Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy gives heartwarming update on wife after shooting during training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy shared an encouraging update on his wife, Mia, revealing that her recovery from a shooting incident earlier this year is progressing well.
Speaking to reporters Thursday ahead of the Chiefs' Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos, Bieniemy said Mia has been doing well in rehabilitation and recently joined the team's wives' trip to Seattle.
"She's doing great," Bieniemy said, via Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. "She actually went on the trip this weekend, she was on the wives trip. She was a rock star, obviously. I was just a has-been. She's doing great. Her rehab has been going great."
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#bieniemy

Fennville Public Schools has hired Derrick DeVries as Director of Athletics and Community Recreation.
DeVries takes over for Tony Stennett, who stepped down from the position.
DeVries was a star basketball player at Calvin University and was recently ******* ociate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Knights the past four years.
"He is a graduate of Calvin University and comes to us with a wealth of experience in coaching and managing teams and athletes, athletic operations including logistical planning of camps and tournaments, athlete development, and has served as the director of youth and team camps," Fennville Public Schools said in a statement.
More: Tony Stennett steps down as Fennville Director of Athletics and Recreation

#director #tony #stennett

NBA rumors: 2 Clippers named as Thunder trade targets in addition to Herb Jones, Ty Jerome appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After the Oklahoma City Thunder's first loss of the season in a 120-96 blowout to the Dallas Mavericks, will GM Sam Presti make a move for either New Orleans Pelicans' Herb Jones or Memphis Grizzlies' Ty Jerome sooner rather than later? The injuries continue to stack up for the Thunder, as Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren were both out in addition to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace's setbacks ahead of Wednesday's game against the Mavericks.
For a team like the LA Clippers, who lost first-round picks for the next five seasons, Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn have also been mentioned as potential trade targets for Presti, who has more future firsts than any other GM in the NBA. While the Thunder are in no rush to make a trade, Presti will most likely do so at some point before this year's deadline, as ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel noted, per Clutch Scoops.
"The Thunder are going to make at least one trade. That's a given," Siegel said. "We know that Sam Presti is always very adventagous on the trade market. We didn't think that they were going to make a trade last season. And then, Jared McCain fell in their lap because they leveraged some draft picks — first-round and second-round picks — that we're going to be of use to them. We could see something similar happen this year, where it's not going to be a big splashy name; a $20-plus million guy.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#jones #clutchpoints #make

Ravens' Calais Campbell points to missed opportunity after Derrick Henry turnover appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Coach Jesse Minter's Baltimore Ravens lost a 13-10 road contest to Todd Monken's Cleveland Browns on a day when Derrick Henry took accountability for a crucial fumble. Tyler 'Snoop' Huntley showed his value to the team with a decent game, but missed opportunities haunted the Ravens QB, and defense, as the smoked cleared on a rough loss.
Afterward, Ravens defensive tackle Calais Campbell pointed out a missed opportunity following the Henry turnover.
"We got a good gameplan…I think that we executed well, it was just one of those days where we didn't do enough to win it. It would have been nice to have a TV timeout there (after the fumble)…We had to just go, I think that hurt us because they got seven…We gotta find a way to protect our brother in that moment and figure out a way to hold them to three (points). We gotta find a way to make those plays."
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#Ravens #calais #campbell #points

Baltimore's three-game winning streak ended with a 13-10 loss that tied Cleveland with the Ravens at 4-2, and now all eyes turn to Lamar Jackson returning after missing two games to lead the charge.
Browns 13, Ravens 10.
The Ravens scored on their first two possessions and never scored again. Derrick Henry's lost fumble produced Cleveland's tying touchdown, and Tyler Loop missed a 49-yard field goal.
Andre Szmyt's late field goal completed Cleveland's comeback after Baltimore failed to capitalize on an earlier missed Browns kick.
Keyon Martin recorded a sack and a pass breakup. Josh Cuevas caught four passes for 44 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Ja'Kobi Lane added four receptions for 40 yards in his return.

