BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — They have been bickering among themselves for three years now. The best part of it is, ***** ody really knows who's right, who's wrong and, most importantly, who's going to win whenever they step onto the track to let their running do the talking.
The latest chapter in the most intriguing show in track and field — the men's 1,500 meters — takes place Sunday at the Ultimate Championship, with the winner getting a check for $150,000.
Will it be Josh Kerr, the new mile world-record holder from Scotland?
Or Cole Hocker, the American who barged his way into this conversation with a shocker of a win two years ago at the Paris Olympics?
Or Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the Norwegian who seems to have an opinion about everything?

#budapest #hungary #Scotland

Minnesota Vikings OT Christian Darrisaw (non-injury) did not practice Friday, Sept. 11, but is not listed on the Week 1 injury report. S Harrison Smith (non-injury) was a limited participant and does not carry an injury designation. S Jakobe Thomas (illness), S Jacob Thomas (ankle) and OT Caleb Tiernan (ankle) fully participated and have been removed from the injury report.
SOURCE: Packers.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Week 1 injury report for Minnesota

#minnesota #week #thomas #darrisaw

Jacksonville Jaguars RB LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip) was limited in practice on Friday, Sept. 11, and is listed as questionable ahead of the team's matchup with the Cleveland Browns. OL Anton Harrison (foot) did not practice Friday and no longer appears on the injury report. WR Jakobi Meyers (thumb) and OL Cole Van Lanen (knee) were limited in practice all week and no longer appear on the injury report.
SOURCE: Jaguars.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jacksonville Jaguars Week 1 injury report

#injury #limited

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers (thumb) was limited during practice Friday, Sept. 11, but is not on the injury report for Week 1.
SOURCE: Jaguars.com
Why It Matters: Meyers was limited during all three practices this week but is on track to play in the regular season opener. He has become one of the main targets in the passing game for the Jaguars and can be a No. 3 receiver in most fantasy leagues this week.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jakobi Meyers on track to play in opener

#track #jacksonville #Friday

European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen produced another barnstorming run to win the men's 5000m at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
The Paris Olympic champion kept a low profile in the middle of the pack before storming around the outside to surge clear in the closing 100m.
American Parker Wolfe came to the front at the bell but was unable to prevent Ingebrigtsen powering away to a comprehensive victory, winning in 12:59.24. Cole Hocker was second in 13:00.05 and Wolfe clung on for third in 13:00.13.
"Easy work," Ingebrigtsen said afterwards with a grin, before collecting the trophy at the brand-new event - along with a winner's cheque for $150,000, which all individual champions will receive.
The Norwegian - frighteningly for his rivals - is still not at 100% fitness as he continues his comeback from an Achilles injury which required surgery in February.

#budapest

Where to watch World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Schedule, times, TV channels, live streams for 2026 meet originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The biggest track and field event of the year has arrived.
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship features three days of competition in Budapest with the best of the best on display. The field for each event will consist solely of reigning Olympic and world champions and athletes ranked in the top 12 to 16 in the world for track events and the top eight for field events.
That stellar lineup will include U.S. standouts like world champion sprinters Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Sha'Carri Richardson, along with 2024 Olympic gold medalists Gabby Thomas, Rai Benjamin, Cole Hocker and Masai Russell.
They'll be competing for gold against the likes of Mondo Duplantis, Julien Alfred, Jakob Ingebrigtsen and many more.

