With the first game of the Cleveland Browns season just a couple of days away, they made it official on Friday that rookie offensive lineman Austin Barber would be the team's starter at right guard on Sunday when they open the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Veteran offensive lineman Teven Jenkins was slated to be the team's starting right guard this season, but an injury will hold him out of at least this week's game. Barber didn't play guard at Florida, so it's a new position for him after logging 2,087 snaps at left tackle and 490 snaps at right tackle during his time with the Gators.
Barber was a surprising pick at 86 overall for the Browns, but now they are asking him to start right away, and his experience will be something he needs to lean on, even at a new position on the offensive line. He brings a nasty temperament to the run game, looking to finish guys by blocking them into the dirt; maybe the Browns lucked their way into another Wyatt Teller-style player at the right guard position.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Rookie Austin Barber set to start at RG for the Browns vs Jacksonville

#position #jacksonville

The Tennessee **** ans made the first somewhat surprising pick of the 2026 NFL Draft when they selected former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the number four overall pick. With his first NFL game on the horizon, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson believes he was worth the fourth overall pick for the **** ans.
Tate was drafted with the expectation that he can become a foundational piece of the offense and a long-term number one target for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. That might be a lot to ask from a rookie, but everything about the situation suggests the **** ans had a plan.
The biggest question surrounding the **** ans' selection was whether Tate's talent will eventually justify taking him fourth overall. Including Tate, only five wide receivers (six if you include Travis Hunter) have been selected in the top five of the NFL Draft since 2015.
Excluding Jacksonville Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter, former **** ans WR Corey Davis had the worst rookie season of those top five selections with 375 yards and 0 touchdowns. So, it made sense why **** ans fans, specifically, may have had concerns about the Tate selection.
However, a strong training camp has many anticipating his NFL regular-season debut. Tate doesn't need to immediately become one of the best receivers in the NFL for the pick to be successful, but Tennessee needs to see enough flashes to believe they have found a long-term offensive cornerstone.

#tate #draft

The Texas Longhorns have on heck of an opportunity to send a message to the Ohio State Buckeyes and the rest of college football that yes, they are for real and that Steve Sarkisian is ready to author a breakthrough season.
Can they get it done against the top-ranked Buckeyes? Will Texas A&M be tested by Arizona State? Is Dabo Swinney done in Clemson?
Columnists Cedric Golden and Kirk Bohls delve into these and college football's other hot-button topics in this week's Take Ten segment.
BOHLS: It's as close to a must-win as you can get after losing the two matchups the last two seasons. A loss would greatly reduce the Longhorns' margin for error and also continue to paint Texas as a program that can't get over the hump. It would also greatly diminish the reputations of Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning. However, the reverse should be true. Texas will make the two biggest plays of the game and hang on for a 27-24 win over the Buckeyes.
GOLDEN: The Horns don't want any part of being 1-1 with games remaining against six other ranked opponents. It's imperative they get off to a great start, and that means scoring a first quarter touchdown, something they haven't done in their last five games against Ohio State and the thorn disguised as the Georgia Bulldogs. They're 0-5 in those games, by the way. Now, if the offensive line holds up, Sarkisian gets his signature win. Give me the Horns, 34-30.

#state #sarkisian #longhorns

Deion Branch's advice to his group of Louisville wide receivers for this week is to keep the noise outside and stay off the internet.
Turn off the TV — not even SportsCenter — or any kind of media. No "rat poison," as Nick Saban would say.
"The spreads and what we're favored by, that stuff doesn't matter," Branch told the Cardinals, who are favored by 36.5 points against Villanova. "You still have to go out and play the game. We have to go out and execute our plays. I need my guys to perform at a very high level for the team and also for themselves. ... So that's my message to the guys. Don't pay any attention to it. Just come in here and continue to work and push forward."
Louisville won't be overlooking the Wildcats tonight in its 2026 home opener. There was too much to work on in the team's 41-38 season-opening loss to No. 11 Ole Miss. Defensively, the Cards need to limit big plays and prevent completions up the seam. Offensively, they need to make sure that quarterback Lincoln Kienholz settles in sooner and doesn't jump out of the pocket before necessary. Having a full game under his belt will help the Ohio State transfer do that. In his first start, Kienholz completed 62.1% of his passes (18-29) with two touchdowns and became the first Louisville starting quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards in his debut (307 yards) since Kyle Bolin, then a redshirt freshman, threw for 300 yards in a 37-14 loss to Georgia in the 2014 Belk Bowl.
The Courier Journal is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from Friday night's game. Follow along:

