receivers’ best day against what has been a sticky secondary
Run game was just okay, but it did produce a couple of explosives and successful plays
Aidan Hutchinson was shockingly quiet
Second teamers
Drive #1 — Starting on own 1-yard line
Result: Six plays, 20 yards
Key plays:
Sione Vaki picked up a third-and-1 with a run up the middle for 10 yards, key blocks from Miles Frazier and Ben Bartch
Gill-Howard forced an incomplete pass with a pressure
Joe Bachie was all over a crossing route to Tay Martin to limit it to 5 yards
Devin White sack on third down
Drive #2 — Starting on own 34-yard line
Result: Missed 71-yard field goal … yes, you read that right
Key plays:
Luke Altmyer fumbled two snaps from Mason Miller, who was filling in for a missing Seth McLaughlin
Notably, Miller has not played any center in the NFL or in college
The two spent extra time after practice working on exchanges
Nick Whiteside, mostly playing safety again, was all over a quick slant attempt to Tom Kennedy to break up the third-down pass and end the drive
Why the Lions tried a 71-yard kick, I don’t really know
The wind wasn’t in Jake Bates’ favor, either, and the kick wasn’t close
Drive #3 — Starting on opponent’s 40-yard line
Result: 31-yard TD run from Trayveon Williams
Key plays:
Altmyer did a good job sliding from the pocket and finding Jackson Meeks on a short curl
On Williams’ 31-yard run, he did a great job drawing the defense inside, then bouncing it outside of cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe, who lost outside contain
Third teams
Drive #1 — Starting on own 22-yard line
Result: Six plays, 10 yards
Key plays:
Anthony Lucas picked up a sack, costing the offensive 9 yards
But on third-and-19, Josh Dobbs found Dominic Lovett open on a crossing route, and the second-year receiver turned it upfield for a big gain and a first down
Pressure from Ahmed Hassanein forced an incompletion and third-and-7
Eric O’Neill ends the drive with a sack
Drive #2 — Starting on own 45-yard line
Result: Four-and-out
Key plays:
Khalil Dorsey with a nice pass breakup on Malik Cunningham’s post route
On third-and-3, Dobbs nicely skirted pressure, but way overthrew his receiver downfield
Fourth-and-3, Gill-Howard absolutely danced around the guard for an immediate pressure and incompletion forced
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Bryson Eason #67 of the San Francisco 49ers works out during training camp practice at SAP Performance Facility on July 27, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers will take on the Las Vegas Raiders in their preseason finale. We won’t see many, if any, of the starters. The opposite is true for the last two draft classes. However, it does not sound like we’ll see De’Zhaun Stribling. That’s a good thing, and a sign the coaching staff has seen enough from their first pick in the NFL Draft.
If you are a wide receiver fighting for a spot tonight, you may have wished you had cemented a job ahead of tonight. Mac Jones is in uniform, but we’re likely looking at a heavy dose of Adrian Martinez, who has been inaccurate in a pair of preseason games. Hopefully, for the sake of the pass catchers, that changes tonight.
I’m interested to see Kaelon Black and Jordan James, and how much run they get. We have yet to see James. They’ll be running behind a backup offensive line, so it could be a play-it-by-ear situation if we see them at all.
There are realistically a few jobs available tonight. Most of those are either for depth or special teams. A few splashes from the defensive tackle trio of James Thompson Jr., Sebastian Valdez, and Bryson Eason could seal the deal for a roster spot.
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis is among those battling for the team's punt returner role. His efforts to earn the job may have been undone by an all-time announcer's jinx from Andrew Catalon.
Catalon was setting the stage for Davis' first punt return after Buffalo's defense forced the Pittsburgh Steelers into a three-and-out on their opening drive.
"Joe Brady wanted to see Ray Davis return punts at night," Catalon started. "He's done it during the day."
However, as Catalon finished his thought, Davis let the punt slip through his hands as he tried to catch it. The ball glanced off his chest and to the ground, where it took a massive bounce into the waiting arms of Brandin Echols.
"And that's why he had him back there," Catalon said, referencing Brady's decision to give Davis some reps as a punt returner.
Last month, Pasadena (Calif.) John Muir got a late jolt to its 2026 football roster as quarterback Kaiden Agbunag transferred in from Tempe (Ariz.) McClintock. The signal-caller was not available for the Mustangs in their season-opener, however.