#World #sporting

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.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#landry

The Minnesota Vikings continue to be relatively healthy as Week 1 approaches. Jakobe Thomas, the team's third-round pick at safety, was the only player who didn't participate in Wednesday's practice due to an illness.
However, it appears Thomas has gotten past that. He was limited in Thursday's practice, as were fellow rookies Caleb Tiernan (ankle) and Jacob Thomas (ankle), the undrafted free-agent safety out of James Madison.
Green Bay's injury list was lengthier, with DL Warren Brinson and LB Ty'Ron Hopper listed as DNPs for the second straight day. Starters who were limited on Thursday included RT Zach Bako-Bewele (knee), LG Aaron Banks (knee), DL Devonte Wyatt (ankle), DL Javon Hargrave (knee), and EDGE Barryn Sorrell (foot).
Starting LT Jordan Morgan (knee) was upgraded to a full participant after being limited on Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Thursday injury report for the Vikings Week 1 matchup

#thomas #thursday #safety #practice

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers (thumb) was limited during practice Thursday, Sept. 10.
SOURCE: Jaguars.com
Why It Matters: Meyers should have a good chance to play in Week 1, but fantasy players will know more after the last practice of the week. He has played very well since joining the Jaguars in the middle of last season and can be a No. 3 receiver or flex option this week if he plays.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Limited practice for Jakobi Meyers

#limited

Harrison Smith looked like he had already played his final snap for the Minnesota Vikings. They even gave their longtime safety what appeared to be a farewell last season, only for Smith to leave the door open without ever officially announcing retirement.
Now, that door has swung wide open, and the "Hitman" is coming back for another season, and his return suddenly gives the Vikings some much-needed experience in a secondary that has taken several hits this offseason.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) celebrates after catching an interception against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The Vikings are bringing Smith back for his 15th NFL season on a one-year contract worth $12.25 million, with the deal capable of reaching $16.25 million through incentives, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The agreement comes just days before Minnesota opens the regular season against the Green Bay Packers, turning what looked like the end of Smith's career into one more run in purple.
The timing could hardly be better for the Vikings. Their safety room has been battered throughout training camp. Theo Jackson is recovering from a leg injury, third-round rookie Jakobe Thomas spent some time on the bench because of his back problem, and Jamal Adams got a season-ending quadriceps injury. Josh Metellus and Jay Ward had to carry the load, but now, the Vikings needed someone more experienced.

#season #looked #like

The Vikings' selection of Caleb Banks is going to be debated for months until he steps on the field in a regular-season game. Given the injury concerns, folks will want to see how sustainable his play is, but, of course, they will hope for the best. Beyond the Banks pick though, this class has shown to be decent enough to generate some early contributors throughout camp and the preseason.
When it comes to the depth of it all, it helps explain why Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley is a fan of the group the team selected. This week he spoke to the media, and he discussed the class, saying, "We've seen all of our players improve on a daily basis, and so really excited about the trajectory of the draft class."
On defense, this class could have four impactful players, including defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. Linebacker Jake Golday is being used in a variety of ways, and safety Jakobe Thomas projects as someone who will be a part of the rotation.
Not a bad class for a first-year general manager to take in when he didn't have a say in any of the picks, as he was with the Seattle Seahawks at the time of the draft.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Minnesota Vikings are excited about their draft class ahead of Week 1

#class #banks #draft #week

The Sacramento Kings' interest in Jalen Duren isn't going away, even if the Pistons have basically shut the door on a sign-and-trade for now. On the latest episode of ESPN's The Hoop Collective, Anthony Slater said GM Scott Perry has Duren's name "with highlighter pen" as a possible target, while also noting that Sacramento could create max cap ***** e next summer if Duren takes his $9.6 million qualifying offer and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027. The Kings already met with Duren earlier in free agency, so this isn't just random trade-machine talk.
The problem is Detroit. The Kings would like to sign-and-trade for Duren with Domantas Sabonis going the other way, per Tim MacMahon, but "that's not happening," because the Pistons have made it clear they aren't interested in moving their 22-year-old All-NBA center. Detroit reportedly wants Duren closer to $35.0 million per season, while his camp is looking for more than $40.0 million, and the Pistons still "absolutely, positively, 100%" intend to keep him despite that gap in "nasty" negotiations.
So if the Kings really want Duren now instead of waiting another year, Sabonis alone clearly isn't getting it done. They would need to make the return much bigger, probably bring in more teams to solve the salary issues, and give Detroit enough immediate talent and draft capital to at least reconsider its current position. This four-team framework with the Bucks and Raptors does exactly that, while landing Sacramento the young center they clearly want to build around.
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jakob Poeltl, Duncan Robinson, Ron Holland, 2027 second-round pick via Pistons, 2029 first-round pick via Raptors
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jalen Duren

