The Denver Broncos were in a desperate situation entering the 2026 AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. With starting quarterback Bo Nix injured and missing the game, the team reportedly reached out to Hall of Famer Drew Brees to see if he was interested in what could have been one of the most surreal moments in the sport's history.
The Broncos had homefield advantage, but were dealt a cruel blow with Nix breaking his ankle late in their Divisional Round overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Backup Jarrett Stidham started the game and in blizzard-like conditions, could only muster seven points as the Patriots won 10-7 to advance to the Super Bowl.
But what if it was one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time under center for the Broncos that day?
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Broncos did indeed reach out to Drew Brees to gauge his interest in an improbable comeback. Considering that Sean Payton coaches the Broncos and the pairing is one of the most successful in NFL history while winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, it's easy to see why Denver made the call. Brees and Payton are the second-winningest QB/Coach combo in NFL history, only behind Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Of course, there would have been one major obstacle to overcome. Drew Brees had just turned 47 and hadn't played a competitive NFL game since January 17, 2021 in a playoff loss to Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Brees wouldn't have been alone in making an incredible return as Philip Rivers had come out of five years of retirement to play three games for the injury-plagued Indianapolis Colts. While Rivers went 0-3 as a starter, he completed 63% of his passes and threw 4 TDs to 3 INTS.

#super #payton

The San Francisco Giants have endured the bad, the worse and the ugly throughout a 2026 campaign that started with high hopes and landed with bleak realities.
The Giants have been among the most disappointing teams in Major League Baseball this season. There was optimism in San Francisco when the team brought in first-year manager Tony Vitello from the college ranks with no previous MLB experience. Many experts predicted that the Giants would win 82 games and maybe even sneak into a wild-card berth. It would have been the most success the team has seen in nearly a half decade.
Then the season began and things shifted immediately. San Francisco isn't anywhere near discussions of making a postseason appearance. Instead, the Giants have the second-worst record in the National League (only the division-rival Colorado Rockies have a worse record).
The Giants haven't had the play they were expecting on the diamond. The Giants lacked depth in the bullpen, dealt with a series of injuries which contorted lineups, and key players just looked like a shell of themselves through large parts of the season. Vitello has been ejected from multiple games this season. Frustration has settled in San Francisco like fog covering the Golden Gate Bridge.
It's since seemed like a salvageable season after seeing younger prospects such as Bryce Eldridge see the field more. After a sluggish start, Rafael Devers found his bat as of late and is nearing a 40-homer season. There are few positive takeaways from the Giants this year, which leaves a little excitement for the next season.

#team

This summer, a 28-year-old digital content marketer packed up his suitcases and duct-taped boxes and fled Russia, leaving behind his family and friends and not knowing when he'll be able to return.
"It is very sad to leave Russia," he said in the southern city of Krasnodar before heading for the border with Georgia.
He blamed "the political situation" in Russia and complications over authorities restricting internet access as his reasons for leaving. Otherwise, "I never would have left for more than several months," he told The ******* ociated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.
He is one of a number of people who either left or are contemplating a move amid recent Ukrainian drone attacks inside Russia and persistent rumors of a coming mobilization of troops for the 4 1/2-year-old war.
The attacks this summer caused an unprecedented fuel crisis and dealt crippling blows to the booming e-commerce sector. Since last year, the government has cited the attacks to justify harsh restrictions on connecting to the internet.

#Russia #year #otherwise

Packers news: Could Tucker Kraft be NFL's best tight end? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There were not many good things that the Green Bay Packers could take away from their Week 1 loss against the Minnesota Vikings. Some of the same problems they dealt with last season came back to haunt them, one of them being falling apart in the fourth quarter. The Vikings were able to run away with the game, scoring 22 points in the fourth, while the Packers went scoreless.
It wasn't all bad for the Packers, as they were able to get Tucker Kraft back on the field for the first time since he tore his ACL last season. Kraft looked solid in his return, finishing with three receptions for 65 yards. There were other tight ends around the league who had better statlines, but Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated sees something special in Kraft.
"Good on the Packers for getting Tucker Kraft signed long term. He's just scratching the surface of where he can go. Barring ****** ps coming back from the torn ACL, he could well be the NFL's best tight end by the end of the year," Breer wrote.
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#tight