#Ravens #Browns #touchdown #yards

Ravens news: Jesse Minter promises Rashod Bateman breakout is coming appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Ravens walked out of Week 1 with a dominant 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Derrick Henry continued his Hall of Fame case, Lamar Jackson looked like his former MVP self, and Zay Flowers played like a top-level wide receiver in the NFL. But what about Rashod Bateman? Well, it appears head coach Jesse Minter plans to get him more involved as the season rolls along.
While talking with media members on Monday, the 43-year-old head coach claimed he liked everything he saw from Bateman in Week 1, despite the former first-round pick not hauling in a single reception, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Minter ended his statement suggesting that the Ravens will find a way to get Bateman more targets moving forward.
"I give Bate a lot of credit," Minter said. "He played the game the right way. He ran good routes. I'm excited about how he played. I think there's big days ahead for Bate."
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#minter #jesse #week

Celtics' Newest Signing Was Once Seen as the Next Derrick White originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics seem to have a type.
On Monday, the Celtics reportedly agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with Devin Carter.
Carter joins the Celtics after being drafted by the Sacramento Kings and waived by the Atlanta Hawks. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft hasn't lived up to expectations yet, but he still has the potential to become the two-way role player many expected him to be.
In fact, one player Carter was compared to ahead of the NBA Draft could soon be his teammate.

#nesn

After nearly two decades of head coach Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers are starting over with new head coach Mike McCarthy, a whole new system and several new starters. Optimism is high and fans feel like there's been a new energy with the team and so let's offer up our own bold predictions for the upcoming season.
We aren't ready to name the two players but between the team's three big edge defenders and defensive linemen Cam Heyward and Derrick Harmon, we predict the Steelers to get at least two players with 10+ sacks.
Time is almost out for Joey Porter Jr. to agree to terms on a contract with the Steelers but we predict Porter Jr. still plays in 2026, even if it is on his rookie contract.
Between Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, the Steelers have a very good two-headed running back attack. And while we think the run game will be effective, we don't see either player eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards individually.
With the team's new additions, we predict DK Metcalf will reap the benefits with his best season. Metcalf's career high in receptions is 90 and his receiving yards are 1,303. We predict Metcalf tops both this season.

#season #mike #players

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

The Detroit Lions will enter Week 1 with only one player carrying an injury designation for Sunday's opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Defensive back Christian Izien is questionable with a groin injury after being limited throughout the week. Everyone else listed on Detroit's final report finished Friday as a full participant and carries no game-status designation.
That includes rookie edge rusher Derrick Moore and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo, who both progressed from limited participation Wednesday and Thursday to full participation Friday. Detroit's official final Week 1 injury report leaves Izien as the only legitimate availability question heading into the weekend.
That is a considerably cleaner injury picture than Detroit faced during much of training camp.
Moore's progression is particularly encouraging.

#injury #detroit #designation

During the first 30 years of the Baltimore Ravens' story, they and the Indianapolis Colts have met 18 times. That includes three postseason matchups, but Sunday's opener carries a different feel. The Ravens are entering a new era under head coach Jesse Minter, while the Colts hope to prove they can contend in the AFC after last season's disappointing finish.
Most of the attention this week has focused on Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Baltimore's revamped coaching staff, and what to expect on offense and defense. All of that will certainly influence the outcome, but several less-discussed storylines could play an equally important role. Here are five worth monitoring in Week 1.
Fair or unfair, Rashod Bateman enters the season under a microscope. The veteran receiver is attempting to move forward after a difficult 2025 campaign and an offseason that generated headlines for reasons unrelated to football.
A strong opener would immediately help shift the conversation back toward his on-field value. A quiet performance, however, could reignite many of the same questions that followed him throughout the offseason. One game should not define a season, but Week 1 often shapes perception. Bateman doesn't need a 100-yard performance to make an impact. He needs to remind everyone why the Ravens still believe in him.
Ja'Kobi Lane spent much of the summer generating excitement, while Vega Ioane appears poised to play a meaningful role immediately. They are not the only rookies worth watching. Pass rusher Zion Young could find himself in situations where a single splash play changes the trajectory of his debut.