#sacramento #pistons

Thomas Stamm makes three changes from the defeat away to Heidenheim. Ahmet Muhamedbegovic, Nicolai Rapp and Jakob Lemmer come into the starting XI.
Uwe Rösler makes two changes to the eleven from the defeat in Osnabrück last time out. Enis ****** aj and Christian Rasmussen come into the eleven.
Dynamo Dresden (4-3-3): Schreiber; Sterner, Muhamedbegovic, Müller, Rossipal; Wagner, Rapp, Hauptmann; Lemmer, Vermeij, Bobzien
VfL Bochum (4-2-3-1): Horn; Olsen, Steinwender, Mets, Wittek; ****** aj, Pannewig; Miyoshi, Rasmussen, Holtmann; Hofmann

#muhamedbegovic

Jakob Ingebrigtsen admits he is "a long way" from the level that he expects. The maverick Norwegian made a dramatic return to racing at the European Championships in Birmingham, storming to 5,000m gold to banish skepticism surrounding his condition and his nerve to compete on the big stage following a 323-day absence after a debilitating Achilles injury.
Athletics is a star-driven sport and the 1,500m, among its most compelling events, alongside the women's 800m, depends on head-to-head duels when records, such as Josh Kerr's captivating tilt at the one mile mark in London, are not at stake.
The two great rivals, who were famously caught snoozing in Paris two years ago as Cole Hocker slipped up the inside of the rail to ***** gold, continue to bristle at each other's journeys away from the track.
Ingebrigtsen's command and control across 5,000m is mesmerising, but even if Kerr was merely provocative in his claim that "no one cares" about that event, the pure chaos of the 1,500m reigns and its former Nordic king knows all too well.
"I think a lot of people should be [disappointed in Kerr's absence from some championships]," Ingebrigtsen had remarked. "Because that is what championships are all about. It's not for us as athletes to choose almost where to participate. We have these championships for a reason, and that is for the best athletes to compete - that is the whole point.

#jakob

In the absence of superstar Tadej Pogacar another Slovenian announced himself to the cycling world with a stunning win on one of the toughest stages of this Vuelta a Espana: 20-year-old Jakob Omrzel.
The Bahrain-Victorious prodigy was part of a 30-strong breakaway on the 166.6km stage 12, a dramatic up-and-down day after two flatter stages for the sprinters.
Fireworks were always expected on the back-to-back category-one climbs at the end of the day and Omrzel duly provided them, taking his first WorldTour victory on the biggest stage - and on his debut grand tour.
The youngster - a former winner of the Giro d'Italia Next Gen, a prestigious stage race for under-23 riders - went solo with 12km to go on the final climb, the Calar Alto, a 17km behemoth averaging 5.6%.
The breakaway splintered apart in his wake and he held on to win by 1 minute 56 seconds from Urko Berrade, covering his face in delight and punching the air as he crossed the line.

#stage #breakaway #back #tadej

The Yahoo Expert League draft was held on Tuesday evening with a slew of talent throughout the ranks. The 12-team league was comprised of mostly Yahoo ******* ysts with a few surprise guests. Let's go over some of their favorite late-round WR dart throws from the action.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
Joel Smyth went with Jaguars wideout Jakobi Meyers to kick off the 11th round. It's never bad to get a piece of one of the best offenses in the NFL from last season with Meyers expected to be one of the top targets for QB Trevor Lawrence along with Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington (both of whom landed on Matt Harmon's roster).
That started the run of wide receivers in the 11th round with four of the next five picks. Ray Garvin tagged Tre Tucker, who could be the No. 1 wide receiver in Las Vegas. Of course, Brock Bowers should be the top target but there's plenty of opportunity in the WR ranks for Tucker and Jalen Nailor to emerge as decent sleepers.
Subscribe to Fantasy Ultra to unlock our Strategy Lab, 150+ page Draft Playbook and more!