The sophomore had not yet cleared the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) transfer portal, keeping him on the sidelines as Muir lost 20-6 to Bonita to begin the campaign 0-1. Agbunag now looks to be in line to make his debut this week.
A season-ending knee injury held Agbunag to just one game as a freshman for McClintock last fall. In that game, he completed 15 of 21 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns against Camelback. Finally, he’s set to get back on the field.
Agbunag has already stacked offers from Colorado, Sacramento State, Abilene Christian, Georgia State, Hawaii and Tulane. He’ll now look to bolster his stock as a sophomore. Entering this week, Muir is the No. 220 team in California, per the Rivals Composite Rankings.
John Muir brings back a talented wide receiver room this upcoming season with 2027 wideout Deveon Blaylock (570 yards, 11 touchdowns) and 2028 Noah Bozeman (580 yards, seven touchdowns). Last fall, the Mustangs went 9-2.
More about John Muir High School
“John Muir High School is a diverse educational institution in Pasadena, California, serving around 936 students. Known for its Early College Magnet program, it offers students opportunities to earn college credit while completing their high school education. The school emphasizes academic achievement, creativity, and athletic participation. With a supportive community and a range of extracurricular activities, John Muir fosters a positive environment that encourages student engagement and development in various fields, including sports.”
How to Follow California High School Football
For California high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Golden State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across California.
Los Angeles is still awaiting a verdict on whether Puka Nacua will be suspended this season because of his offseason transgressions. The decision could arrive at any moment, and the expectation is that it will come sooner rather than later so that the Rams can prepare to play games without him.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is still awaiting a decision regarding his potential suspension due to offseason transgressions. Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
This is why the Atwell trade speaks volumes: He spent his whole career in Rams coach Sean McVay‘s offense before signing with the Miami Dolphins in free agency this offseason. A brand-new receiver wouldn’t be able to memorize LA’s playbook between now and the Rams’ regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10.
The Rams reuniting with Atwell doesn’t necessarily guarantee that Nacua will be suspended; perhaps LA wanted to bring Atwell back because it liked having him around. But it would make a lot of sense as a potential insurance plan if Nacua’s suspension arrives.
And if the Rams are expecting a suspension for Nacua, how long would it last?
Nacua seen outside a rehab facility in Malibu, Calif. in March. Nacua has been accused of making antisemitic remarks and biting a woman. London Entertainment for CA Post
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter specifically mentioned earlier this month that Nacua might not be available for the Rams’ regular-season opener. Schefter likely wouldn’t have said this publicly if he had not heard of the possibility of at least a one-game suspension.
Past precedent also suggests a one- or two-game suspension might be the most likely outcome for Nacua.
In 2018, Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham was suspended for one game for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He was arrested on suspicion of battery/aggravated assault, completed a deferred prosecution program and then had the case closed.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham, who faced similar misconduct allegations, was previously suspended for one game. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Every case is different, of course, and just because Bradham’s situation is similar to Nacua’s doesn’t mean the Rams star will also be suspended for one game.
Nacua might avoid suspension altogether if the league decides the available evidence doesn’t warrant a violation. Or Nacua could be suspended for several games if the NFL decides the physical nature of Nacua’s allegations — combined with his other offseason shenanigans — warrants a stiffer punishment.
Nacua may avoid suspension altogether if the league decides the available evidence doesn’t warrant a violation. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Jameis Winston was suspended for three games in 2018 after the NFL concluded he touched an Uber driver in a sexual manner without consent. Winston wasn’t criminally charged, and there was no police report of the incident. But the NFL’s private investigation deemed a three-game suspension was valid, which could be the same path forward for Nacua.
Unfortunately, Rams fans can only bide their time until a decision is made. If Nacua misses some games, fans can expect Atwell to receive opportunities until the former returns.
However, if the Rams thought Nacua might miss significant time with a suspension, perhaps they would have added a more impactful receiver than someone who caught six passes last season.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 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. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Typically, August is considered the real dog days of summer in the NBA with news and rumors at a premium while everyone resets for a new season.
That led to plenty of questions in our latest mailbag as well. So, let’s dive into it!
Is a trade still in the pipeline? Bronny? Hardy? Knecht? If so, what type of player should they look for and which ones are realistic to get.
Or is this it, and who is going to be cut? — Walter Burns
I don’t expect a signing, but I still think there’s going to be a trade. At the very least, the Lakers are going to look hard for one.