#worth

The Baltimore Ravens are preparing for an Indianapolis Colts roster that underwent meaningful changes on both sides of the ball. Indianapolis retained Daniel Jones as its starting quarterback and added veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen to a passing game featuring Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and Tyler Warren. Allen gives Jones an experienced route runner who can create separation on third down and in the red zone. The Colts also reshaped portions of their offensive line. Tanor Bortolini is listed as the starting center, with Matt Goncalves at right guard and Jalen Travis at right tackle. Quenton Nelson and Bernhard Raimann provide continuity on the left side, but Baltimore can test the newer combinations with its rebuilt defensive front.
Indianapolis made its most significant defensive investment in the secondary. Sauce Gardner joins Charvarius Ward at cornerback, giving the Colts two accomplished players capable of challenging Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Baltimore's other receivers. Cam Bynum and rookie A.J. Haulcy are listed as the starting safeties.
Arden Key was added to a defensive line that already included DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Laiatu Latu. That group should present an immediate test for a Ravens offensive line breaking in new starters at center and right guard.
The Colts' roster is deeper and more experienced in several critical areas. Baltimore still has advantages with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, but Indianapolis possesses enough talent to make Jesse Minter's debut uncomfortable if the Ravens fail to establish control early.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: How the Indianapolis Colts changed during the 2026 offseason

#colts #defensive

Josh Hokit has a serious problem with Alex Pereira campaigning for a Ciryl Gane rematch.
Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) was finished by Gane in their interim heavyweight ***** le fight at UFC Freedom 250 in June. Gane dropped Pereira with a jab then swarmed him for the second-round TKO. "Poatan" complained that several shots from Gane landed to the back of his head in the fight-ending sequence, and he's eager to run things back.
Hokit (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who scored two big wins over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis in the span of two months, believes Pereira has no business rematching Gane (14-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) – or even asking for it.
"As a fan, that fight makes no f*cking sense," Hokit wrote on X. "I watched you get demolished. How about a more favorable match up like Sergei who is basically a striker & way less athletic than Ciryl. How about you get one f*cking win in this weight class before you are gifted another ***** le shot."
As a fan, that fight makes no ***** sense. I watched you get demolished. How about a more favorable match up like Sergei who is basically a striker & way less athletic than Ciryl. How about you get one ***** win in this weight class before you are gifted another ***** le shot. https://t.co/47rOmZ5Oqj

#gane #pereira #title

Surging heavyweight Josh Hokit went on tirade on social media after former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira posted a video campaigning for a rematch with Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt.
In a series of X posts targeting Pereira and making his case for the next shot at Gane, Hokit criticized the idea that Pereira and Ilia Topuria could challenge for belts next after both got finished by Gane and Justin Gaethje this past June at UFC White House, respectively.
"As a fan, that fight makes no ***** sense," wrote Hokit, who finished Derrick Lewis on that same card. "I watched you get demolished. How about a more favorable match up like Sergei [Pavlovitch] who is basically a striker & way less athletic than Ciryl. How about you get one ***** win in this weight class before you are gifted another ***** le shot."
"Growing up, I loved the UFC & all of its fighters," he continued on a separate post. "So it gives me great pleasure to use my platform today to speak the truth: neither Ilia Topuria nor Alex Pereira deserve a ***** ***** le shot in their next fight. They both got handily destroyed. Make them earn it and fight their way back like everyone else."
Hokit argued that Tom Aspinall's manager Eddie Hearn is "obviously" stalling to "buy time in contract negotiations" instead of working on a deal for a ***** le unification bout with Gane. Hokit suggests, then, booking him versus Gane on the upcoming Madison Square Garden show November in New York, while Pereira battles Pavlovich on the same card.

#fucking #ciryl

TORONTO (AP) — Derrick Etienne Jr. scored the tying goal in second-half stoppage time and Josh Sargent recorded his first career hat trick as Toronto FC rallied for a 4-4 draw against the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
Toronto (5-7-11) allowed the first goal and came back to earn at least a draw for the eighth time this season.
Chicago (11-6-5) played to a draw for the third straight match.
Sargent scored his first goal on a strike from the center of the box in the 27th minute. Nine minutes later, Sargent sent a shot past Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady for a 2-1 lead. Sargent broke a 2-all tie in the 54th for Toronto's first hat trick since Federico Bernardeschi did so against Montreal on May 18, 2024.
But a pair of defensive breakdowns led to Chicago reclaiming the lead.

