CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Freshman Tait Reynolds replaced an injured Christopher Vizzina at quarterback and threw for 178 yards and led five scoring drives as Clemson defeated Georgia Southern 22-7 on Saturday night following a two-hour lightning delay.
T.J. Moore had seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown and Nolan Hauser was 5 for 5 on field goal attempts for Clemson (1-1), which rebounded from a 51-10 thrashing at the hands of No. 11 LSU last week.
That loss, combined with a seventh place finish in the ACC last year, left fans and former players frustrated with the Tigers' sharp falloff under longtime head coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson's win likely did little to inspire much confidence in new coordinator Chad Morris' offense.
The Tigers (1-1), who were outgained by nearly 500 yards by LSU, finished with 345 yards but were 2 of 13 on third down conversions and managed just one touchdown on five trips inside the red zone against the Sun Belt Conference foe.
Max Johnson, a North Carolina transfer, finished 27-of-47 passing for 244 yards and a touchdown for Georgia Southern (1-1).

#last

ATLANTA — Josh Heupel and Faizon Brandon can rely on Tennessee's defense to carry it through some rough patches — at least to a certain point.
That was apparent in the way the 18th-ranked Vols beat Georgia Tech 45-24 amid a crowd with plenty of orange at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Sept. 12.
Heupel's offense didn't have to light up the scoreboard or stat sheet to win. And Brandon, the freshman quarterback, didn't have to reel off eye-popping highlights for the Vols (2-0) to protect a lead on the road over the Yellow Jackets (0-2).
They just needed to do enough and trust in Jim Knowles, the defensive wiz that Heupel hired as coordinator in the offseason. His squad carried the Vols through some critical lulls.
Knowles' defense scored a touchdown on Dejuan Lane's pick-6. It had another red-zone stop that yielded only a field goal. Jeremiah Telander's interception prevented points before halftime. And the Vols stopped Georgia Tech's rally on fourth down at the goal line early in the fourth quarter.

#vols #georgia #didn 't

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Marty Whims II got to experience the joy and frustration of being the offensive coordinator for a Football Bowl Subdivision team on Saturday.
Unfortunately, it lasted for only four plays.
Akron was moving the ball on its first possession against Robert Morris when wide receiver Marcel Williams fumbled at the Colonials' 37-yard line. David Johnson recovered the ball after Tasheen Howard and Jake Lopinto forced the fumble.
"We moved the ball, got some first downs. I thought we were going to get a touchdown if we didn't fumble," Whims said shortly after his OC stint ended.
Whims got to call plays as part of Akron's "Offensive Coordinator of the Game" for its home opener. The 46-year-old Whims — a longtime season-ticket holder — graduated from Akron and is the chief financial officer for Stark Enterprises.

#fumble

What's wrong with Oregon? Ducks' shocking loss to Oklahoma State raises questions about new coordinators originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's too early to hit the panic **** on for any college football team. But of any FBS team, Oregon may have the most reasons to be worried.
After a Week 1 scare against Boise State, the Ducks fell to unranked Oklahoma State on Saturday, with Drew Mestemaker's three total touchdowns helping the Cowboys down the country's No. 6-ranked team in Stillwater.
There's a growing list of problems for Oregon, which now faces even more pressure for matchups like USC, Michigan and Ohio State later in 2026.
Here's a breakdown of what's been going wrong for the Ducks through two games.

#state #oklahoma #wrong #week

Being a successful college football program usually means the head coach will have to replace his coordinators fairly often. Dan Lanning has needed to do this at Oregon, and he had to fill both coordinator spots this past offseason. Tosh Lupoi went to Cal, and Will Stein went to Kentucky. After Oregon's 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State, it's clear that Will Stein meant more to Oregon than we all previously realized.
Oregon's offense did not improve from its first game to its second. That's a very alarming development for Dan Lanning. Not getting basic improvement out of his team shows that his new offensive coordinator, Drew Mehringer, is not performing at the needed standard.
Oregon had two delay-of-game penalties on a crucial fourth-quarter drive when trailing. That shows a lack of coaching. Drew Mehringer does not have firm command of his offense.
Dante Moore was good but not incredible last season. He delivered some huge clutch plays but went through cold spells. Will Stein was really skilled at teaching Moore how to learn from mistakes and evolve as a quarterback. Moore doesn't have Stein's wisdom to learn from this year. It is showing in Oregon's very inconsistent offense, which had just 65 total yards just before halftime.
Dan Lanning keeps going for it on fourth downs at Oregon. That's how he rolls. With a new offensive coordinator on staff, that risky approach now looks less effective. Lanning needs an elite offensive coordinator for his ultra-aggressive approach to work.