The problem is, when you look around the league, it’s tough to find a deal. The list of teams with an open roster spot is small and there are multiple teams in the same position as the Lakers in needing to trim their roster.
If it comes down to cutting someone, I imagine Dalton Knecht or Jaden Hardy are at the front of the line, and more likely the former considering he isn’t under contract for next season.
If it’s a trade, it’s going to be hard to find a starting-caliber forward with the relatively limited assets available to LA. Saddiq Bey, for example, is a popular name, but is he a nailed-on starter for the Lakers? If anything, I think we could see a trade for a backup center and the team making due for that fifth starter.
I’d expect Knecht and Hardy to be the package shipped around. That gets you into a salary range that you can find a useful player and, if any team is willing, gives them a lottery ticket with Knecht.
Although the signings of Mamu, Grimes, and Walker (and the extension for Austin) raised valid concerns about contract length, did Pelinka also give JJ some needed continuity and buy-in the team has lacked for a while? — Plain Fiction
I think this was an important and deliberate move this offseason. Remember last year that Redick made a point to talk about how many players were in contract years and the struggles of getting them to buy in when they’re thinking about their next deal.
Now, the team’s core is under contract for multiple years and can grow together alongside Redick. It doesn’t change some of the concerns about that core, but it should be a lot easier to get buy-in when everyone knows they’ll be around for multiple seasons.
What do you think will be JJ’s biggest challenge this season? — OldSchoolBaller
That’s a great question because I think there will be plenty of legitimate answers. For me, it’ll be building a defense that makes this team a contender.
Offensively, the team will always have a high floor so long as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are on the floor, and presumably one of them always will be. Defensively, it’s going to take more scheming and work to get this roster to even an average level.
It took quite a bit of time last year, but they eventually got to something decent defensively. With a rim protector like Walker Kessler, it should be more straightforward and, perhaps, easier. But it’ll also unquestionably be a necessity.
What’s the status of JJ’s coaching staff? Are they all returning? Do any of them have new and/or different responsibilities? Any new additions? — Coops Knee Highs
There were no notable changes. Perhaps the benefit of having two veterans as the lead assistants in Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan is that few teams are going to be looking to poach them to be a head coach.
I would say to keep an eye on Lindsey Harding, though, specifically for a WNBA job in their offseason this winter. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sparks parted ways with Lynne Roberts once their season ends and Harding would make lots of sense.
Is there any reporting on progress on beefing up the scouting and analytics departments? Why would new owners impact that with a different vision or is it just a minor bump? — scooter
Pelinka made it known during his exit interview that they had beefed up these areas, but they weren’t announcing every hire. At the same time, it was also reported that there would be a hiring freeze as they transition from the Mark Walter era to the Bob Iger and Josh Kushner era.
My assumption would be that any other buffing up they had planned is on hold.
What is the impact on the fan experience, if any, from the ownership changes? — Crap
That is one of the complete uncertainties that comes with owners who have never been majority sports owners before. It’s just a guessing game.
But I hope that they lower ticket prices and turn the lights back on during games.
When an owner can make $2 billion on buying and selling a franchise in only 12 months–plus the profits from the year, too, why are we suffering under this wretched hard second apron? — Johnny Tuttle
A bit further down the line but this current CBA runs through the 29-30 season. With the onerous provisions that punished talent retention and team building (2nd Apron), would there/could there/should there be a shift back ? Teams like Denver, Lakers, Boston, Golden State and (soon be teams like OKC, San Antonio) have lost talent due to how punitive it is. — LooseLikeSleeveOfWizard
Won’t someone think of the billionaire owners? They might have to face a big luxury tax bill at the end of the season! Do you even care!?
Those aprons are getting nuked in the next CBA, though. Owners in small markets may like them because they limit owners willing to spend big, but they’re having pretty drastic consequences. Players and agents, meanwhile, really dislike them.
If the union has good leadership heading into the next negotiations, then they’ll take a firm stance against the aprons, at least as presently constructed.
Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) high-fives teammates in the dugout on Aug. 16. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Lefty Tarik Skubal hasn’t had time to fully reflect on his time in Detroit. When he learned at the beginning of the month that he was being traded to the Dodgers, he had one night of emotional goodbyes, before shifting his focus the next morning to preparing to face the Cubs in a few days.
Friday won’t be the right time either. He’s scheduled to take the mound against the Tigers, the only organization he’d played for up until three and a half weeks ago, in the series opener.