#sargent #toronto #time #lead

In an interview for Sports Illustrated, the retired former NBA superstar revealed that he actively rooted for the Knicks to win the championship. "I kind of had them winning the entire time," Rose admitted. "My son is a Jalen [Brunson] fan. So he was cheering for them the whole playoffs. I called Rick [Brunson] right before they got to the Finals and told him that they was going to play against Wemby [Victor Wembanyama] now. And if they was going to play against them, that they was going to win."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Derrick Rose on Knicks' ******* le: I had them winning the entire time

#sports

The Cincinnati Bengals could enter New Year's Eve with a lot riding on their final matchup of 2026.
CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo named Cincinnati's Week 17 home game against the Baltimore Ravens among 10 matchups that could define the upcoming NFL season. The AFC North rivals meet Dec. 31 at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
"The league couldn't have picked a better game to show on New Year's Eve," DeArdo wrote. "It's a showdown between division rivals whose games against each other always seem to go down to the wire."
DeArdo pointed to potential playoff ramifications along with the star power of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. He also noted the matchup could tilt the scales of an NFL MVP race if Burrow and Jackson are both in contention late in the year.
Slotting between a Week 16 trip to Indianapolis and a Week 18 home finale against Cleveland, it will be Cincinnati's second meeting with Baltimore after the Bengals travel to M&T Bank Stadium in Week 7.

#deardo #rivals

Quarterback
Kamario Taylor is entering his first season as the full-time starter for the Bulldogs. In two starts and some snaps taken throughout the season, Taylor completed 55.8% of his passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns to go with 458 yards and eight scores on 82 carries. His counterpart will be Aidan Armenta, who is heading into his third year as the starter for the Warhawks. Last season, Armenta completed 58.5% of his passes for 1,629 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is not much of a runner, totaling 57 yards and two scores on 60 carries.
Edge: MSU
Running back
Mississippi State is returning its top rusher from last season in Fluff Bothwell. The junior had 677 yards and six touchdowns on 142 carries. Those were all team highs, even though he missed two games due to injury. Behind him, Xavier Gayten and Kolin Wilson will jostle for the RB2 spot, while the likes of freshmen Cooper Crosby and J.J. Hill expect to get carries this season. Louisiana-Monroe went portaling for its top rusher, eventually landing Louisville transfer Don Chaney. In five seasons between there and Miami, Chaney ran for 1,030 yards and nine touchdowns on 225 carries. He will be backed up by Derrick Jameson.

#yards #season #taylor #last

Making 32 bets before the season might feel like a lot, but when you look at how many markets are available to wager on — team futures, win totals, award markets, player props, "Game of the Year" betting, etc., it's really not all that excessive. Of course, if you had just blindly bet one unit on each of all 32 of our plays from last year's article, you'd have been up 7.26 units, and you're probably thrilled to see we're back with this article again.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
We'll start in the AFC, with one bet for each team in the NFL this season.
The best-case scenario for Baltimore is that Jesse Minter and a bolstered defensive front works well enough that the majority of Ravens games are in control in the fourth quarter — and when they are, Derrick Henry can salt them away without Lamar Jackson needing to scramble around.
Optimism is high for Jackson's statistics because he comes into the season healthy, but like last year, he may not stay that way. Whether that means missed time, or similar inefficiency to 2025 when he had just 349 rushing yards on 67 carries in 13 games, we'll bet Jackson — turning 30 this season — doesn't get loose frequently enough to clear this rushing total.

#article

With roster cuts approaching, this isn't necessarily a prediction of exactly what the Ravens will do. It's how I would construct Baltimore's initial 53-man roster based on preseason performance, positional value, roster flexibility, and the likelihood of certain players making it through waivers.
QB: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley
RB: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Adam Randall
WR: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Ja'Kobi Lane, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester, Elijah Sarratt
TE: Mark Andrews, Josh Cuevas, Matthew Hibner, Durham Smythe

