How to Watch Steelers vs. Falcons Today: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for Week 1 Game originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Steelers will begin the 2026 campaign with a home game against the Falcons on Sunday afternoon.
Aaron Rodgers will look to lead Pittsburgh back to the playoffs in the final season of his career alongside new coach Mike McCarthy, who replaced Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers will face backup quarterback Cooper Rush after Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out with an oblique injury. Can Pittsburgh keep the pressure on Rush and start the year with a win?
Here is everything you need to know about Steelers vs. Falcons, including TV and streaming options for Pittsburgh's season opener.

#falcons #sportsnet #start #game

The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback situation has somehow become even more complicated ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The team announced on Saturday that quarterback Cooper Rush is dealing with back spasms. Despite the issue though, Rush remains on track to start against Pittsburgh.
Rush had already been pushed into the starting role after Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury during Thursday's practice and was ruled out for Week 1. Michael Penix Jr. is also unavailable as he continues his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last season.
That leaves rookie Jack Strand as Atlanta's primary backup behind Rush. The undrafted quarterback has drawn plenty of interest from Falcons fans, with many hoping to eventually see what Strand can do in regular-season action. Rush remains the clear starter for now, but his back issues could make Strand's status worth monitoring throughout Sunday's game.

#quarterback #week #pittsburgh #back

The Cooper Companies Inc. (NASDAQ:COO), a leading medical device company, announced its third quarter fiscal 2026 results on September 9. Topline went up 1% to $1.066 billion in comparison with the same quarter last year, which also included 1% organic growth. The company posted quarterly adjusted diluted EPS of $1.15, which represented a 4% jump from Q3 FY25. During the quarter, $339.1 million was spent on repurchasing around 4.9 million of the company's common shares. This leaves management with $1.5 billion of repurchase capacity, which remains available after the Board had raised its buyback authorization from $2 billion to $3 billion.
The quarter featured several encouraging highlights. These include earnings that exceeded projections, notable growth across the fertility segment within CooperSurgical, record free cash flow generation, and a major tax resolution in the company's favor.
GAAP gross margin went up from 65% in Q3 FY25 to 67% during the recent quarter, largely reflecting the comparison against fiscal 2025 inventory write-downs tied to a CooperSurgical product line exit. Adjusted operating margin improved by 30 basis points to 26%, supported by cost discipline and productivity gains, though partly offset by currency headwinds.
Interest expense fell to $21.5 million from $25.4 million a year prior, reflecting lower rates and reduced average debt. Free cash flow surged 66% to $273.0 million, driven by $341.7 million in operating cash flow less $68.7 million in capital spending.
Due to unfavorable currency movements and rising manufacturing costs, the Q3 gross margin settled at 67% on adjusted basis. This was a 60 basis point drop from Q3 FY25. Certain areas of the business grant caution, such as the CooperVision segment. It generated flat organic growth amid notable weakness across the Asia Pacific and Americas regions.

#billion #cash

The high school games have just started, and the local teams are hoping to get off on the right foot.
There were several season-opening football games, and a number of Nantucket-Martha's Vineyard rivalry games.
The weather cooperated and it was a nice day for games.
Here is what happened on the Cape and Islands today for high school sports:
Sandwich 47, Upper Cape 8: The Blue Knights (1-0) rolled with an explosive offense to beat the Rams (0-1).

#here

Ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, HoopsHype is releasing rankings at every position. While Fred VanVleet was rated rather low as a point guard, Rockets star Kevin Durant was recently ranked as one of the best in his position. In a list of the top 27 small forwards in the NBA, Durant placed fifth after averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 ***** ists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks in 78 appearances last season.
The Duke duo of Jayson Tatum and Cooper Flagg were ranked first and second, respectively, before the newest member of the Philadelphia 76ers (Jaylen Brown) came in at No. 3. No. 4 is a much more controversial choice, as Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder was given the nod over Durant despite playing in just 33 contests last year. Kawhi Leonard (Raptors), Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers), Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Brandon Ingram (Clippers) and Brandon Miller (Hornets) rounded out the top-10.
For more NBA content, check out the BasketBaltes podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@B...
https://www.instagram.com/...