“I play baseball, and I don’t really want to let any noise or anything outside change or take away from my ability to go play baseball and put our team in a position to win,” he said in a recent conversation with The Times. “So that’s where my focus is always at. It doesn’t matter if it’s opening day of the season, it doesn’t matter if it’s spring training, it doesn’t matter if it’s the dog days of July, it doesn’t matter if it’s the postseason. For me, the game is always the same game, and that’s something that I take a ton of pride in.”
Even in his short time with the Dodgers, Skubal has thrown himself into the task at hand, from the way he’s pitched, to his commitment to connecting with his new teammates, to how he’s handled questions about his impending free agency.
Oddly enough, after the World Series favorites traded for the best pitcher available, they lost the next six games as part of a seven-game losing streak.
“Everyone around here was like, ‘Hey, we win games here,’” Skubal said. “And I go, ‘I don’t know, maybe it’s me.’”
Eventually, the Dodgers did win a game with Skubal on the roster. They even swept two series straight — before running into the Braves this week. And as Skubal has settled in, he’s enjoyed the sheer abundance of baseball conversations going on around him all the time, whether it be a pitcher chatting with the pitching coaches about sequencing, or hitters breaking down how an opposing pitcher attacked him.
“No one’s ego is too big to ask a question and try to learn from anybody,” Skubal said. “So I think that’s what makes this team so good. I think that’s why they tick, and I think that’s why they’re so good, especially in September, is they’re just not afraid to fail. They’re going to try and learn as much from each other as possible. I just love being a part of that.”
Likewise, his new teammates have loved him embracing them right away.
“You can’t tell whether he’s pitching or not because his personality never changes,” Kiké Hernández said. “And I appreciate how talkative he is, like even during his starts, like in the middle of the game, which is kind of refreshing.”
“At the end of my career, if the one thing [all my ex-teammates] say about me is, ‘Yeah, he was talented on the field, but he was an even better teammate,’ that’s what I want to be remembered as,” Skubal said.
Skubal is only under club control for the rest of the season, but he’s consistently said he doesn’t want to address free agency.
“I really am probably not going to get to that until this season’s done,” he said. “Until, hopefully, I’m holding up a trophy and I’m celebrating with these guys for two weeks, and I’m going to [have a headache] for a month after.”
A video clip from Skubal’s appearance on the podcast “Pardon My Take” caused a stir on social media, when he said, “I would love to play my whole career in Detroit” and expresses hope that the Tigers are involved in negotiations in November. But Skubal points out the missing context in that clip.
His response was to a question that described the Tigers trading him as an “unfortunate part of where baseball is.” He understood the premise as: smaller markets can’t retain their stars.
Pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) hugs Jack Flaherty in the dugout after getting pulled from his last start with the Tigers on July 29. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)
“Which I don’t agree with,” said Skubal, who has thought a lot about the larger picture as a member of the MLB Players Assn. Executive Subcommittee. “You can retain whoever. Now, the longer you wait, the harder it is to get guys to give away the years to hit free agency. I think that’s just the business of baseball, and that’s not any different than any other sport.”
He backed his point with counterexamples on each side: the Royals signing homegrown star Bobby Witt Jr. to an 11-year extension worth $288.8 million guaranteed, and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge still hitting free agency in 2022 (before ultimately re-signing).
“There’s narratives around the sport that I don’t agree with, and that’s one of them,” Skubal said.
Skubal also doesn’t buy into the fascination with the 100-pitch threshold.
He threw 109 and 106 pitches in each of his last two starts. Skubal had only surpassed 105 pitches twice before in his career, including the postseason.
“I don’t really understand the difference between 98 and 107,” he said. “I always adjust my workload in between, based on what I’m doing on the field anyways. My routine I trust a lot in terms of that, too, and how I go about my business to make sure that I feel good every fifth day.”
Clearly, even though he’s coming off a May surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow, and will have free agency to worry about in a couple months, Skubal isn’t being precious about his workload.
“All my games that I’ve been pitching in have been pretty competitive,” Skubal said, “and I want to be on the mound in all those games and try to win as many games as I can for L.A.”
As he and manager Dave Roberts get more time together, Roberts will get an even better sense of how to read the southpaw’s body language — something Skubal said they’ve already had “unique conversations” about — to help him decide when to take him out of games and when to push him.