I've used the word "penultimate" seemingly endless times in the last month or so, so here's one more. The WooSox capped off their finale in Lehigh Valley (Phillies AAA), finishing the PENULTIMATE series of 2026 in dramatic fashion despite outplaying the IronPigs for most of the game. Gage Ziehl had a gritty if not spectacular performance, pitching into the sixth and coming back from being taken yard in the fourth without his confidence shaken. All told, the 23-year-old righty struck out eight to bring his total to 126 in 116 innings pitched (96/85, respectively, of those being in Portland) and is really shaping up into someone to watch in 2027. The pitching staff as a whole issued zero walks despite being taken for nine hits, but the game never looked out of control save for when Noah Song came in to let two runs up in the sixth.
Luckily, though, the WooSox offense had a home run derby, sending five over the fence, including two from Allan Castro. That second one hoisted the WooSox from a deficit to a lead that Sam McWilliams wouldn't give up. Arias also hit his 24th home run of the season (and his 5th in Triple-A.)
Rain cancelled the last game of the season against Binghamton (Mets AA) in an anticlimactic fashion. But what a season it was for the Sea Dogs.
The season began with interested eyes watching Franklin Arias become an absolute hitting machine in the spring, along with Anthony Eyannson dealing, only for the former to be promoted to Triple-A and the latter dealt to Baltimore (or rather, Chesapeake) in the Adley Rutschman deal. Still, Brooks Brannon raked, the team had 8 walk-off wins and generally found ways to come up on top. The pitching staff headed by Hayden Mullins, in his own right a guy to watch, pitched a combined no hitter in April (but not a shutout). And Justin Gonzales looks formidable as an everyday outfielder a few years in the future. Overall, the cupboard is not as fully stocked as some teams, but there's some players to feel good about starting to make their mark in the mid-levels of the farm.

#pitching

The NFL Week 1 schedule concludes Monday night when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos in an AFC West matchup at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
For Kansas City, the biggest question heading into the season opener has centered on its quarterback. Patrick Mahomes has spent the offseason working his way back from a major knee injury that ended his 2025 season.
The 30-year-old quarterback has not played since suffering a torn ACL and LCL in December 2025. The injury sparked concern across Chiefs kingdom and Kansas City also missed the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era.
MORE: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson dealt good and bad news after Colts game
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15). Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

#kansas #quarterback #patrick

Red Sox's $60M Prospect Not Expected to Come Up Due to Tough Injury originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the Boston Red Sox deal with multiple injuries on both sides of the baseball at the moment, there is certainly a path for some players to return to the big-league roster. One of those guys was Kristian Campbell, the former star prospect whom the Red Sox paid very early, a decision that hasn't exactly worked out to the fullest just yet.
However, it's also important to recognize that Campbell is very young, and with a ton of upside and what he's shown throughout the minor leagues this season, especially recently, there's a lot of hope that he can eventually be that guy.
While there seems to have been a possibility that he could have been called up over the past few days because of some of the injuries the Red Sox have dealt with, it's now being reported that because of his injury, it doesn't seem likely that he's going to get the call.
This is an unfortunate situation in what's been a tough past year or so for Campbell, but it's the harsh reality of Major League Baseball.

#campbell #injury #Baseball

The college football season is well underway, and Week 2 has already delivered plenty of developments. Big upsets, thrilling battles and, somehow, even more delays have kept fans entertained throughout the weekend.
After Florida State experienced a massive delay before kickoff Monday night against SMU, Oregon and Oklahoma State dealt with a delay of their own Saturday. While the two games were delayed for completely different reasons, they shared one interesting common denominator.
ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregor was on the sidelines for both games. McGregor has become a staple of ESPN's college football coverage, earning praise from fans for her work throughout game day.
MORE: Oregon has all the talent in the world, but they aren't national **** le contenders
However, after back-to-back weeks featuring delays with McGregor on the sidelines, some fans might be asking a ridiculous question: Is she a game-delay curse?