#season #ranked

Lil Durk has been cleared of every charge in the federal murder-for-hire trial that drew packed courtrooms, celebrity spectators and crowds of supporters to downtown Los Angeles.
A federal jury found the 33-year-old Chicago rapper, whose legal name is Durk Banks, not guilty on September 11 after three days of deliberations. The case centered on an August 2022 attack targeting rapper Quando Rondo that instead killed Rondo's 24-year-old cousin, Saviay'a Robinson, according to The ******* ociated Press.
Prosecutors accused Durk of financing and directing the attack in retaliation for the 2020 killing of his close friend Dayvon "King Von" Bennett. Durk's lawyers argued that former ******* istant Kavon Grant organized the plot without the rapper's knowledge and attacked the credibility of cooperating witnesses who had reached plea agreements with the government.
Durk was not released after the verdict. He remains in federal custody because he faces a separate trial involving murder-related racketeering and firearms allegations, with jury selection currently scheduled to begin October 5.
Durk had faced five counts: conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon, stalking resulting in death, conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death and use of interstate commerce facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death.

#commit #stalking

UPDATE: 9:38 a.m. Saturday
A lot has happened since our early posting this week. The biggest injury news is the meniscus tear suffered by the No. 1 tight end, the Raiders' Brock Bowers. He will miss Week 1, and at least a couple of weeks after that.
The season-opening game proved painful for New England star receiver A.J. Brown. He's now on injured reserve.with a high-ankle sprain that will sideline him at least a month.
Several questionable players are more likely to play this week. Arizona rookie RB Jeremiyah Love and Las Vegas sophomore Ashton Jeanty are now expected to start, as is Chicago wideout Rome Odunze. And while Giants WR Malik Nabers is playing it coy, he should be on the field tomorrow night against Dallas.
Cooper Rush will now quarterback Atlanta thanks to injuries to Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa. That might turn out to be good news for top Falcons performers Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts.

#raiders

Mavericks predicted to cut ties with $54M high-motor veteran rim runner, not Kyrie Irving originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Mavericks are at an interesting crossroads with their organization right now as they try to figure out the best moves for their future. They have a Rookie of the Year in Cooper Flagg, but the biggest question is about what they are building around him.
Kyrie Irving is set to be the point guard, but his time in Dallas may come to an end as early as this season.
"The Mavericks, as we've been writing since mid-June, have consistently swatted away trade interest this offseason in nine-times-an-All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. Rival teams, however, continue to wonder aloud about how firmly Dallas will stick to that stance once the season begins and the next in-season trade deadline on Feb. 11 gradually approaches. The primary factor fueling that curiosity, of course, is that fact that Irving is 34 and Mavericks star forward Cooper Flagg is 19. Not your average age gap between the team's two best players," The Stein Line's Marc Stein wrote.
While Irving could be on the trade block soon, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford have also been mentioned. Heavy.com's Sean Deveney believes it will be Gafford that gets traded.

#irving

The opening round at the Irish Open delivered a brutal test of patience and precision. Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland, saw play slowed significantly across the field as strong winds dominated the conditions. Defending champion Rory McIlroy managed to stay in the hunt, carding a 1-under 69 despite a costly double bogey on the 13th hole. While he sits four shots behind the leader, his position remains viable heading into the second day. The defending champion knows the margin for error is slim when the elements turn hostile. He remains tied for 17th place, a spot that offers hope but demands immediate improvement to challenge for the **** le.
According to GolfMagic, Joaquin Niemann seized the early lead with a spectacular 5-under 65. The LIV Golf standout made his move with four consecutive birdies from the 14th to the 17th holes. His drive on the 14th landed a mere three feet from the cup, creating a simple birdie opportunity that propelled his charge. Niemann's sole mistake was a bogey on the 12th following a three-putt. When asked about the experience, he noted, "It was a lot of fun out there."It's a really tricky course and a really fun golf course to play, especially with the Irish weather, he also praised the layout, stating. Despite the pressure of chasing the leader, Niemann capitalized on the scoring opportunities while others struggled.
Rory McIlroy's round told a different story of resilience. His tee shot at the 13th rolled into a bunker, hit the lip, and came back into the sand. His second shot then hit below the lip, skipped out of the sand, and landed on the fairway, yet the damage was done with a double bogey. Playing alongside Brooks Koepka, who shot a 75 after a triple bogey start, McIlroy faced a difficult back nine. Koepka's struggles on the opening hole highlighted how the high grass and wind punished errant shots. Despite his own errors, McIlroy managed to finish under par. "I hung in there, shot under par, and at least don't feel like I'm out of the tournament," he admitted. He added, "A good day tomorrow gets me right back in it."
Shane Lowry provided a local perspective on the day's difficulty. According to ESPN, Lowry finished at 67 and remained bogey-free on the back nine. He was tied with Shaun Norris. Lowry faced the same darkness issues as others, noting, "I honestly didn't think we were going to get finished." That's probably the longest round of golf I ever played, in a three-ball, anyway. I'm happy with my score."I felt like I did a solid job of making pars and trying to get to the clubhouse as quick as I could," he explained his strategy, saying. Meanwhile, Adrian Meronk was at 3 under but unable to finish before darkness fell. Patrick Reed shot 68 in the challenging conditions.
The gap between McIlroy and Niemann is significant but not insurmountable. Four shots is a manageable deficit in a four-round event, provided the weather cooperates. McIlroy's ability to recover from the bunker disaster