They seem to be off to a solid start. As Skubal entered the dugout after the first inning of his last start, having given up three runs to the Pirates (“bad luck, but also some bad execution,” Skubal said), Roberts said: “That’s all they get today.”
That’s exactly how the game played out.
“He could have said that, and I could have given him five runs,” Skubal said. “But he said that, and mentally, I’m like, he’s got my back. He knows, keep us in the game, and we’re going to win.”
Though Skubal excels at focusing on the present, he also seems to sense how much weight his words carry. Wanting to avoid out-of-context reading between the lines as he praised the Dodgers, Skubal made sure to note that he wasn’t comparing his new situation with his old one.
He’s made clear over and over how special his time in Detroit was to him.
Skubal’s resolve hasn’t been tested in exactly the way it will be on Friday. But he’s performed on that same mound under unique circumstances.
When Skubal took the mound in his last start for the Tigers on July 29, he knew it could be a turning point for him and the club. The Tigers lost in extra innings, but he made a quality start and recorded his 1,000th career strikeout before leaving the game to a standing ovation at Comerica Park.
“You really appreciate that stuff,” Skubal said. “And I went down the tunnel and had some conversations with coaches that were pretty emotional too.
“You appreciate everything because without fans, this game is nothing. If no one showed up, we wouldn’t be able to play baseball for a living.”
He’s sure to have quite the reception on Friday, too. And even though Skubal excels at compartmentalizing, Roberts had one request for the Tigers.
“I hope they do the festivities the night after we win on Friday,” Roberts said, “so the emotion doesn’t get to him and he can just kind of enjoy the welcome back.”
The Kansas City Royals’ nine-game winning streak came to an end with a 3-0 loss to Toronto, but Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco frame it as a strong stretch rather than any kind of collapse. Bobby Witt Jr. stays in the AL MVP conversation, though the offensive edge right now still points toward Yordan Alvarez. Jac Caglianone’s struggles since returning from injury spark a broader conversation about rhythm and confidence, and how much weight a rough game or two should actually carry.
The roster continues to churn. Michael Massey has gone on the seven-day concussion list after a scary-looking play, and Mason Black has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Josh Rojas is back for his third stint with Kansas City, and Anthony Gose has been selected after a strong stretch in Omaha and a long MLB career as both an outfielder and a pitcher. Beck Way’s returned rehab assignment reignites a heated critique of how the organization has handled player health this year, and Nick Mears’ thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosis becomes another example of injuries taking far too long to sort out. The conversation turns pointed when Craig Kimbrel and the broader old-versus-young roster philosophy come up, with Jacob and Jeremy questioning whether Kansas City is leaning too hard on veterans who have no real bearing on the team’s future.
The back half of the episode is dedicated to MLB’s newly floated CBA proposal, and it is a thorough breakdown. A proposed $265 million cap on free-agent contracts, changes to Rule 5 draft eligibility, and earlier arbitration and free agency timing are all covered in detail. Jacob and Jeremy are particularly critical of the calendar-based offseason plan, arguing that manufactured transaction windows and a winter meetings quiet period would depress salaries and make the sport less interesting rather than more efficient. The very real possibility of a lockout when the current CBA expires in December 2026 closes out the discussion, along with a personal note on how a work stoppage would affect the people who depend on baseball’s offseason calendar to network and find jobs in the industry.
When it comes to the NFL's potential discipline of 49ers owner Jed York for his no-contest plea resulting from an attempt to pay for sex at an Ohio trailer park, the widespread public humiliation (which has crossed the Atlantic Ocean due to his partial ownership of two English soccer clubs) could be punishment enough.
Moving forward, the embarrassment could prompt York to impose a suspension on himself.
"Self-suspend" is the term an unnamed insider used to describe the potential outcome to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal at this week's special ownership meeting to approve the sale of the Seahawks — from which York was absent.
"The shame elementwas an overriding theme in the hushed hallway conversations around the Atlanta Airport Marriott, with person after person noting that the formal sanctions are likely to be an afterthought compared to the long-term reputational damage, externally and internally," Fischer writes.
Many will nevertheless be paying attention to the NFL's handling of York. As Fischer explains, the outcome probably will be a suspension and a fine.
Of course, an owner's suspension never carries the same weight as a player's suspension. When a player is suspended, he loses all income for the duration of the banishment. When an owner is suspended, the owner still gets all of the revenue his team earns during the owner's absence.