#need #yards

Will the Falcons cut Tua Tagovailoa? Why QB's Atlanta tenure could meet swift end after latest injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa early in the offseason, it was viewed as a low-risk, high-reward deal that wouldn't cost them much.
Ideally, Tagovailoa would either join the Falcons as a starter, helping ignite Kevin Stefanski's collection of offensive weapons en route to NFC South contention, or, at the very least, he'd help Michael Penix Jr.'s development by pushing him in a competition. So far, neither of those things have happened — and Tagovailoa may not last long in Atlanta.
After initially being name the QB1 for Week 1, then being ruled out due to an injury in practice, recent reports indicate that Tagovailoa's stint with the Falcons may be short-lived.
Here's what to know about Tagovailoa's future in Atlanta and his latest injury.

#sporting #kevin

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

#mannion #sean #hurts #washington

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

#Patriots

COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko doesn't want anybody to overlook Arizona State.
The Sun Devils may not be a traditional blue blood but the team is two years out from making the College Football Playoff. They've got a young, highly regarded offensive mind leading the program in Kenny Dillingham. They've also got plenty of NFL talent, including multiple guys at wide receiver and cornerback.
HOW TO WATCH
11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Kyle Field, College Station
ABC with Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline reporter).
Radio: 97.5 FM with Andrew Monaco, Dave Elmendorf and Will Johnson

#college #station #elko #state

Rams news: Dan Orlovsky rips LA, Matthew Stafford for 'total dud' vs. 49ers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams got stomped 27-7 by the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 down in Australia. It was an ugly performance from the entire team, but especially from Matthew Stafford. On Friday, ESPN's Dan Orlovsky ripped into the 38-year-old quarterback for his poor play in L.A.'s season opener.
During the latest episode of "Get Up," the former quarterback turned ******* yst called the Rams' loss one of the worst performances he's ever seen from Stafford and the team. There wasn't much Orlovsky was positive about, as he eviscerated nearly every portion of the roster in his rant.
"Rams, total dud," Orlovsky said. "Sluggish. We're not paid to talk about jet lag and travel plans. I have no idea. But I do know this. Matthew Stafford, coming off of the MVP season, one of the worst games that I've seen him in years. A statue in the pocket, terrible decision-making, forcing the football, refusing to move, could not find any rhythm. And this is an offense that should have been completely in sync, given what they've brought back off of last year. And the only part of their offense that played well was the interior offensive line…
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#stafford

The Chicago Bears' 2026 season has finally arrived, and it couldn't come soon enough. Fresh off their 11-6 regular season in 2025 that saw them capture the NFC North and advance to the divisional round of the postseason, hopes are sky high for the Bears going into 2026, led by head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams. And for good reason.
Williams broke through and ascended to become one of the upper-echelon quarterbacks in the league last season thanks to unreal throws and miraculous comebacks, while Johnson brought a tenacity to the locker room, along with his ever-evolving offensive mind, to build the Bears into a powerhouse. Now the Bears enter the year as contenders and aim to do something they haven't done in 20 years: Go to the postseason two years in a row.
As with any NFL season, things will ebb and flow each week. Legendary performances will be followed by clunky outings, and each game will be seen as a referendum on the entire year as it's dissected for six straight days. A lot is going to happen, and we're taking our best guesses as to what will take place in 2026. Here are our yearly bold predictions for the upcoming Chicago Bears season.

#season #year

Rudy Gobert has spent years dealing with mixed reviews about his defense. That debate looks different when one of the NBA's best offensive players gives him credit for making the game harder.
Nikola Jokic has faced Gobert plenty of times and knows where the Timberwolves center can cause problems. His latest comments give Gobert a notable endorsement from someone who has spent years trying to attack him.
Jokic discussed the defenders who make his job difficult during an appearance on the Jao Mile podcast. When the conversation reached Gobert, the Denver star dismissed the idea that the Timberwolves center is overrated on defense.
Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) position themselves for a rebound in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
"Rudy Gobert, I know people have all kinds of opinions about him, but Rudy is a good defender. He showed it in the last playoffs," Jokic said.