A pastor kicked off a recent campaign stop for Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for Senate, with a prayer that asked God to bestow "integrity and honesty" upon the event and to right wrongs "hammered down on the conservative movement."
The prayer was hardly unusual by North Carolina political standards. What was surprising was the man who delivered it. Pastor Daimon L. King is a registered ***** offender, twice sentenced to prison for convictions involving children, according to state and court records.
The episode occurred with two months to go in a marquee Senate race that could help decide which party controls the chamber after the November elections. It risks undermining one of Whatley's central campaign arguments — that his Democratic opponent, former Gov. Roy Cooper, is soft on crime. And it could feed into an advertising blitz by Democrats that has targeted the Republican candidate's ***** ociation with another convicted ***** offender, a former GOP official.
King did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Whatley's campaign declined to make him available for an interview. In a statement, campaign spokesman DJ Griffin said Whatley did not know King and the event "was NOT planned nor organized by the Whatley campaign nor did the campaign invite any of the guests."

#king #prayer #Event

Investors hammered Cooper Companies (COO) on Thursday after the medtech's fiscal third-quarter sales lagged Wall Street's expectations, leading to a guidance cut.
Specifically, the CooperVision segment — which sells contact lenses — missed expectations by 4.5%, William Blair **** yst Steven Lichtman said in a report. The miss was due to destocking. Further, the company opted against selling its CooperSurgical business following a strategic review.
"The 'no sale' is a surprise after management highlighted prospective buyers on the last earnings call," he said. "With CVI (CooperVision) results also disappointing, the stock moves back into the penalty box."
On today's stock market, Cooper Companies shares toppled 14.7%, closing at 54.17. Shares are already trading well below their key moving averages, IBD MarketSurge charts show.
Cooper said it couldn't sell the surgical division due to competition for its implantable contraceptive, Paragard, an intrauterine device. In June, Organon (OGN) licensed Miudella, a rival to Cooper's non-hormonal IUD. Cooper is also facing fertility litigation, BofA Securities **** yst Travis Steed said in a note to clients.

#Companies #expectations #investors #wall

Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH) disclosed on September 6 that a wholly owned subsidiary had signed a conditional RMB1.5 billion cash commitment to Tianjin Lisi Xingshen Equity Investment Partnership. The agreement, dated September 4, requires shareholder approval, with payments funded internally through capital calls.
Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH) expects to hold no more than 30% of the fund and will have no role in daily management or individual investment decisions. The blind-pool structure asks shareholders to approve a manager and strategy before specific investments are identified. The fund targets early-to-mid-stage private AI and technology companies with significant mainland China connections.
The strategic rationale fits the company's existing capabilities. Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH) is developing AI search, expert-data solutions and AI-enabled content businesses. Exposure to foundation models, infrastructure, robotics and applications could create technology partnerships and help identify emerging customer needs.
A specialist fund also supplies investment research, deal sourcing and portfolio oversight that would require substantial internal resources to replicate. For shareholders, the potential benefit combines investment returns with commercial opportunities for the core content platform. Any cooperation would still require separate **** sment and agreement.
There is an operating business to build around. Second-quarter paid content and intellectual-property operations revenue increased to RMB425.9 million from RMB408.2 million. Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH) also reduced total operating expenses by 13% to RMB469.4 million. These results support a focused approach in which outside technology complements established content and expert relationships.