#mcgregor #delays #games

The Chargers dropped their final injury report of Week One and it's about as clean as you could ask for.
Edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu (hip) is listed as questionable after being a limited participant at practice for most of the week. He dealt with a lower-body injury to begin training camp and it looks like the team is still playing it cautious with him now that the regular season is here.
Cornerback Deane Leonard is the only player listed as out for Sunday's game after missing the entire week of practice. Leonard is the team's fourth cornerback and the best coverage player on special teams. His presence will be missed in the third phase of the game.
game status for week 1 vs. AZ

QUESTIONABLE — Tuli Tuipulotu

OUT — Deane Leonard
With Leonard out, expect Nikko Reed or Kaiir Elam to be elevated for game day. Reed likely gets the nod as he has the greater experience pool in O'Leary's defense over Elam who was just signed following final cuts at the start of the month.

#tuli #tuipulotu #reed #elam

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has dealt with a lot of trade rumors and highest-paid cornerback speculation over the past few months, but the real issue in contract talks is becoming more clear by the day.
According to PennLive's Nick Farabaugh, as well as Porter's own admission that he doesn't care about becoming the highest-paid corner, the contract negotiations are all about guaranteed money.
"Repeat after me -- It's not the AAV, it's the guarantees! (and always has been)," Farabaugh wrote via X.
So far this year, we've seen cornerbacks like Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon, and Trent McDuffie completely reset the cornerback market with deals surpassing $30 million per year. Their guaranteed money has been around 75% to 80% of their total contract value.
Previously, we at Steelers Wire predicted that Porter could sign a four-year, $128 million extension that pays him an average of $32 million per season with $101 million in guaranteed money. But it's evident the holdup is more related to the latter.

#million #cornerback #contract #porter

Sandra Bullock has learned to love who she becomes during life's darkest times.
The 62-year-old actress has lost two deeply close loved ones in recent decades – her longtime partner Bryan Randall, who died in 2023 at age 57, and her mother, Helga Meyer, who passed away in 2000 at age 58.
In the second part of an interview with Hoda Kotb for the Today show, Bullock opened up about how she has dealt with being in the room when those closest to her slipped away.
"It's hard because there isn't a guidebook. Nothing has served me in a more fulfilling and enlightening way than being with someone in the room when it happens," Bullock – who was being interviewed alongside her Practical Magic 2 costar Nicole Kidman, 59 – told Kotb. "And I've been there and I've seen it and it's been different every time. But I love how I am in that moment. That's something about myself that I don't know where it came from, but I love how I am to the person in that moment."
John Angelillo/UPI Newscom/Mega Agency

#away #sandra #bryan

On September 13, 2001, Lillian Garcia stood in the center of a WWE ring — alone — with tens of thousands of eyeballs on her at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. Normally the WWE's ring announcer, Garcia had been tasked with a nominal-turned-monumental duty — singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" — two days after the most significant terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
More than 1,600 miles away, in the shadows of the ever-altered New York City skyline, 10-year-old Thea Trinidad watched — as she always did — after experiencing an upheaval most do at some point in their life, but few as suddenly as her.
"That one's specifically always stuck out to me," Trinidad, a former WWE champion who performed under the alias Zelina Vega, tells Uncrowned. "I remember that one specifically, I saw all of the wrestlers get really emotional and seeing Lillian, still I always tell her: 'Yours is still my favorite to hear.'
"It just felt like, in that moment, the thing that I loved most was kind of shining a light on my dad. In a way, it kind of felt like it was just for 9/11, and it felt like it was just for those people. And I think in a weird way, it was important for us to feel that, because everyone else just felt like you were a thing, like a spectacle. You were someone to look at. You almost felt like you were the circus animal, and you were like, 'Oh, look, they dealt with that,' or, 'Oh, look, her dad died.' It just felt like wrestling was the thing that I've always felt seen in."
Thea and her brother Timothy are seen in a photo with their father, Michael. (Photos courtesy of Thea Trinidad)