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Roki Sasaki on the 15-day injured list on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Sasaki had a blister on his right middle finger, according to the team. The blister led to him leaving a game against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning on Wednesday night.
Sasaki allowed four runs in 3.1 innings before he had a visit on the mound from the team's athletic trainer and left the game.
The right-handed pitcher has a 5-5 record this season, allowing 63 runs (61 earned runs) and 22 home runs in 119.1 innings pitched.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled Seth Halvorsen to replace Sasaki.
Halvorsen, 26, has produced a 4-4 record with a 4.25 ERA during his three-year career. He made his debut with the Dodgers on Aug. 11, throwing a scoreless inning against the Kansas City Royals before recording the win.
SAN FRANCISCO — “I think he’s starting to come out of his shell more and more.”
If you were to quess which Giants player that Tony Vitello quote was about, without already having read the headline of this article, Drew Gilbert might be the absolute last person you would have guessed.
San Francisco’s young outfielder, who captured the attention of both fans locally and across MLB with his high-energy play and, well, bizarre, dugout antics last season, is evolving as a player — and leader — on the field this season.
With so many injuries this season, and a handful of departures at the MLB trade deadline, Gilbert has become a mainstay in Giants lineups throughout the second half of a lost 2026 MLB season and is thriving at the plate, specifically in the leadoff spot as he aims to secure a prominent role next season.
With a solo home run and two RBI in San Francisco’s 6-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday at Oracle Park, Gilbert is batting .353 with three home runs, seven extra-base hits, 13 RBI and a 1.165 OPS over his last 10 home games, while slashing .400/.438/.800 with two home runs and six RBI out of the leadoff spot this season.
His success as of late has put the spotlight back on himself, and some fans have noticed fewer, if any at all, of the odd, viral celebratory moments that made him such a fan favorite last season after being acquired in a trade with the New York Mets on July 30, and even earlier this season.
“I want to be a good, winning player for the Giants,” Gilbert said. “That’s my number one goal, it always has been. I didn’t want to get it lost in the shuffle that term maybe I’m this fun, energy guy. But really, that’s not my goal. I feel like I bring more of an intensity because that’s really who I am. Like a competitive intensity.”
From being choked out by Matt Chapman in the dugout after his teammate homered to other unexplainable antics, a then-rookie Gilbert certainly seemed to have fully burst out of his shell immediately after arriving to his new team.
Then there was the famous thrust controversy earlier this season, where one of the Giants outfielders’ postgame win celebrations went viral, for obvious reasons, before the team asked them to stop doing it.
Moments like those, where Gilbert again found himself at the center of goofy on-field antics, were what Vitello believes might have played somewhat of a role in Gilbert’s slightly tamer demeanor as of late.
“I’m willing to bet there’s been moments at the beginning of the year, or even last year, where he was a little too wacky and putting energy into buckets that weren’t intelligent, or the best for him, but I think he’s finding that balance now of “How can I do this every day at the intensity level I want to and help the team?’ Vitello said postgame on Thursday.
“I think there’s good personality coming out. I talked with Buster [Posey] and [senior vice president and assistant general manager Jeremy Shelley] today about his unique style of leadership. We need it. And he doesn’t have to get permission from anyone to do it, he just needs to be himself. He may not be doing as many quirky things, but he’s playing with a level of intensity that’s good.”
At least behind the scenes, Gilbert’s personality and his relationships with his teammates have not changed.
“Drew’s been the same guy since he got over here,” infielder Christian Koss said. “I think it’s hard when the lulls we had in the beginning of the season, it’s hard to be super outgoing and energetic with the turmoil we were facing, but he’s showed up to the park every day, he’s brought his energy, I think now you’re just seeing it flourish a little more with the ballgames we’ve been in, but he’s as consistent as it gets.”
So how has someone so high energy, outgoing, and seemingly very comfortable in his own skin just now break out of his shell?
Vitello alluded to Gilbert, earlier in the season, possibly feeling somewhat anxious to speak up, and even fully embrace his personality, especially when the team is losing so many games and the rare fun on-field moments, like the postgame celebrations, generate so much attention to where the conversation surrounding the team is “blown out of proportion,” as Vitello described it.
While there might have been times when Gilbert’s infectious energy was slightly misplaced, as Vitello mentioned, the young outfielder, who has been an energizing force on the field, in the dugout and in the locker room, is proving he can maintain a balance the team needs for the rest of this season and in the future.