#lamar #tyler #justice

By Sunday evening, the Pittsburgh Steelers will trim their 90-man training camp roster down to just 53 players. We decided to ask AI to make a roster prediction to see if it can get it right and where the algorithm stands on the idea of the Steelers keeping four quarterbacks on the roster. In this simulation, the AI
Offense (25)Quarterbacks (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Drew AllarRunning Backs (3): Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Travis HomerWide Receivers (6): DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek, Kaden WetjenTight Ends / Fullback (4): Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Robert Tonyan, Riley Nowakowski (FB)Offensive Line (9): Troy Fautanu, Broderick Jones, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker, Max IheanachorDefense (25)Defensive Line (6): Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Gabriel RubioOutside Linebackers (4): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack SawyerInside Linebackers (5): Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Carson BruenerCornerbacks (6): Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen EveretteSafeties (4): DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, Rayshawn Jenkins, Robert Spears-JenningsSpecial Teams (3)Kicker (1): Chris BoswellPunter (1): Cameron JohnstonLong Snapper (1): Christian Kuntz
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Asking AI to predict the Steelers 53-man roster

#steelers #line #sunday

We're just hours away from the Baltimore Ravens kicking off their preseason finale against the neighboring Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium.
Some reserves are trying to make the roster. Others are trying to earn a larger role, settle a starting competition, or demonstrate that Baltimore can trust them when the regular season begins. The Commanders provide the final preseason test before those decisions become transactions.
These 15 players deserve attention if they are included in Baltimore's playing plan.
The question is whether ******* nano gives the Ravens enough reason to carry three quarterbacks. Watch how he handles pressure and whether he can keep the offense moving without taking unnecessary risks. A controlled finish would support the case he has already made.
The Michigan State rookie needs to show Baltimore he can handle more than carries. With Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Adam Randall occupying the projected roster spots, Tau-Tolliver's pass protection and special-teams work could determine whether he remains in the team's plans. Decisive running and ball security would strengthen his case for a practice squad opportunity.

#baltimore #roster

Derrick Brooks was in the twilight of his decorated football career when making a promise to his mother that remains part of his philanthropic efforts.
Geraldine Mitchell was only 52 in 2007 when breast cancer took her life. At that time, Brooks, a Booker T. Washington High and Florida State graduate, had established himself as one of the greatest linebackers in the NFL history during a 14-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It led to his 2014 enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Canton, Ohio.
"My mother passed 20 years ago, but she had told me to never forget where I came from, never forget where I grew up and continue to help others in Pensacola," said Brooks, prior to hosting the sixth annual Derrick Brooks Celebrity Classic golf event on Aug. 17 at Pensacola Country Club.
He continues to expand that reach.

#Career #forget #mitchell

After the Detroit Lions' 2025 disappointing season—a playoff-less 9-8 year—analysts have gone one of two ways with the future in Detroit. Some believe their Super Bowl window is closing or closed. Others believe it was a temporary step back, and they'll be back in contention in 2026. Well, you can count ESPN's Bill Barnwell as one of the people in the latter category.
On Monday, Barnwell put together his annual list of NFL teams most likely to improve in 2026, and the Lions were one of five teams listed. Barnwell's methodology for these list typically involves a set of statistics that tend to regress (positively or negatively) to the mean each year. That includes strength of schedule, records in close games, turnover margin, and point differential.
When it comes to the Lions, Barnwell pointed to several metrics that indicate Detroit could be in for a bounce-back season. One odd one was Detroit's terrible recovery rate on fumbles. Per Barnwell, Detroit recovered just 29 percent of fumbles last year, which not only was last in the league, but it was "just the fifth time since 1990 that any team has failed to recover at least 30% of fumbles in a season."
Barnwell also points to injuries as something that should (hopefully) regress to the mean in the Lions' favor in 2026.
"Detroit was last in adjusted games lost on defense, where the only starters who suited up for all 17 games were Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, Aidan Hutchinson and DJ Reader," Barnwell wrote.

#games #fumbles #believe

The Detroit Lions defeated the Washington Commanders 17-13 on Saturday afternoon in their second preseason game of 2026. Obviously, the final score of the game matters little, but there were certainly developments during the game that were positive and negative.
We'll cover plenty of both over the next few days as we break down the film, advanced statistics, and individual plays, but for now, let's talk about the big-picture positives.
Today's Question of the Day is:
My answer: It has to be the continued strong play of the defensive line.
On Saturday, the Lions saw a ton of great play from their big guys on defense. Derrick Moore provided a sack in his first NFL action. Rookie Skyler Gill-Howard was a total menace as a pass rusher throughout the game. I thought it was a promising game from Levi Onwuzurike, Tyler Lacy, and although his chances were limited to the very end of the game, Eric O'Neill looked disruptive again. And starter DJ Wonnum kicked things off with a solid performance, including a sack.