#coordinator #offense #mehringer

Britain Covey will be available to handle punt-return duties when the Philadelphia Eagles open their season against the Washington Commanders. Philadelphia elevated Covey from the practice squad Saturday after placing rookie tight end Eli Stowers on injured reserve. The standard elevation allows Covey to play Sunday before reverting to the practice squad after the game.
Covey was listed as Philadelphia's primary punt returner on its first unofficial depth chart, but he needed to be elevated because he was not on the 53-man roster.
Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon worked extensively as a punt returner during training camp, even while recovering from a hamstring injury. Special teams coordinator Michael Clay expressed confidence in Lemon's development while acknowledging the Eagles had other options available.
We have downgraded TE Eli Stowers to out for tomorrow’s game with quadriceps and hamstring injuries. He has been placed on the Injured Reserve List. We have also elevated WR Britain Covey for the game. pic.twitter.com/4hGlWIiBY6
Covey gives Philadelphia an experienced and dependable alternative.

#philadelphia #game #stowers

ATLANTA — Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon will try for a strong sequel to his debut in leading the 18th-ranked Vols against Georgia Tech.
Tennessee (1-0) and Georgia Tech (0-1) play Sept. 12 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
It's a good road test, especially for Brandon, who accounted for five touchdowns in 56-9 win over Furman at home. And defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will dig deeper into his scheme to stop the Yellow Jackets.
The Vols will get a boost from the return of All-SEC linebacker Arion Carter and starting center Sam Pendleton, who were suspended for the Furman game.
Carter was suspended by the NCAA because he accepted a $427 flight from his agent to an NFL pre-draft training facility, whice he repaid. Pendleton was suspended by Tennessee for violation of team rules because he was arrested in May on charges of driving under the influence.

#georgia #atlanta

The I-35 Rivalry returns to San Marcos, as Texas State football hosts UTSA on Saturday in a clash between two of Texas' biggest midmajor programs.
The Bobcats' rise has coincided with increased success against the Roadrunners. Head coach GJ Kinne has led Texas State to two straight wins over UTSA and his former mentor, Jeff Traylor, after a 20-13 loss in Kinne's debut year. The Bobcats handed the Roadrunners a 49-10 drubbing last time they met in San Marcos, and Traylor made it clear in the days leading up to the game that he hasn't forgotten that embarrassment.
MORE: Is Texas State football or UTSA favored? The I-35 Rivalry's keys to victory
Although Texas State was thoroughly outmatched against Texas in Week 1, there were a few positive takeaways. There is no doubt in the offense led by quarterback Brad Jackson and his dynamic wide receiver duo of Chris Dawn Jr. and Beau Sparks, but the defense left a lot to be desired. UTSA quarterback Owen McCown and running back Will Henderson will test how effective Texas State's offseason changes were in improving the unit that has been its kryptonite the past three seasons.
Traylor adjusted his offseason approach, bringing in veteran transfers and a new offensive coordinator. UTSA kept things vanilla against UTRGV last week and will likely have some nasty surprises for Texas State. Here are live updates from the I-35 Rivalry.

#rivalry #marcos #bobcats #Football

Following the sudden retirement of veteran center Drew Dalman this offseason, the Chicago Bears wasted no time in making a trade for Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots, looking to stabilize the position this season.
Chicago also drafted rookie Logan Jones in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and while he was believed to bring competition to Bradbury, the veteran took control of the battle in preseason and will begin the year as the team's starting center.
Bradbury will be reunited with his college teammate in Joe Thuney as starters on the Bears offensive line, and offensive coordinator Press Taylor credited the veteran with earning the trust of his coaches and teammates.