#thea #lillian

Draymond Green recently recorded an episode of his podcast, 'The Draymond Green Show,' in which he discussed several league topics, including Ben Simmons' NBA return with the Sacramento Kings.
Simmons signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Kings to make his comeback to basketball after taking a year away from the league. When he last played in the 2024-25 season, he averaged 5.6 ******* ists, 5.0 points, and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games while shooting 52.0% from the floor.
Green recognizes that while Ben Simmons is no longer the same All-Star-caliber player people saw in his prime, his arrival mainly benefits Darius Acuff Jr., the 19-year-old point guard the Kings picked seventh overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
"Number one, I'm happy to see Ben Simmons back in the NBA. Ben Simmons is a talent that, you know, doesn't grow on trees, and we don't get the opportunity to see in the NBA every day. Ben Simmons got off to a very promising start in his career, and then a lot of people try to blame his game and not his injuries."
"It sucks that when guys get injuries, ultimately people start blaming them as a player, you know, as if you have control over the injuries that happened. And I know Ben Simmons was dealing with a back issue. And I know most people don't understand what that means, but let me tell you, as someone who dealt with a back issue, it's debilitating," Draymond Green said.

#kings #know

NEW YORK — Breece Hall had never dealt with a groin injury.
So when he strained his right groin during an Aug. 17 practice, the Jets' star running back admits he "freaked out."
Three weeks later, Hall is healthy, practicing fully and expecting to play in Sunday's season opener against the **** ans.
"It was actually a very good two-week vacation," Hall said Thursday. "I could have been out there a little earlier, but the team thankfully was very cautious with me.
"It was a good vacation, and I feel really fresh now."

#vacation

Rangers news: Jacob deGrom's strong start ends with concerning injury update appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Texas Rangers star pitcher Jacob deGrom pitched well on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners. However, he was removed after throwing 92 pitches through six innings, a decision that Rangers manager Skip Schumaker later said was due to an injury concern, via Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.
"Skip Schumaker said that Jacob deGrom was dealing with groin tightness through much of his start today. That's what the mound visit was about in the sixth and that's also why he didn't come back out for the seventh," Landry reported.
deGrom was indeed terrific while on the mound despite battling groin tightness throughout the outing. The veteran right-hander struck out 12 Mariners through six innings while allowing no runs and only one hit. Disaster struck following deGrom's departure from the contest, as Jakob Junis allowed four runs. The Rangers were defeated 4-3, a loss that dealt a blow to a team that is competing for a postseason spot.
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#landry

CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) dealt with significant headwinds after the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's financial results suffered as sales of coronavirus-related products (such as diagnostic tests) declined, while expenses in its insurance business rose substantially, resulting in lower profits and margins. However, CVS Health has done a good job of addressing those problems, and the stock has rebounded. Shares are up 31% over the past 12 months. Wall Street thinks there may be even more upside on the horizon. CVS Health's average price target is $116.04 (according to Yahoo! Finance), implying a meaningful 20% upside from current levels. Is now a great time to buy the stock?
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Over the past 18 months (or so), CVS Health has implemented several initiatives that have helped improve its business. For instance, the company closed dozens of stores, many of which were unprofitable. The pharmacy chain specialist also scaled back its insurance division, notably by exiting the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The results have been pretty impressive. Consider the company's second-quarter results. CVS Health's revenue increased by a healthy 7.3% year over year to $106.1 billion.
Adjusted earnings per share were $2.58, 42.5% higher than the year-ago period. Note the improvement in CVS Health's healthcare benefits segment, which offers health insurance services. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue declined slightly to 12.4%, down from 12.5% in the prior-year quarter, even as revenue grew 3.5% year over year. And operating margins within this unit came in at 5.8%, up from the 2.8% reported in the year-ago period. Also, CVS Health's medical benefits ratio -- the percentage of insurance premiums the company spent on medical care (the lower the better) -- declined to 87.4% in the second quarter, down from 89.9% in Q2 2025.
CVS Health also increased its guidance for the full fiscal year 2026. The company now expects its adjusted EPS to fall between $7.90 and $8.10, up from its previous range of between $7.30 to $7.50. The company is also now projecting cash flow from operations of at least $11.5 billion, up from the previous lower bound of $9.5 billion. These are signs of a much-improved business.

#insurance

You've got to hand it to Miami: The Hurricanes' social media team nailed this post on X (formerly Twitter) after Florida State dealt with a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium on Monday night that delayed the Seminoles' contest against SMU.
The game eventually started at 9:15 p.m. ET with some limits that included no PA announcer and no use of the scoreboard.
Miami's admins decided to have some fun with it with a simple tweet: "The lights are ON at our house," they wrote. "See YOU at Hard Rock [Stadium] on Thursday."
Boom, roasted. Here's the post Miami put up:
Some people did point out that Hard Rock technically isn't only their house with the NFL's Miami Dolphins playing there, but that's beside the point. This is some good ol' fashioned social media trolling and we're here for it.