#draft #wide

Compared to last year's initial 53-man roster, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a number of newcomers on this year's initial 53.
The first change is at the quarterback position, with Quinn Ewers now listed as the backup, whereas last season it was Nick Mullens. With the departure of Travis Etienne Jr, the running back room has also changed with additions Chris Rodriguez and Ameer Abdullah.
At wide receiver, Jakobi Meyers was not on the initial roster last season because Jacksonville traded for him mid-season. Besides Meyers, there are two other additions in the wide receiver room - CJ Williams and Josh Cameron. Williams and Cameron are both rookies the Jaguars drafted in the sixth round.
The tight end position is also much different. Jacksonville had three tight ends last year, and Brenton Strange is the only one of those three who is still on the roster. The Jaguars now have four tight ends, with their three new additions being Nate Boerkircher, Tanner Koziel, and Quintin Morris. Boerkircher was the Jaguars' second-round pick in this most recent draft, while Koziel was a fifth-rounder. Morris started last season on Jacksonville's practice squad but was later elevated to the active roster and played in 14 games last season.
On the offensive line, there are two new additions - rookie third-round pick Emmanuel Pregnon, who is expected to be the starting left guard, and Daniel Faalele, who spent the past four years with the Baltimore Ravens and is expected to be a depth piece for the Jaguars.

#jaguars #season #additions #round

BIRMINGHAM, England — Joe Dean, a former grocery delivery driver ranked No. 292, captured his first DP World Tour ***** le by shooting 9-under 63 to win the British Masters with his wife on the bag on Sunday.
The 32-year-old Englishman started the final round seven strokes off the lead at The Belfry but made nine birdies — including four on his last six holes — to finish the week on 14-under par and move into the lead with the late starters still having holes to play.
No one could catch him, with four players — Nacho Elvira (69), third-round leader Daniel Hillier (73), Niklas Norgaard (71) and Jakob Skov Olesen (71) — tying for second place, three shots back.
This was the first tournament in Team Europe's qualifying process for next year's Ryder Cup, so that's suddenly an unlikely target for Dean — quite the turn of events for someone who spent time delivering groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and kept doing it for nearly four years to help fund his career when he didn't have a card.
"I enjoyed it for most of the time," Dean said of his old part-time job. "Obviously it's a completely different life, a completely different lifestyle. I still see the vans going up and down the road every now and then, and I keep in touch."

#still

Pittsburgh's preseason ended in heartbreak Thursday night, as the Buffalo Bills scored late to beat the Steelers 28-27 at Highmark Stadium. Head coach Mike McCarthy watched his roster compete one final time before decision day arrived.
By Friday afternoon, the mood inside the building turned serious, and the first wave of cuts landed hard. What happens next will shape how Pittsburgh's sideline looks in Week 1.
The Pittsburgh Steelers released 11 players Friday, their first move in what will be a busy weekend of roster decisions. The team must reach the 53-man limit, and multiple reports indicate the front office has until Sunday at 8 p.m. ET to finish the job.
The August 28 list included tight end Jaheim Bell, offensive linemen Greg Crippen and Jaylon Guilbeau, and defensive backs Jack Henderson, Brandon Hill and Daryl Porter. Wide receivers Jakobie Keeney-James, Tamon Lynum, Cornell Powell and Isaiah Winstead were also let go, along with running back Alex Tecza.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy greets Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur following their game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