#bradbury #Chicago #bears #garrett

There is a particular kind of quiet that follows a quarterback who hasn't needed to be loud. Marcus Washington Jr. throws touchdowns the way some kids collect grades—steadily, without much fuss, until one day the transcript is too good to ignore. The three-star, 2029 First Team MaxPreps All-American out of Cajon (Calif.), has spent this season quietly ******* embling one of the most productive stat lines in the country, and this weekend he trades the Southern California sun for the SEC's version of theater when he makes his way back to Lexington for Kentucky football's showdown with Alabama at Kroger Field.
Call it a homecoming, even if his mailing address says otherwise. Washington camped in the Bluegrass this past summer, and the visit left a mark. He is coming back not as a tourist, but as a young man doing due diligence on a decision that will shape the next four years of his life—and doing it the way the good ones always have, on his own clock, gathering information instead of chasing headlines.
THE NUMBERS DON'T WHISPER.
Whatever Washington is doing quietly, the box score is not. Last week alone he was 14 of 25 for 219 yards and a touchdown through the air, then shredded the edges for 138 yards and four more scores on the ground—the kind of two-way workload that makes opposing coordinators lose sleep and college recruiters lose their composure. Through three games this fall, he has piled up 1,176 total yards and 13 touchdowns, a pace that reads less like a high school box score and more like a mid-major Saturday.
Numbers like that don't need adjectives. They need context, and the context is this: Washington isn't just a runner who can throw or a thrower who can run. He is a West Coast problem that programs from four time zones away are now trying to solve, and Kentucky is convinced it has the answer.

#kentucky

Another season begins with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants battling each other to start 1-0 in the NFC East race. Lately it's been the Cowboys getting the wins, especially when Dak Prescott is under center.
Things have a way of getting turned around when it comes to rivalries. Despite the Cowboys owning the matchups in the last 10 years, the Giants could be primed to make things more difficult. New York has made some significant changes this offseason that will challenge the Cowboys.
Here are three reasons to hate playing the Giants on Sunday night football to open the season.
Despite dominating the games between the two teams recently, the Cowboys need to be wary of a Giants team that's turned over their franchise to a Super Bowl winning coach. John Harbaugh arrives with a winning pedigree and a 4-1 record against the Cowboys, who have been feasting on poor coaches in New York since Tom Coughlin left.
The Giants' culture has changed with Harbaugh's arrival, and the first matchup with a new regime always brings surprises. Harbaugh's a veteran coach, but he hired Matt Nagy as his offensive coordinator, with whom he's never worked with as his OC, and Dennard Wilson is a first-time defensive coordinator. That can make for the Cowboys seeing some things they haven't seen from the Giants on both sides of the ball.

#cowboys #getting #winning

The Cleveland Browns will sport a new defensive look when they take the field on Sunday for their Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Some of those changes are by design: defensive end Jared Verse replaces Myles Garrett, linebacker Quincy Williams replaces Devin Bush, and defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg takes over for Jim Schwartz.
There were some unexpected changes, however, most notably along the defensive line, after defensive end Alex Wright, who was expected to be a starter, was lost for the season to a torn Achilles tendon.
That led general manager Andrew Berry to bring in veterans Sam Williams and Derek Barnett, and Rutenberg to experiment with Michael Hall Jr. at defensive end.
Rutenberg had his weekly press conference on Thursday and addressed several topics. Here are four takeaways from what he had to say.

#jacksonville

The Buffalo Bills will open the 2026 NFL season in a place where they have struggled to find success in recent years: on the road against the Houston Texans, who boast one of the league's stingiest defenses.
Since coming to the Bills as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Josh Allen has led the Bills into Houston four times. And in all four prior matchups, the Bills couldn't pull out the win.
Sunday will mark the third consecutive season where Buffalo has traveled to Houston, and today's edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by sharing the key matchups to watch and positional ***** ysis as the Bills look to snap that streak and begin the season with a big road win over a fellow playoff participant from last season.
Check out the ***** sments below and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments section.
Linked below: Breaking down the key story lines to watch, including dissecting the approach new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will take to contain the Texans; how Joe Brady can better position Josh Allen and the offense for success against a Texans pass rush that sacked Allen eight times in last year's loss; why starting right tackle Spencer Brown thinks things will go much differently against Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, two of the game's premier pass rushers, now that both Brown and starting left tackle Dion Dawkins are fully healthy; how Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb need to generate more pressure on Texans QB CJ Stroud than the Bills have their last two trips to Houston (one total sack); and more!