#content #technology #million

Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons will start Cooper Rush in place of injured quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in their season opener, they announced Friday.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Jack Strand will be the Falcons' second string quarterback for the matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
"He's a very competitive person, so disappointed," Stefanski told reporters, when asked about Tagovailoa. "But he's going to rally behind Coop and do everything he can to help Coop."
Rush took all of the Falcons' first-team offensive reps Thursday and continued to lead passing drills at Friday's practice session. The veteran quarterback threw for 303 yards, with no touchdowns and four interceptions, over four appearances last season for the Baltimore Ravens.
Rush completed 61.1% of his throws for 3,766 yards, 20 scores and 14 interceptions over the first 42 appearances of his NFL career. He started 16 times during that span.

#tagovailoa #pittsburgh #season #first

Bayern Munich and SSV Ulm 1846 are continuing their partnership focused on developing the next generation of footballers.
The two clubs have extended their cooperation agreement for another year, meaning the partnership will now run through June 2027 per iMiaSanMia. Bayern Munich and Ulm have been working together in youth development since the beginning of 2021, with both clubs aiming to create better opportunities and pathways for young players.
The extension is another indication of Bayern Munich's continued focus on building relationships with clubs that can contribute to the development of young talent.
For SSV Ulm 1846, working alongside one of Germany's biggest clubs provides an opportunity to benefit from Bayern Munich's experience and expertise in youth football. For Bayern Munich, partnerships such as this can help strengthen its scouting and development network while identifying players with the potential to progress further.
The relationship has now lasted more than five years, and both clubs clearly see value in continuing it.

#munich #continuing #partnership #Youth

What is expected to be a strong Kernersville Middle School baseball team opened its season Tuesday afternoon with a 20-1 rout of Northwest Middle School at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex. The game was called on the 10-run rule after three innings.
At the plate, Colton McClendon led the team with four runs on two hits. He drove in the first two runs with a homer to left field in the first inning.
Carter Martin hit a two-run single, and Austin Newcomb followed with an RBI single. Cooper Forsyth and Aaron Thompson both hit RBI singles in the inning.
Colton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in a run. A walk to Max Garber with the bases loaded brought in another run, and a single by Kamden Rice drove in another run.
KMS added 10 runs on five hits in the bottom of the second inning. An error scored two runs, Colton singled to drove in a run. Kamden doubled, driving in scoring three runs. Jacob King followed with a two-run double. A double by Jayden Rangel scored two runs and Brantley Lawson was struck by a pitch with the bases loaded to drove in the last run of the inning.

#drove #single #kamden

Penn State players have been named to award watch lists all summer long for being the best player at their position group or showing resiliency in returning from injury. But the latest Nittany Lion named to a watch list is being recognized for his work on and off the field.
Offensive lineman Cooper Cousins has been named to the Jason Witten Man of the Year award watch list, an honor that showcases a player who has displayed the best character and has shown commitment to community, family and teammates. Cousins isn't just one of the more promising offensive linemen in the nation — he's also one of the best people in the sport.
He's done nothing but great things in the community since coming to State College in 2024. Cousins struck up a friendship in his freshman year with a 10-year-old boy named Gannon Kupko Jr. who is dealing with a serious illness. He also spoke at the 2025 Game Day Gala, an event for children fighting difficult battles like Gannon, and the function raised more than $3 million.
Cousins is one of the most important players on the Nittany Lions, and he's also a pillar in the community. It will be a treat to watch him continue to work this season and make a lasting impact on the community.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.

#watch #nittany #year #lions

The honeymoon phase is far from over for Travis Kelce.
The NFL star, who married Taylor Swift over the summer in a ceremony at Madison Square Garden, opened up more about the high-profile nuptials during a preview of his upcoming ESPN interview with Chris Berman.
Swift and Kelce tied the knot at the iconic New York City venue on July 3. The star-studded wedding featured a bevy of A-list guests, including Ed Sheeran, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, Tom Cruise, Adam Sandler and Zoë Kravitz.
"Marrying Taylor was more than I could have ever dreamed it to be because of all the people that showed up," Kelce, 36, said, according to footage obtained by "Entertainment Tonight." "And the amount of, you know, love that was in the air."
Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes, who also appeared in the interview, shared the sentiment.

#city #star #interview

It's the news that seemed expected after the Tua Tagovailoa practice video on Thursday: Cooper Rush will step up and start on Sunday for the Atlanta Falcons as they face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The tough part in fantasy football is that there's so much talent on the Falcons' roster. Michael Penix Jr. will be inactive, so it was going to be Tagovailoa tossing the ball to Kyle Pitts, Drake London and beyond. Now, it'll be Rush.
Let's dive in with some notes about some of those players as we get ready for the rest of the 2026 Week 1 slate:
Tagovailoa had his share of struggles this preseason, so it's not like you were upgrading London et al here. Rush will be fine... and there's a world in which maybe he's better?
Bijan Robinson is still RB2 or RB1 this week. Drake London might see enough volume to be a WR1-level scorer this week. Same goes for Kyle Pitts, who is just outside the top-five TEs this week.