#stadium #hard #Media

Christopher Bell finally broke through when it mattered most.
Bell won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night, capturing his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2026 season and opening the Chase with a massive statement win. The victory was Bell's 14th career Cup Series win and ended a frustrating stretch of near-misses that had seen him finish runner-up seven times.
Tyler Reddick entered Darlington with plenty of momentum and started the race from the pole after weather forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying.
Reddick immediately showed why he was considered one of the favorites, winning the opening stage after battling with Denny Hamlin throughout the first portion of the race. Bubba Wallace and Hamlin remained near the front as the field dealt with Darlington's notoriously difficult tire-wear conditions.
Reddick's strong start put him in position to score valuable playoff points, but the race was far from over.

#darlington #series

When the Los Angeles Clippers dealt a 20-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the move seemed like the ultimate push to put the Clippers in championship contention.
Yes, the Clippers gave up a haul of future picks, but they formed their dream star duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. As much promise as Gilgeous-Alexander showed in his lone season in L.A., the Clippers wanted to win now. To them, making a deal involving trading SGA gave them the best chance to do that.
Though Gilgeous-Alexander was initially distraught at being shipped off to a new team, the move did remarkable wonders for his development. Now, it is clear the deal wasn't a hindrance to SGA's career; it was a blessing in disguise.
Clippers players loved Gilgeous-Alexander in the locker room and bought stock in the Canadian's potential.
Clipper vet Lou Williams grew a bond with SGA and respected his disciplined work ethic for a young player. In just one year, Gilgeous-Alexander left an indelible impression on his teammates.

#alexander #move #gave #deal

Captain Martin Odegaard scored the winner as ****** nal secured an impressive 2-1 home victory over Chelsea.
Club-record £117m signing Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead after just two minutes, but Kai Havertz equalised against his former club before Odegaard struck early in the second half to seal the win.
Here's how I rated the players and you can see how you scored them below.
What do BBC Sport's player ratings mean?
David Raya: The ****** nal goalkeeper was beaten by the quality of Rogers' finish but dealt comfortably with the other efforts he faced and produced one stunning save late on from Estevao. 6

#odegaard #scored

La Liga giants Barcelona have on Sunday been dealt a potential blow on the personnel front. This comes owing to developments in the Blaugrana's latest outing on the domestic front.
Hansi Flick's troops are currently locked in action at Mestalla, in a league meeting with Valencia. Barca headed into proceedings with sights on a fourth win from four to open the campaign, aware that as much would see them open an early advantage over arch rivals Real Madrid atop the table.
And as things stand, this is precisely what the evening's visitors find themselves headed towards. Owing to goals on the part of Lamine Yamal and Fermín López, Barcelona are in possession of a deserved 2-0 advantage.
As alluded to above, though, across an otherwise positive outing to date for the reigning Spanish champions, one source of concern was forthcoming on the personnel front.
Following a bizarre set-piece sequence which saw Rodri collide head-first with teammate Eric García, the latter was left grounded and bleeding from his nose.