#roster

The San Francisco 49ers are wrapping up their preseason schedule with a battle against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday.
Unfortunately, the 49ers lost one of their 2026 draft picks in the first quarter of the exhibition matchup, as cornerback Ephesians Prysock suffered a shoulder injury was originally listed as questionable to return. He's now been ruled out.
Prysock, 23, played collegiately at Arizona (2022-23) and Washington (2024-25) before San Francisco took him in the fourth round (No. 139 overall) of this year's draft. He's popped a bit in the team's first two preseason games, so this actually is a big loss for this contest, especially considering the starters aren't playing.
If Prysock can't go, the 49ers will have to rely on Jack Jones, Jakob Robinson, Eli Apple and Darrell Luter Jr. at cornerback for the rest of the game.
More 49ers: 49ers vs. Raiders live updates: Preseason game start time, TV channel

#preseason #francisco #vegas

Undrafted free agent (UDFA) Trebor Pena went into training camp looking to make a strong impression on the Jacksonville Jaguars coaching staff, something that he has likely done up to this point.
That said, he still faces an uphill battle when it comes to making the final roster. The wide receiver room is already crowded, with six roster spots — Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, Travis Hunter, Josh Cameron, and CJ Williams — accounted for.
Pena would need to convince the Jaguars to roster a seventh wide receiver, which, admittedly, would help bolster the overall depth. With Hunter playing primarily on defense this season, it would give them more weapons to utilize, not just in receiving, but also in run blocking and on special teams.
But even if Jacksonville does choose to roster a seventh receiver, Pena has to get past other hopefuls to win out, with Austin Trammell likely his biggest competition.
Over the last two weeks, Pena's stock has skyrocketed, as he has turned in two impressive performances that have been recognized by Pro Football Focus (PFF) not just once, but twice.

#roster #jaguars #likely #seventh

The Boston Red Sox (72-59) and the Miami Marlins (67-65) continue their respective postseason pushes tonight when they take the field at loanDepot Park in Miami. The Red Sox won the series opener last night, 4-2, to stay within six games of first place Tampa Bay in the AL East and further strengthen their hold on the second Wild Card spot in the American League. Miami is third in the NL East at 67-65 but they remain 9.5 games behind the Braves in the division race and four back of the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
Last night's game remained tight throughout primarily because Boston managed just a single hit in 14 at bats with runners in scoring position. Miami struck first in the second inning when Otto Lopez drove home Jakob Marsee with a sacrifice fly, giving the Marlins a 1-0 lead. Boston answered in the fifth when Jarren Duran doubled and later scored on Mickey Gasper's RBI double to tie the game. The Marlins regained the lead in the seventh on Xavier Edwards' RBI single, but once again, Boston answered. Wilyer Abreu doubled in the eighth and eventually scored on a wild pitch, knotting the game at 2-2. The game was decided in the ninth. Anthony Seigler, who entered the game with only 12 RBIs on the season, delivered the biggest hit of the night, lining a go-ahead RBI triple to right field. Nick Sogard followed with an RBI single to provide an insurance run and give Boston a 4-2 advantage. Aroldis Chapman closed the door for his 30th save of the campaign. The Sox have now won four in a row.
Rookie Payton Tolle (8-6, 3.08 ERA) gets the ball today for the Sox. The southpaw takes the mound after six days of rest. In four August starts, Tolle has allowed six earned runs (25 innings pitched). Boston lost against the Diamondbacks in his last start (5 IP, 3ER) after wining in his seven previous starts. Tyler Phillips (3-6, 3.67 ERA) will be on the ******* p for Miami. The righthander gave up one run in two innings in Philadelphia last Tuesday after giving up four in 5.1 innings in his previous outing. The Marlins have lost his last three starts.
Lets dive further into today's game and find a sweat or two.
We've got all the info and ******* ysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