#last

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke with reporters on Friday. He shared his expectations for the defense against the Denver Broncos in Week 1 and improvement goals throughout the season.
"Listen, other coaches have said it, and I feel the same. It might take the first month, that's four games. I guess we're going to have the bye (week) into it; it may take that (long) to figure out exactly," said Spagnuolo. "Now, you just hope that while you're figuring it out, you're finding a way to win some games because you don't want to be behind the eight ball after the first month, but that's real."
The Chiefs defense has done well over the last few seasons against a team's top wide receiver. In 2025, the unit held quarterbacks to under 200 yards passing per game. Spagnuolo hopes to build on that, with veterans influencing the new players.
"I think that's real, now, if you have a really, really veteran team, it might be a little bit different, but because of the way the league is with free agency and all that, it seems like we've always got some new pieces that we've got to get used to, probably more so this year," said Spagnuolo. It's going to take a little while, but it's the reason why, when we went into this game plan, we tried to shave things off because we want the guys to play as fast as they can."
Kansas City ranked in the top 10 in points allowed, giving up 19.3 points per game. They will be in for a battle on Monday Night Football against a lethal Broncos offense with their starting quarterback Bo Nix back on the field. He is confident in the defense being up for the challenge after three preseason games.

#spagnuolo #kansas #city #Broncos

When you're overmatched as the Carolina Panthers may be on Sunday against the Chicago Bears—sometimes, you have to pick your battles. Stopping everything that head coach and play-caller Ben Johnson wants to do offensively simply isn't realistic given the schematic and talent mismatch on that side of the ball.
However, if the Panthers are going to defy the odds and their sorry Week 1 history to pull off a win, they have to find a way to make Chicago's offense one-dimensional. And the quickest way to do that is by shutting down the Bears' ground game, which is led by running back D'Andre Swift.
Last season, Swift led the Bears with 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Backup Kyle Monangai ranked second with 783 rushing yards to go with five scores on the ground. As a team, Chicago ranked third in the NFL with 144.5 rushing yards per game.
Containing that potent rushing attack will be easier said than done, but it's critical that the Panthers find a way to do so. While defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will direct the symphony from the sideline, it'll be Pro Bowl inside linebacker Devin Lloyd—who was signed to a three-year, $42 million pact this offseason—who shoulders most of the responsibilities on the field.
Lloyd will likely be the first defender to meet Swift or Monangai once they break past the line of scrimmage, and how well he tackles will play a big role in deciding who wins those matchups.

#swift #rushing #monangai

The Indianapolis Colts open the regular season at home against the Baltimore Ravens.
To help us preview this matchup, Glenn Erby, the managing editor of Ravens Wire, answered a handful of our questions to provide some insights into this Baltimore team.
Ravens Wire: Minter has been organized, direct, and consistent since taking over. He brings energy without manufacturing it, and players have responded to his detailed but collaborative approach. He has also allowed his coordinators to establish their identities while remaining heavily involved with the defense. The biggest takeaway is that he appears comfortable leading the entire operation rather than simply functioning as a defensive-minded head coach. The regular season will present different challenges, but the transition from John Harbaugh has been smoother than many expected.
Ravens Wire: Baltimore's defensive front should be its biggest strength. The Ravens added Trey Hendrickson to a group that could regain Nnamdi Madubuike while also featuring Calais Campbell, Travis Jones, and second-round pick Zion Young. Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton give the defense elite talent behind that front. If Madubuike remains healthy, Baltimore should be able to stop the run without sacrificing its ability to pressure quarterbacks.
Ravens Wire: The interior offensive line is the primary concern. Baltimore will start Jovaughn Gwyn at center and rookie first-round pick Vega Ioane at right guard. Gwyn has never started an NFL game, while Ioane will make his regular-season debut against DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. The Ravens are also installing Declan Doyle's offense, so communication and protection errors could occur early. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry can cover plenty of weaknesses, but Indianapolis has the personnel to test that inexperienced interior.

#Ravens

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels had a very successful 2024 season that ended in disappointment in Philadelphia.
The Commanders had won two road playoff games, and winning the third consecutive road playoff game was out of the question that day in the NFC Championship Game as the Eagles routed the Commanders 55-23. So one reporter asked Commanders head coach Dan Quinn on Friday about Daniels' hunger to win and what Quinn has observed.
Injured in 2025, Daniels was not able to take the field against the Eagles in either game in 2025. So this is Daniels' first return facing the Eagles since that 2024 NFC ******* le game. "I think it honestly started like towards the end of the season last year," replied Quinn. "That is where it began. But from that point, (there are) new systems and changes which are hard to go through. He's consistently working at it and going after it; it demonstrates readiness. He was more accurate than he's ever been."
Yes, both Quinn and offensive coordinator David Blough have referenced this offseason how Daniels has worked hard to learn and master the new offense. Both have also referred to Daniels' accuracy throughout training camp.
"So, those are the things that I saw. He's always just a confident player, and he's clutch. So, like those things, I wouldn't say they come natural to him, but they are at the forefront. But all the unseen work that went into it- he's gotten stronger, he's gotten bigger." It's no secret the Commanders are concerned with Daniels being injured so often in 2025. They are encouraged that he worked this offseason to get stronger.