#Barcelona #personnel #outing #sunday

With seven days to go before the Green Bay Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 regular season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium, here are seven things for Packers fans to know about Kevin O'Connell's team entering 2026:
Unlike last season, the Packers won't be facing J.J. McCarthy or Max Brosmer in the season opener. The Vikings are turning a new page at quarterback, starting former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray to open the 2026 season. Murray is 0-2 as a starter in his career against the Packers. At his best, Murray is a playmaker at quarterback who can extend plays or create explosive gains with his legs. But Murray hasn't led a team to a winning record as a starter since 2021, and his career passer rating is 92.2. Last season, Murray played in only five games, and he hasn't appeared in a regular season game since Oct. 5 of 2025. Can he provide a higher baseline of play at quarterback in Minnesota, and is he more than just another stopgap?
Kevin O'Connell on Kyler Murray: "I think he's demonstrated what he's capable of, both the experience he has playing at a high level in this league, but also his experience now of coming in here being challenged. And I think he's shown enough to really project with the right prerequisite now of work for a starter leading into a camp that we can get the rhythm, the timing, we can get the mastery of our system and this year's system, regardless of what we've done in previous years, what we're going to look like, how we're going to play. There's different things and nuances that we're going to fit to what our players, Kyler included, do the best. And in my opinion, he's got the skill set and the abilities, not only just from a standpoint of accuracy, but his ability to affect the game with his athleticism."
A bit of a surprise before Week 1: Harrison Smith is coming out of retirement to re-join the Vikings for a 15th NFL season. A versatile veteran who knows Brian Flores' system inside and out, Smith provides an experienced veteran who can get everyone on the same page pre-snap and play from multiple alignments post-snap. While he wasn't in Minnesota for training camp, it's likely Smith will be ready to contribute right away in Week 1. The Packers will have to wait another year to face the post-Smith Vikings.
The Vikings traded away top pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard, leaving a hole on the edge of Brian Flores' defense. He was a menacing rusher who made the Pro Bowl in 2024, but Greenard dealt with lingering injuries in 2025 and is now playing for the Eagles. Who will take over his role? Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, is now expected to be the go-to pass-rusher in Minnesota. Expect to see plenty of battles between Turner and 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan next Sunday. Last season, Turner produced 8.0 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Is he ready for a breakout season in Year 3? Andrew Van Ginkel is another productive player on the edge, and the Vikings also added veteran Kyle Van Noy to t

Real Madrid's recent 1-0 defeat at the hands of Real Betis was an early reminder that the team still requires a lot of work, especially when it comes to calming the dressing room.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid will be dealt with yet another tricky contest this midweek as they take on Inter Milan in the first match of the Champions League this season.
Heading into this crucial encounter, Jose Mourinho is facing a major dilemma, with at least four midfielders missing for different reasons.
Mourinho will miss four midfielders vs Inter. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
As reported by Diario AS, Real Madrid will miss no less than four midfielders heading into their game against Inter Milan.

#Inter #midfielders #Milan #heading

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers swapped relievers in the bullpen on Saturday, activating Bobby Miller from the 60-day injured list with Kyle Hurt getting optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The timing of the move helps provide a lesson in timing and roster planning with just over three weeks remaining in the regular season.
The immediate need is available arms to cover Sunday and Monday's games. Sunday was an open spot in the rotation already on the nine-game homestand, and Monday opened up after Eric Lauer was placed on the injured list after his start last Tuesday. Justin Wrobleski, who pitched two innings on Tuesday, will be available for bulk innings on Sunday against the Nationals. Miller will be potentially available Sunday as well up to around 50 pitches if needed if he doesn't pitch on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday.
Miller began the season on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, and also dealt with a back injury this season. During his rehab ***** ignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Miller put up a 3.86 ERA in seven games, with 17 strikeouts and four walks in 14 innings. His last two outings were exactly one inning, but his first five games with the Comets were between two and three innings, and ranged from 44-50 pitches.
"I feel like my stuff has played up a little bit better [in relief], but being in attack mode just all the time is really a mindset out there," Miller said Saturday. "Try to get ahead of every single hitter, not get in a ton of 3-2 counts, just try to get the hitter out as best you can."
Whether Miller is even an upgrade over Hurt is at least debatable, as at least one Dodgers reliever was surprised to see Hurt in street clothes with a travel bag packed walking out of the clubhouse on Saturday. But Miller is more likely than Hurt to provide length, and the fresh arm express isn't always fair.

#games

The San Francisco 49ers are less than one week out from their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, and they've already touched down in Australia as they adjust to the major time change before the game.
The 49ers have been dealing with a ton of injuries ahead of the season, recently placing Sam Okuayinonu on Injured Reserve, but they are expected to have Nick Bosa and George Kittle available in Week 1, with both making the trip to Australia.
Bosa finally practiced in full for the first time this offseason earlier this week, as he's made his recovery from an ACL tear and then tendonitis that unexpectedly popped up this summer, raising concerns.
Speaking to the media, the defensive end acknowledged the difficulties with the recovery process and why the setback occurred.
"It was a long road," Bosa acknowledged. "There's some stuff I dealt with, with that patellar tendon, and then I kind of ramped it a little too fast with the football stuff a month ago or whatever it was. And that kind of told me to back off. I've just been trying to get it as strong and as confident as I can to where I could rip the Band-Aid off and go to team stuff today.