#boston #last

The Jacksonville Jaguars have arguably one of the strongest wide receiver rooms in the NFL. Most of the attention has been placed on Brian Thomas Jr., who had a stellar rookie season followed by a down second year. However, he has performed well throughout OTAs and training camp, and expectations are high for his third year.
In addition to Thomas, though, the Jaguars also have Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington, who both became favorite targets of quarterback Trevor Lawrence in 2025, and two-way star Travis Hunter.
Between the four, the group has been ranked as among the best in the league, particularly if Thomas does turn in a stronger performance in 2026. And regardless, one of the benefits of this group is that each receiver brings something unique to the table, meaning there isn't necessarily one star expected to stand above the rest.
In a press conference, Thomas didn't agree that it was unusual to have the production spread out, even if it means that the four of them aren't turning in mind-blowing stat lines.
Anthony Campanile and Brian Thomas Jr. speak to the media.
dream_finders | #DUUUVAL https://t.co/I6BO3sKW4V

#receiver

If you are in the process of deciding who you want on your fantasy roster this season, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is someone who should be on your radar, according to ESPN fantasy ***** yst Eric Moody.
Here is what Moody had to say about Meyers:
"Meyers is one of the better late-round values at wide receiver. He has topped 800 receiving yards in five straight seasons -- including his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2024 -- and finished no worse than WR32 during that span. After arriving in Jacksonville midseason, Meyers drew 61 targets in nine games while quickly earning quarterback Trevor Lawrence's trust with his route running, feel for coverage and reliable hands. Now he gets a full offseason with Lawrence. Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington are all projected for 100-plus targets, yet Meyers is going a round later than the others. I'd rather wait and take the discount."
First, chances are that Thomas, Washington and Meyers won't have at least 100 targets each this season; none of them had 100 targets last season with the Jaguars. However, it was clear watching Meyers last season that he and Lawrence had chemistry right away.
Meyers led all the receivers with Jacksonville in receptions per game with 4.7 and his midseason addition altered the trajectory of the Jaguars' offense.

#meyers #moody

Jakob Ingebrigtsen returns to the 1,500m as a thrilling summer of athletics resumes at the Silesia Diamond League.
The competition is fierce, too, with Olympic champion Cole Hocker also in action and the form from both men will be crucial as the Diamond League Final and Ultimate World Championship draw nearer.
It's a packed evening of track and field in Poland, with world champion Isaac Nader, European champion Stefan Nillessen and Great Britain's Jake Heyward joining Hocker and Ingebrigtsen, following his first race back to win gold in the men's 5,000m at the European Championships.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Julien Alfred, Sha'Carri Richardson are in the star-studded women's 100m, too.
Here's everything you need to know about the meet.

#diamond

Jakob Ingebrigtsen returns to the 1,500m as a thrilling summer of athletics resumes at the Silesia Diamond League.
The competition is fierce, too, with Olympic champion Cole Hocker also in action and the form from both men will be crucial as the Diamond League Final and Ultimate World Championship draw nearer.
It's a packed evening of track and field in Poland, with world champion Isaac Nader, European champion Stefan Nillessen and Great Britain's Jake Heyward joining Hocker and Ingebrigtsen, following his first race back to win gold in the men's 5,000m at the European Championships.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Julien Alfred, Sha'Carri Richardson are in the star-studded women's 100m, too.
Here's everything you need to know about the meet.

#olympic

Will this be the year that the tight end position finally lives up to its potential? For years we've hoped for a deep group of TEs riddled with talent at every draft point, only to end up with the same elite group and then a bunch of "Play and pray" options. But maybe this season will be different. Our Yahoo ****** ysts take a look at the tight end position and share their breakout candidate for 2026.
Breakouts tend to exist at the intersection of talent and situation. And for Brenton Strange, the talent piece of the equation isn't hard to see. Since joining the Jaguars in '23, Strange's routes and target share have been on an upward trajectory. The Penn State product barely saw the field his rookie season (2.2% target rate), but he evolved into one of Trevor Lawrence's go-to options as Jacksonville marched toward the playoffs.
After returning from a hip injury sustained in Week 5, Strange supplanted Brian Thomas Jr. as the "WR3" (16.6% share) and even led the team in red-zone targets (14). Plus, the added cardio has only allowed us to see more of his athletic ability, as his yards per route run (9th among all TEs in '25 – min. 10 games played) and YAC per reception picked up between Years 2 and 3.
But I'll admit Strange's situation is, well, strange! The Jaguars traded for and compensated Jakobi Meyers for bringing the passing game to life and got a breakout performance from their 6th-round WR out of the same draft class. Oh, and Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter are still there. The "lot of mouths to feed" argument will keep Strange's draft-cost down, but let's not forget his productivity and utility within this offense. — Chris Allen
After the Rashid Shaheed trade, Johnson was the TE5 in yards per game and TE8 in receptions per game from Week 10 on. With Jordyn Tyson out until the Week 6-9 range, Johnson should start out strong, as this is the same Saints receiving corps as it was during that explosive sample. The Saints have the advantages of playing against the NFC South, playing indoors and operating in the No. 1 neutral pace offense. Johnson is also good! Watch him!