#kyle #thursday

Both the Steelers and the Falcons have new coaching staffs heading into Week 1. It's safe to say both franchises will be looking to start their new era off on the right foot with a victory. I spoke with Kevin Knight of The Falcoholic to learn a bit about what's new with the Atlanta Falcons.
Kevin Knight: Well, now even Tua Tagovailoa is out of the lineup thanks to an oblique injury suffered during individual drills on Thursday. That means Cooper Rush at the helm (who, in truth, may not be any worse than Tua based on the aforementioned preseason). What you're going to see is a lot of quick game, and as much Bijan Robinson as the team can muster. If Atlanta can run the ball well and get Bijan going, they can score points. So that'll be the plan, with the passing game largely taking a complementary role until Michael Penix Jr. returns.
Kevin Knight: This is a good defense that will have to find ways to manufacture pass rush. Thankfully, Jeff Ulbrich is an evil genius with his blitz packages, and he's got a lot of interesting looks planned. Expect to see a lot of linebacker and slot blitzes to supplement their weaker edge rusher room, along with a lot of emphasis on interior pass rush. Atlanta has a really nice interior duo with Brandon Dorlus (who was leading all interior defensive linemen in the NFC with 8.5 sacks last season before injury) and trade acquisition Gervon Dexter Sr. They're hoping the interior can offset some of their weaknesses outside.
Kevin Knight: I like Kevin Stefanski and think it pretty much takes a miracle worker to extract any amount of success from the Cleveland Browns organization. It does seem like there's a coherent, forward-thinking plan in place for this Falcons team for the first time in years. I don't necessarily expect a lot of success in 2026 based on the moves made to this point and the way the team is structured, but I do expect Atlanta to be one of the most aggressive teams in free agency and the draft in 2027.
Kevin Knight: As I mentioned before, Brandon Dorlus is a borderline-elite interior pass rusher who may also get some run on the edge. Linebacker Divine Deablo was the biggest surprise in last year's free agent class and completely transformed the defense when he was on the field. Second-year safety Xavier Watts was a DROY candidate in 2025 and forms a dynamic duo with veteran Jessie Bates III. Atlanta will be starting two rookies on defense: Avieon Terrell (brother of A.J. Terrell) in the slot, and Kendal Daniels at linebacker. Both impressed in training camp, with Daniels being a particularly pleasant surprise given his Day 3 selection.

#expect

Former WWE star Zelina Vega aka Thea Trinidad has paid an emotional tribute to her father, Michael Angel Trinidad, on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Vega took to Instagram to remember her father, who lost his life in the attacks, while also honouring the thousands of people who lost their lives that day.
Photo by Cooper Neill /WWE via Getty Images
Vega shared several Instagram Stories as she reflected on the tragedy and her personal loss.
Among them was a childhood picture of herself with her father, alongside a heartfelt message remembering him.

#former

BRATISLAVA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Poland averted a threat to one of its border crossings with Ukraine overnight and ‌expects its crossings will be targeted as Moscow strikes ‌trade routes to try to weaken Kyiv economically, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday.
He spoke after drones hit a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova in the southern region of Odesa, killing two people on Wednesday.
"Last night, thanks to cooperation between our services ‌and their Ukrainian counterparts, ⁠a direct threat to one of the border crossings was averted," Tusk told a press conference in ⁠the Slovak capital Bratislava.
"As you know, Russia has already resorted to provocative attacks on border crossings - for instance, in Moldova. We expect similar actions targeting border crossings with Ukraine in other countries, ‌including Poland."
Russia did not immediately comment on Tusk's remarks.