#bosa

Lakers reportedly trying to trade $48M dud who doesn't fit any longer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers don't have many trade ******* ets, but they do have a player or two they could still move.
One guy who keeps popping up in trade rumors is Jarred Vanderbilt, an athletic wing who isn't much of an offensive player.
Vanderbilt has never been a great shooter, shooting below 30% in three of his four seasons in Los Angeles. He's also dealt with some injury history throughout his career, playing in 29 games in 2023-24 and 36 in 2024-25.
It's tough to find a perfect trade for the Lakers to make involving him because of the limited ******* ets they have to attach to a trade involving him and his contract.

#trade #angeles

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson says it would be "crazy" to judge his new-look side so early in the Scottish Premiership season.
The Dons have been dealt a tough hand in their opening quartet of league fixtures, a sequence that included games against the top three teams from last term – Celtic, Hearts and Rangers.
After beating Hearts in their opening game, the Dons lost at Dundee before sustaining defeats by both halves of the Old Firm.
Speaking before Saturday's league visit of Kilmarnock, Robinson said: "There are very, very few games been played in the season so far, so to be that judgemental that early on is crazy.
"I will judge the team when we are 15 games in and then what we need and where we go from there.

#hearts #season #opening #league

What are some of the real positives as the Washington Commanders approach their 2026 season?
As each season approaches, there are always positives and negatives. Depending on a person's personality, they typically tend to emphasize one and minimize or exclude the other. We recently dealt extensively with injuries and offensive line woes in the final week of their scrimmage and preseason game vs. the Ravens.
What are the positives? Well, there are more than those on the outside lead you to believe.
Jayden Daniels is fully healed after playing in only seven 2025 games and being injured four different times during the season. Daniels had a very productive training camp and has reportedly learned David Blough's new offense very well.
New offensive coordinator David Blough worked with the Commanders over the previous two years, particularly with quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.

#daniels #jayden #washington #depending

Content Warning: This story contains references to suicide.
Former Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos defensive back Alphonso Smith Jr. died on Wednesday, the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to the Denver Post.
He was 40.
Specifics of his death are not yet known. According to TMZ, Smith died by suicide in Pahokee, Florida, on Wednesday.
Smith spent four seasons in the league throughout his career, first with the Broncos after they selected him with the No. 37 overall pick out of Wake Forest in 2009. Smith spent his rookie campaign with the Broncos, but was then dealt to the Detroit Lions the following year. He immediately had his best campaign with his new team, and had 39 total tackles and five interceptions that season, including one that he ran back for a score.

#Broncos #detroit #spent

September is upon us. For most fans, that means that training camp is almost underway and the season is right around the corner. For us Red Wings fans, this September begins with a bleak outlook. Training camp begins Sept. 17, the team is without a GM, and Dylan Larkin's future with the Red Wings is riddled with uncertainty.
The simple truth is we don't know Larkin's future. Reports that Dylan Larkin requested a trade out of Detroit came in early June this year to the shock of many fans. Larkin has five years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $8.7 million AAV. This attractive contract increases Larkin's value, but as of now, no trade has been made. With the GM seat still empty, it is very unlikely he will be dealt before training camp.
No general manager means no decisions regarding hockey operations are being made. A Larkin trade or reconciliation is not going to happen until a new GM is chosen. Simon Edvinsson's contract will also remain in limbo until this happens. With less than three weeks until the beginning of training camp, the outlook for the Red Wings doesn't look great. But let us explore some positives and dampen the darkness.
Moritz Seider doesn't show any hints of slowing down, and his aspirations for becoming one of the league's best defensemen are without question. The big German led the team with a +15 plus/minus and 180 blocked shots last season.
"I want to establish myself as a guy that people are not happy to see on the ice," Seider said during the European Player Media Tour. "I think that's one of the biggest compliments you could get is that people are not happy to see you, in a good way."

#wings #larkin #fans #dylan