#strange

Donny Bogicevic - Back Problems
Jarell Quansah - Red Card
Montrell Culbreath - Foot Injury
Wehen Wiesbaden ( vs Wurzburger Kickers 2026-08-14): Florian Stritzel, Philipp Hercher, Justin Janitzek, Fabian Greilinger, Jakob Lewald, Jordy Gillekens, David Suárez, Tarik Gozusirin, Ibrahim Ati Allah, Moritz Flotho, Sinan Karweina
Bayer Leverkusen ( vs Hamburger SV 2026-05-16): Mark Flekken, Jarell Quansah, Robert Andrich, Edmond Tapsoba, Montrell Culbreath, Aleix García, Exequiel Palacios, Álex Grimaldo, Malik Tillman, Patrik Schick, Ibrahim Maza

#jarell

After the Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Giants in their first preseason game, we have some more tangible play on which to base early evaluations of players on the Vikings' roster. So which players helped their cause on Saturday- and which ones hurt it? Here is a stock market report for the Vikings as they head into joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens later this week. I focused on the quarterbacks, rookies, and those further down the depth chart.
Kyler Murray. Nothing spectacular here, but he was able to run the offense without any big hiccups and at least managed a scoring drive on the one drive he played. A good first trial run.
Carson Wentz. Also showed he can run the offense well after he was given a half-game of snaps. Looking more like QB2 at this point.
Jacob Thomas. Not to be confused with third-round pick Jakobe Thomas. Jacob Thomas is a safety and a UDFA rookie out of James Madison. He had the most reps of any player on both defense and special teams and had the highest PFF grade of any special teamer (82.3) and was tied for the most special teams tackles (2) and was also the second-highest PFF graded defender (92.5) with one tackle for a stop, 2 ******* ists, and an interception. He has impressed in training camp as well and all that is how an unheralded UDFA makes the roster. He was taking some first-team reps in Monday's practice.
Max Bredeson. He only had seven snaps on offense, but he showed he can be an effective role player at fullback in the Vikings' evolving offensive scheme. He also did well as a core special teamer. He looks like he'll be an upgrade over C.J. Ham.

#thomas #offense #well

Philadelphia Union set to sign USMNT defender from Ligue 1 side originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The last offseason saw the Philadelphia Union dump several former players to other teams in the league, including their leading goalscorer from the prior season, Tai Baribo, to DC United; Jakob Glesnes to the LA Galaxy; and Kai Wagner to EFL Championship side Birmingham City. Simply put, some of the bigger names for the clubs all went in a single window.
This fleet of departures wasn't helped out at all after the team failed to make any meaningful signings in the transfer market, which could've been a key contributing factor in why the team went from the top team in the Eastern Conference last season to dead last heading into the World Cup break earlier in the Summer.
Just as the team appears to be getting itself together, chaining some crucial wins in the MLS and shooting up the table in a last-ditch playoff push, the front office has been busy adding to the roster, mainly their defense.
According to a recent report by The Athletic's Tom Bogert, Philadelphia is nearing a deal to bring Mark McKenzie back to Subaru Park, six years after his departure from the MLS, with the deal being close to $2.5 million.

#philadelphia #union #deal #usmnt