#quinn #game #Eagles #season

For the third consecutive offseason, Ohio State's coaching staff underwent a significant change as Ryan Day had to replace one of his coordinators.
And for the second consecutive time, Day looked to the NFL for an answer.
Following Brian Hartline's departure for a Group of Five head coaching opportunity, Day tabbed former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith to take over play-calling duties for a Buckeyes offense headlined by Heisman Trophy hopefuls Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith.
REQUIRED READING: Arthur Smith made his mark in a high-achieving family. Can he leave one at Ohio State?
Smith is the latest big name to come to Columbus to be part of Day's staff, following in the footsteps of former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly — a decision that kick-started this trend as it came when Day gave up his play-calling duties — and Matt Patricia, who willed the Buckeyes' defense into one of the nation's top units last season.

#following #consecutive #staff

Texas A&M's six remaining home games during the 2026 season will serve as critical recruiting opportunities for coach Mike Elko and his staff, especially in the 2028 recruiting cycle, as five-star quarterback Donald Tabron III and four-star Edge Chance Archangel serve as the lone commits in the class and will make their way back to campus this fall.
Plenty of intriguing names in the cycle will visit this weekend when the Aggies host Arizona State on Saturday afternoon, while five-star wide receiver Braylon Clark recently placed Texas A&M in his top 12 program list and will visit College Station on October 3 when the Aggies host Arkansas.
Under Mike Elko, Texas A&M has developed NFL talent at nearly every position, especially after a record-tying 10 players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft back in late April. Elko's background as one of the best defensive coordinators in the country, currently serving as the Aggies' defensive playcaller, has continued to make its way to the eyes and ears of up-and-coming defenders, including 2028 four-star Edge David Dotson.
During his recent interview with Rivals insider Sam Spiegelman, Dotson named Texas A&M among several programs that "have his attention" heading into the fall months.
"Texas, Oklahoma, SMU, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, LSU, and Alabama all have my attention," Dotson continued. "They've each shown me why they want me and how I could fit into their program. The relationships with the coaches, player development, culture, academics, and overall fit are all important to me."

#star #aggies #elko

NFL pundit Skip Bayless believes the Baltimore Ravens' biggest concern may not be Lamar Jackson's talent, but whether the quarterback will fully buy into a dramatically younger coaching staff.
Baltimore opens 2026 with Jesse Minter in his first season as an NFL head coach and Declan Doyle taking over the offense. Doyle is the league's youngest offensive coordinator and will call plays for the first time after serving as Chicago's coordinator under Ben Johnson last season.
During a segment on the "Gridiron" podcast with Aqib Talib on Friday, Bayless said Jackson needs a significant season for the sake of his résumé, but the ****** yst quickly turned his concern toward the coaching staff around the Ravens quarterback.
"If Jesse Minter were the new defensive coordinator in Baltimore, I'd be with you," Bayless said. "But he's the new head coach. So you have a baby head coach trying to figure out how to run the whole show as well as the defense."
Bayless's stronger warning, however, involved Doyle.

#bayless #season

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is beloved by his players. Whether it was during his time as a position coach, defensive coordinator, or now in his second tenure as an NFL head coach, Quinn is loved and respected across the NFL.
There's a reason why you hear other prominent players on rival teams express their love and respect for Quinn, such as Micah Parsons. Most recently, Quinn has taken a special interest in Washington's first-round pick, linebacker Sonny Styles. During training camp, Quinn referenced a conversation he had with Styles about making mistakes.
"We're chasing hard to have absolute elite execution," Quinn said last month. "I also recognize there are gonna be mistakes, and I want them to happen when you're working right on the edge of something; you're going to make them. I encouraged Sonny just the other day: make them. I want you to test yourself to see: Can I go to that ****** e to get the ball? Can I be in that location? Can I go take my shot? I want them right on the edge, knowing that mistakes are part of it, and then when they happen, that they don't get repeated. And so, that's the execution piece."
Great advice from Quinn to a talented young player adjusting to life in the NFL who may be afraid of making mistakes.
Styles recently shared some notable advice that Quinn gave him.