#ukraine #bratislava #Russia

FIRST ON FOX: Roy Cooper, the former North Carolina governor and a Democratic candidate for the Senate, believes his party should incorporate a big-tent approach to an emerging wave of socialist candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
When asked if he would sign the Promise to America, a repudiation of socialist stances put out by moderate Democrats, Cooper said he wouldn't.
"I don't see any need to," Cooper said in video footage obtained by Fox News Digital.
"I think the party needs a wide spectrum, particularly at a time when the Republican Party is shrinking and having all kinds of loyalty tests. I think we need to have all kinds of folks to be a part of our party."
Florida Board Votes To Ban Illegal Immigrants From Public College Admissions

#America #socialist #need #think

Sept 10 (Reuters) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump twice on Thursday and ‌urged him to launch strikes against the Houthis, Axios ‌reported, citing two U.S. officials.
Trump rejected the request, and U.S. officials said the administration does not intend to take direct military action against the Houthis at this time, the report said.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and Saudi embassy in Washington ‌did not immediately respond ⁠to requests for comment outside regular business hours.
According to Axios, the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the ⁠rapidly escalating conflict in Yemen and is stepping up support for Saudi Arabia while seeking to avoid direct military involvement.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Central Command, traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday ‌for urgent coordination talks, according to the report.

#Trump #thursday #axios #officials

Welcome back, readers! I am happy to return for a second year as The Sporting Tribune's fantasy football ****** yst. If you are new here, my mission is to help fantasy managers with any dilemmas or questions they may have through the course of the season to ultimately win their leagues. For the next 17 weeks, I will produce weekly fantasy content that will go over the waiver wire, rankings, and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em columns.
Being a fantasy manager often means having to make difficult roster decisions, but I aim to take some of the guesswork out of it with my Start 'Em and Sit 'Em column for every position. It goes without saying that I won't include obvious calls like "start Trey McBride" or "sit Tommy DeVito." Instead, I search for players that could be perceived as fringe that could propel your lineups for weekly wins.
As always, if you have any questions or don't see your players on here, feel free to follow me on Twitter (X) – JamesNewell96 and send me a message, where I typically respond in a timely manner.
Kyle Pitts Sr. @ PIT (Projected FPTS - 9.4): Despite the news of Cooper Rush likely being named the Week One starter, I am still high on Pitts. He finished last season as one of the top fantasy tight ends with Kirk Cousins under center. Besides, Atlanta doesn't really have many options for pass catchers after Bijan Robinson and Drake London, and new head coach Kevin Stefanski typically uses his tight ends. Pittsburgh is also a favorable matchup, allowing 11 touchdowns and the third-most points to the position last season.
Dallas Goedert vs. WSH (Projected FPTS - 8.5): Goedert finished last season with a career-high 11 touchdowns. While it's easy to ****** ume some regression, the Eagles traded A.J. Brown, and rookie wideout Makai Lemon is coming off a hamstring injury. Philly's passing attack will likely feature DeVonta Smith and Goedert for at least the early part of the season. He will take on a Commanders team that allowed 12 touchdowns the season before (tied for the second-most). Goedert should expect to see a fair share of targets, making him worth putting in your lineup.

#fantasy #touchdowns #projected

The Los Angeles Clippers are still reeling in the aftermath of a cap circumvention scandal. For their part in helping Kawhi Leonard secure millions in off-the-court, "no-show" endorsement deals, the franchise had to give up five first-round picks and $30 million, culminating in one of the most severe penalties in NBA history.
Through it all, Kawhi escaped the scandal relatively unscathed. Besides a $700K fine, he didn't face any major consequences, and even his trade to the Toronto Raptors remains completely untouched. And yet, even now, the Clippers have yet to finalize the trade, leading some executives to suspect they are considering some sort of revenge against Leonard for how he's turned his back on the team.
"The Raptors, I'm told, are eager to consummate the trade after initially placing it on hold July 9 (to guard against a Leonard suspension or the outright voiding of his contract) and still firmly believe that the deal will happen as agreed upon and intended. Ditto for Leonard and his camp," wrote NBA insider Marc Stein. "Yet the delay has naturally led some league observers to wonder aloud whether the Clippers are holding off — or considering something even more drastic — to spite Leonard for so readily accepting the league's punishment rather than invoking his right to pursue an appeal. Any formal appeal within the NBA's auspices in such matters, remember, must be initiated by the player in question rather than the team according to league by-laws."
The Clippers have given up everything for Kawhi, and they set themselves back 10 years just to make him happy. From his very arrival, Kawhi was making outlandish requests and even forced the Clippers to give up five first-round picks (along with future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) in a deal for Paul George. By the end, the total cost of Leonard's services amounts to 10 first-round picks (not counting SGA), and it was all for a team that never made the Finals.
So when the Clippers were caught holding the bag in the cap circumvention scandal, they naturally expected some level of cooperation from Leonard, someone they moved heaven and earth to appease. Instead, he settled with the NBA right away, avoiding more severe penalties while stripping the Clippers of any power to fight back.