#gobert #jokic #nikola #credit

ALLEN PARK — For the first time under coach Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions have more than six captains.
And for the first time in his professional career, defensive tackle Alim McNeill is one of them.
The seven-man crew of 2026 captains — McNeill, quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, offensive tackle Penei Sewell, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker Jack Campbell and punter Jack Fox — was determined through a democratic process, with players submitting their nominees on a piece of paper. Those with the most votes received the honor.
"Yes and no," said McNeill on Tuesday, Sept. 8, asked if he was surprised by the recognition from his teammates. "I feel like I worked and put the work in to be a captain, but I wasn't necessarily looking for it when we did it, and they chose me. I'm thankful, grateful."
Whether McNeill can return to form is one of the most crucial pivot points for the Lions in 2026. He was impactful and ascending when the team awarded him a four-year, $97 million extension in October 2024, but he tore his ACL two months later, sidelining him for the final stretch of Detroit's 15-2 season.

#mcneill #campbell #jack #captains

It's been a long wait for this day to get here, but now we can finally turn the page to (I hope) more constructive play and move on from the UVA debacle. So what are we keeping our eyes on in the bigger picture tonight?
1.) Find at least the beginnings of an identity offensively. NC State's performance at Virginia was so bad as to look incoherent, and the offense wasn't on the field enough to develop a rhythm, much less discover its most important foundational aspects. Pretty much nothing worked, and what did—or could have—worked, often wasn't well-executed. The Pack has to take the opportunity presented by Richmond to start sorting itself out and establish concepts that work. Where's the bread and ***** er?
2.) To that end, who are the playmakers in this offense? We know that NC State would like to lean on Duke Scott and certainly he has better days ahead of him, but I'd like to see a more concerted effort to get Victor Snow the ball tonight. We learned next to nothing about the passing game in Week 0—well, nothing good, anyway—and still don't really know what we've got at receiver. It might end up essential for Snow to get 8-10 touches each week, and now's a good time to figure that out. I won't be surprised if Keenan Jackson is a focal point, either.
3.) What does this defense look like when it isn't in a bad position for 60 minutes? They were set up to fail by the offense in the first game, and Virginia never had to get out of its conservative comfort zone. Still the defense did some good things against actual handoffs, and needs to build on that. Richmond shouldn't have much of a downfield passing game to speak of, and I want to see how the defense performs against more regular passing downs.

#much #passing

The Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 1 as favorites over the Washington Commanders, but divisional familiarity and several offseason changes could make Sunday's opener difficult.
Here are five concerns entering the matchup.
Daniels can extend plays and punish undisciplined pass-rush lanes. Philadelphia must pressure him without creating easy escape routes.
The Commanders ranked fourth with 134.7 rushing yards per game, while Philadelphia finished 22nd in run defense. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White and Daniels give Washington several options.
The Eagles are playing their first meaningful game with Sean Mannion calling plays. Hurts must adjust to having his offensive coordinator in the booth as the unit establishes its identity under a new play-caller.

#Eagles #plays

As players, David Blough and Sean Mannion never played together, or faced off against each other, not as starting quarterbacks, anyway. But they're set to square off in Week 1 as two of the most intriguing — and most untested — offensive coordinators in the NFL this season as Blough's Washington Commanders open the 2026 NFL season on the road against Mannion's Philadelphia Eagles.
Both were career backup quarterbacks, with a combined 10 NFL starts between them. Each spent time on three or more teams' rosters and practice squads as players. Blough once essentially replaced Mannion with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. Both ended their playing days following the 2023 season, transitioned to coaching and have been thrust into coveted OC roles early in their coaching careers — and both before the age of 35. They're part of a new group of younger and inexperienced play-callers.
Are they ready for the challenge? Their paths to answering that question start Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
They've worked with some of the same coaches throughout their career, or at least some of the same core offensive philosophies. Some of the challenges they're facing in their new jobs and the ideas they want to incorporate are similar, too.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season

#offensive #Career #same

Happy game week and we hope that you're ready for tomorrow's Penn State game at Temple. Ahead of this matchup, I sent a few questions to Steve Helwick of Underdog Dynasty to preview this game. Steve is a regular around these parts with our opponent Q and A and you should head to our sister site to read more about Temple – and the rest of their conference brethren. Here's what Steve had to say about tomorrow's game.
It's year two for K.C. Keeler at Temple. He went 5-7 in his first year in Philadelphia. What do you make of his fit at Temple and what are expectations for the Owls the rest of this season?
K.C. Keeler has already proven to be an excellent fit at Temple. His résumé speaks for itself, and he is a proven winner even with a lack of resources. He won FCS national championships at both Delaware and Sam Houston, but his 10-win season at Sam Houston in year two of FBS membership might be his magnum opus. Additionally, he's a great fit since he has publicly declared this will be his final job, which promises Temple players and staffers a sense of stability.
Keeler walked into Philadelphia last year and immediately turned Temple into a 5-win team, after the Owls hadn't won more than three games in the entire 2020s. Temple fell one point short of both service academies, and flipping either result would have pushed the program into the postseason.
Temple played incredibly sound football in Keeler's first season, only losing four turnovers the entire year. The Owls should have lofty expectations considering they didn't lose a single starter to the transfer portal. However, they lack experience at quarterback and replacing Evan Simon is no easy task, which could present some challenges offensively. I would label bowl eligibility as a reasonable and attainable goal for this 2026 team.