#want #making

Washington hosts Utah State tomorrow but before we transition to Saturday's gameday coverage. Here is the Week 1 mailbag!
Chicken Little: Is it time to panic?
I wouldn't say the sky is falling, but there is certainly plenty of reason to be concerned. The Huskies' struggles on offense are excusable, but they make you seriously consider a complete shift in expectations now that their two best running backs will miss time. Washington is in desperate need of a hot start to stay as healthy as possible for the toughest games on the schedule, which come in the second half of the season. I get that rivalry games can be funky, but there is zero reason why the Apple Cup should've been as close as it was. Wazzu's offense was horrid, and Washington's was equally so until the fourth quarter. For a team wanting to compete with the Big Ten elite… that's bad. I'm not panicking just yet, but I am considering lowering my win total because I'm not sure if UW will be healthy enough to be the best version of itself.
iadawg: Ellinneus Davis was supposed to be the best defensive lineman but he only had the third most snaps of defensive linemen. Can you explain this? Thanks.
Definitely strange, but I wouldn't spend too much time thinking about it unless it happens against Utah State and Eastern Washington. There's a good chance he had a minor injury bugging him, or head coach Jedd Fisch and defensive coordinator Ryan Walters saw opportunities with other lineman and took advantage. In the end, it worked out for the Huskies. His lower-than-expected usage rate is not a trend that I think will continue through the remainder of September.

#washington #time #defensive #offense

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride will play with a refined passion in 2026. With the 2025 season in his rearview mirror and the Los Angeles Chargers ahead, McBride is hoping that his passion and premier pass-catching can spark the beginning of a new chapter for the franchise.
The Chargers lost defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who moved on to a head coaching position with the Baltimore Ravens. Still, Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. is on the roster and his skillset poses a significant opposition for McBride. Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur still has plans on making McBride the focus of the team offense and it'll come down to pure will to determine whether or not McBride can muscle up.
The Cardinals seem to have a competent offensive personnel group at the skills positions but time will tell how their offensive line fares in 2026. Play-action and the quick passing game are both strategies where LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett are likely to call on McBride's jersey number. McBride is quick and physical, plus his route running makes him a mismatch for most opposing linebackers and safeties.
Ultimately, if the Cardinals are to stand a chance on Sunday, they will rely on their passing attack to propel the offense and that'll mean that McBride must be exceptionally magnificent. The Chargers allowed just 19.8 points per game in 2025, but without the mastermind of Minter, McBride might locate a few breaches that can be exploited.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.

#play #passion #coordinator

The Virginia Cavaliers did not mess around on Friday night, taking care of Norfolk State, 59-3. As expected, the 'Hoos overmatched the Spartans for 60 minutes, allowing all sorts of reserves to get live reps in the second half.
Three different UVA quarterbacks threw touchdown passes. Beau Pribula, who played the first two quarters, was once again ultra efficient, throwing for 162 yards on 12-of-14 passing with three touchdowns. Of note, Pribula did not have a single designed rushing attempt; offensive coordinator Des Kitchings chose to keep him upright and allow him to sling the rock from the pocket instead.
Backups Eli Holstein and Cole Geer ultimately had limited passing attempts, but both had one impressive throw to build on. Holstein opened the second half with a beautiful goal line fade to Ty'Lyric Coleman in the back corner of the end zone, while Geer found high school teammate Williem Thurber on a tight window up the seam for 28 yards in the fourth.
At the skill positions, wide receiver Jacquon Gibson got himself on the board with two touchdown catches from Pribula, after failing to reach the end zone a single time with UMass in 2025. Meanwhile, sophomore Xay Davis showcased his burst out of the backfield, totaling 107 ticks on 13 attempts.
On the defensive end, Kam Robinson made his way back to the field (in a limited capacity), a welcomed sight for the Cavalier faithful. The first-team secondary looked particularly strong, with Brandyn Hillman hauling in his second and third interceptions of the season, and Jacobie Henderson displaying some playmaking ability of his own. Sophomore linebacker Justin Rowe added a pick six in the final minutes for good measure.