#clippers #leonard #first

Cooper Rush is about as good of a third quarterback as you'll find in today's NFL, and is certainly one of the most experienced. That said, when you're staring down the barrel of starting your QB3 in Week 1 of the NFL season, something has gone terribly awry.
We'll get more updates tomorrow, but that seems like a real possibility after Tua Tagovailoa left practice today with what the injury report classified as an oblique injury. He was listed as a limited participant—because he did participate before he got injured!—but we have no idea how significant that injury is at this point.
11Alive's Reggie Chatman Jr. got footage of the injury and aftermath.
If Tua's fine, he's starting against the Steelers in Week 1. If not, Cooper Rush will take the start with Jack Strand as his backup, and it would not be stunning to see the increasingly snakebitten Falcons adding another veteran quarterback to the practice squad. Things are getting real grim, real fast.
If Rush is up, he'll be making his 17th career start. He's completed 364 of 596 passes for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with 62 rushing attempts for 20 yards. The Falcons will be a little more likely to attack downfield with Rush under center in theory, but in practice I imagine he'll get an ultra-conservative gameplan that features a lot of Bijan Robinson.

#real #cooper #falcons #starting

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left practice Thursday with an oblique injury.
Tagovailoa bent over in obvious discomfort after throwing a pass during a portion of practice open to media and grabbed his right side. He dropped to the ground for a few seconds before getting up and trying to shake off the injury.
It's unclear if he returned to practice. The Falcons listed him as a limited participant.
Tagovailoa's first game with the Falcons is at Pittsburgh on Sunday. It's the same spot where he made the last start of his rocky final season with Miami.
Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski announced Monday that Tagovailoa will open the season as the starter and Michael Penix Jr. will be inactive. Cooper Rush will be the backup.

#tagovailoa #injury #season #thursday

The Falcons' plan to start Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback against the Steelers on Sunday may have changed on Thursday.
Reporters at the open portion of practice shared that Tagovailoa appeared to hurt his back at one point and that he did not throw any more passes before the team closed the session to outside eyes. It doesn't sound like he did much work over the rest of the session either.
Cooper Rush told reporters that he took all of the first-team reps during practice. Rush was set to be the backup against Pittsburgh as Michael Penix is going to be inactive for the opening game of the season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski is scheduled to speak to reporters on Friday and he could deliver the news that Tagovailoa's run as the starter in Atlanta is over before it even started.

#tagovailoa #rush #team #sunday

After waiting the entire preseason, the Atlanta Falcons finally named Tua Tagovailoa as the team's starting quarterback in Week 1. A few days later, and that status could be in jeopardy.
Tagovailoa reportedly sustained a back injury during practice Thursday. After touching his back and sitting on the ground, Tagovailoa did not throw again in the portion of practice attended by the media.
Falcons backup Cooper Rush filled in for Tagovailoa after the injury.
Tagovailoa, who is in his first season with the Falcons, also battled a back injury in July. That ailment kept him off the field briefly in training camp. He was eventually able to return to action and eventually earned the team's starting job.
But even before Thursday, Tagovailoa's grasp on a starting spot was in question. Michael Penix reportedly pushed Tagovailoa for that role, but Penix still needs more time to recover after tearing his ACL last season.

#starting #back

The regular season always brings surprises. Training camp stars don't always become September stars, and preseason momentum can disappear quickly once games begin to count. Still, several Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 1 trending in the right direction.
Veterans are settling into larger roles. Newcomers are earning trust. Young players are building on strong offseason performances. Philadelphia has plenty of reasons to be optimistic. They're preparing for their season opener against the Washington Commanders. Here are a handful of cornerstone pieces looking to build on some spring and summertime momentum.
Neither receiver is likely to challenge DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Dallas Goedert, or Saquon Barkley for featured roles in the offensive attack. Both, however, have done enough to earn attention heading into Week 1.
Cooper flashed relatively early. Brown came on later and put together one of his strongest stretches of the offseason, consistently finding ways to get open while producing whenever opportunities came his way.
The Eagles are confident they have reliable depth behind their top receiving options. Targets may be limited, but both receivers appear capable of making meaningful contributions when their numbers are called.

#philadelphia #season #always #offseason