#lions #we 'll

Dan Campbell saw more than a preseason win Saturday.
He saw a Detroit Lions defense that looks more comfortable inside Kelvin Sheppard's system, more capable of understanding what offenses are trying to do and, in Campbell's words, simply smarter than it was a year ago.
Detroit beat Washington 17-13 at Ford Field, and the defense provided several of the afternoon's most encouraging moments. D.J. Wonnum sacked Jayden Daniels during Washington's opening possession, while rookie Derrick Moore later recorded a sack and forced fumble in his preseason debut. The Lions also consistently played with Washington backed up in its own territory, something Campbell credited to the combination of defense and special teams.
The bigger takeaway for Campbell wasn't one sack or one preseason performance.
It was how much more the defense appears to understand.

#campbell #lions #washington

If and when Ketel Marte returns to the Arizona Diamondbacks from the injured list, he will apparently have some work to do to regain the trust and support of manager Torey Lovullo after his unexplained absence from the team earlier in the week.
The second baseman was placed on the 10-day IL on Thursday with left knee inflammation. But before that move was made, the D-Backs put the three-time All-Star on the restricted list when he didn't show up for Monday's game versus the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
"I was hurt, I was clearly hurt," Lovullo told reporters on Friday, via Griffin S. DeMarrais. "Once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated. I felt betrayed."
Marte's absence was explained as a personal issue, but he returned to Arizona on Tuesday to undergo an MRI on his left knee. But it still wasn't clear if the knee soreness was the reason for his absence.
General manager Mike Hazen and team president Derrick Hall met with Marte on Thursday, but still apparently received few answers as to what led to his behavior. Hall said the team was withholding judgment on the situation until they received more clarification as to what was happening.

#absence #knee #arizona

There are no official inactives during the preseason, but the Carolina Panthers were kind enough to share a list of players who won't be available for tonight's road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The group includes several key defensive players as well as newly-signed tight end Darren Waller, who hasn't had time to practice with the Panthers as of yet.
Here's the complete list:
DT Derrick Brown
CB Jaycee Horn

#carolina #waller

Vita Vea's future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became one of the bigger questions surrounding the team this summer. A hold-in, a contract dispute, and reports of a trade request created legitimate uncertainty about whether the defensive stonewall would remain in Tampa Bay. Now that the situation has been resolved, Vea made it clear that leaving was never what he wanted.
Following the agreement on a one-year, $30 million extension that keeps him under contract through 2027, Vea said his goal was always to remain with the Buccaneers. "I always wanted to be here," Vea said. He also described his desire as wanting "to be a Buc for life." That sentiment provides important context to what became a complicated situation. Vea's agent had previously indicated that he did not expect the dispute to end without a trade, while Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht maintained that the team had no plans to move its starting nose tackle.
Vea has spent his entire eight-year career in Tampa Bay after the Buccaneers selected him 12th overall in the 2018 draft. He has become one of the most important players on the defense, earning two Pro Bowl selections and returning from an injury just in time to help the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV. Players wanting to stick with the franchise isn't something new, however. Lavonte David spent his entire 14-year career with Tampa Bay before retiring this offseason, becoming one of the most respected players in franchise history. David finished his career with 1,714 tackles, matching Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks for the franchise's career tackle record, and left behind a reputation built as much on loyalty and leadership as his production. Vea now has a chance to build a similar legacy. For a franchise that has watched players like David establish what it means to be a Buccaneer for life, Vea's comments carry weight.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Vita Vea Never Wanted To Leave Tampa Bay

#players

Celtics Have an Incredible Record When This Bench Player Scores 10+ Points originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
We all know the Celtics have had star players over the years, such as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who do most of the heavy lifting, but the role players and supporting cast have done their part as well.
It's arguably just as important to have quality players off the bench and around the stars, as it's a team sport that teams rarely find success in when only one or two players thrive.
The Celtics have mastered the supporting cast role/s well in the past, and they'll need it now more than ever in the 2026-27 season, with changes to the roster having taken place this summer.
The Celtics are going to rely on getting production from players like Payton Pritchard and Derrick White this season, but they'll need their second unit to bring something to the table while some of the big names rest.

#nesn