#three

Former Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden picked Cincinnati to beat Tampa Bay in Week 1, prompting brother Jon Gruden to accuse him of bias.
During a segment posted by Jon Gruden on X, the brothers went back and forth over Sunday's matchup.
Jon highlighted several of Tampa Bay's young defenders, including Josiah Trotter, Keionte Scott and Rueben Bain Jr., before Jay identified a weakness he believes Cincinnati can exploit.
"You got no corners. I'm taking the Bengals," Jay said.
It's Week 1 and we already have a little bias from my brother... give me Tampa to beat the Bengals!!

Presented by chevytrucks #Ad #Chevy #Silverado pic.twitter.com/MVsRsspHC3

#bengals #gruden #tampa

Falcons news: Which legendary RB did Bijan Robinson study to improve? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons will be without projected starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which could mean a bigger dose of star running back Bijan Robinson in offensive coordinator Tommy Rees' attack.
Robinson is hoping for a stellar season under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, who added an exciting new wrinkle to the Falcons' offense that Robinson believes plays to his strengths. Back-to-back 1,400-plus yard seasons have inspired confidence in Robinson, but the Falcons running back has bigger goals.
He spoke on Friday about the player he patterned his game after, name dropping one of the NFL's all-time greats on ESPN's This is Football show.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#bijan

The Cleveland Browns open the 2026 NFL season on Sunday when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It is a big day for the Browns as it will be the first time defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg is calling the shots on defense, the first time Todd Monken will work an NFL sideline as a head coach, and the first time quarterback Deshaun Watson will start a game since October of 2024. (How long he remains in that role is very much to be determined.)
Cleveland comes in with a completely rebuilt offensive line, two shiny new rookies in wide receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion, and defensive end Jared Verse taking over for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
Expectations and hope are not high for the Browns, especially with the club starting the season with consecutive road games. But Cleveland has won three in a row against the Jaguars, including the past two times they were the road team, so Sunday may go better than expected.
It is the Browns and Jaguars to open the season, and here is everything you need to know about the game.

#Browns #cleveland #sunday #game

The first time Sean Mannion stood in front of the Eagles offensive players, the new coordinator delivered a clear message about where the group needed to begin.
"He got up there and said, 'Our foundation is outside zone," Eagles right tackle Jordan Mailata said Friday. "Everything is going to start from that.'"
After an offseason full of intrigue about what the Eagles' revamped offense will look like under Sean Mannion, things are starting to come into better focus in the closing days before the season opener against the Washington Commanders.
Much of the discourse and scrutiny from afar has come around the pass game. Jalen Hurts' interception tally became a topic of conversation during training camp as Mannion installed the new system, and the questions about how the former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach could get the best out of Hurts has been central over the last few months, as well.
But Mannion's eyes are fixed on what he refers to as, "the engine."

#mannion #sean #hurts #washington

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers are releasing receiver Bo Melton in a roster management move, but he's still expected to play this week's opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
Melton, a fringe receiver but core special teamer, is expected to sign to the team's practice squad. The team plans to add him back to the 53-man roster following Week 1. Melton has four years of credited service so he is not subject to waiver claims by other teams.
The Packers have done similar roster maneuvers in the past, including releasing long snapper Matt Orzech only to later return him. The corresponding move for Melton's spot is not yet known.
Melton has been a fixture on the Packers' roster since 2023. A natural receiver, the team experimented with him as a cornerback last season, but Melton still caught four passes for 107 yards in 2025.
His primary contribution is special teams, where first-year coordinator Cam Achord highlighted his ability as a gunner on punt coverage in camp.

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Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels Describes Team's 'All-Hands' Approach Without A.J. Brown originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Before the Patriots could get a feel for the impact A.J. Brown will have on their offense, they lost him to injury for weeks to come.
Brown will be out until at least Week 6 after being placed on IR on Friday, dealing with a high ankle sprain from his Week 1 exit vs. Seattle. Rather than bringing in any new receivers, it appears New England will be turning to some of its younger pass catchers to alleviate the offense.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Thursday on a radio show that the team will be taking "an all-hands-on-deck approach" to replacing Brown's production at wide receiver, which likely means more playing time for names like DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.
"Any injury that you get at this time of the season, you kind of approach it with an all-hands-on-deck approach," McDaniels said Thursday, per ESPN. "We got a lot of different skill guys that can do a lot of different things. There isn't one person on the roster that can replace anybody like A.J. -- in the middle of a game or a stretch of a season. So we'll band together and figure out what we can do well and then try to get guys in positions to play to their strengths."

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