2. There's a quarterback controversy right now, including former Penn Stater Jaxon Smolik. Where does that stand now and what do you expect from the offense against Penn State?

#year #penn

The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are preparing to kick off the 2026 regular season on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Both teams ended up with nine wins in 2025 but took very different ways of getting there. The Packers were, at one point, 9-3-1. The Vikings were, at one point, 4-8. Green Bay ended up losing five straight, including a playoff loss in Chicago, while Minnesota won five straight to end the season. Will any of that matter for Sunday? Momentum, or lack thereof, is difficult to carry over from one year to the next.
In a competitive, talented NFC North, every division matchup is a big one, and both the Packers and Vikings will want to open the season with a confidence-boosting win over a rival given how last year ended.
Five things to watch and a prediction for Week 1:
The Packers have new starters at left tackle (Jordan Morgan), center (Sean Rhyan) and right guard (Jacob Monk), and Morgan, left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele are all either fighting through or returning from knee injuries. The first challenge for the 2026 offensive line? Brian Flores, a blitz-happy coordinator who thrives on creating havoc and uncertainty up front. The Packers offensive line got little to no time together during training camp, robbing the unit of cohesion entering the season. Can this group handle all the blitzes and stunts coming on Sunday? Communication and having confidence in the blocker next to you is so important to handling blitzes and movement, so the Packers front will likely be stressed early and often. Keeping Jordan Love protected, especially during the game's biggest situations (think: third down), will likely decide the winner of the opener.

#season #jordan

Heading into the 2026 NFL season, Joe Brady is the NFL's youngest head coach at the ripe old age of 36. And while he has spent the past few years working with Josh Allen and directing one of the league's highest scoring offenses, Brady says his primary focus has always been on connecting with his players through his authentic, energetic approach to leadership.
"I never thought my identity was, 'I want to be a head coach,'" Brady told BuffaloBills.com. "I just wanted to call plays."
After spending time as Buffalo's quarterbacks coach (2022-23), interim offensive coordinator (2023) and offensive coordinator (2024-25), Brady realized he was ready to take on the challenge of being a head coach.
Today's edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by breaking down Brady's leadership and coaching style, discussing what motivates Brady and finding out how Brady is bringing a new energy to the Bills.
Check out the ***** sments below and then let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

#head #heading

During the episode aired on September 8, Mad Money host Jim Cramer turned his focus to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), breaking down why the tech giant remains his ultimate "fantasy football" quarterback for steady, reliable portfolio performance. He stated:
We know how to draft on Mad Money so, break out your pen and paper and let's get started. Now, we got to start with our quarterback in fantasy… You're typically only playing one quarterback per week. And what you want here is consistent production. That's why for the past several years, I've picked Apple as my fantasy stock football QB. As always, own it, don't trade it. Not only does Apple make the most beloved products in the world, they're playing a very different game from their mega cap peers. Everybody else is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on AI. Apple's spending next to nothing, just partnering with AI companies. They desperately want access to Apple's massive user base.
To me, that makes Apple a lot less risky than the other members of the Magnificent Seven. To put that in NFL terms, Apple reminds me of Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. Allen's a known quantity. He was the league MVP two years ago. Then last year, he had 25 passing touchdowns, 14 rushing touchdowns, which, well, it gives you more points in fantasy football. But the main parallel is that both Apple and Allen are now under new management. For the first time in 15 years, Apple has a new CEO, John Ternus, who officially took over from Tim Cook last week. Similarly, at the end of last season, the Buffalo Bills let go of former head coach Sean McDermott, nine seasons, promoting former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the position.
Cramer's comparison highlights Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) distinct structural advantage within the Magnificent Seven. While rival mega-cap tech peers sink hundreds of billions of dollars into capital-intensive data center builds and proprietary AI infrastructure, the company has adopted a resource-efficient model. By integrating third-party AI capabilities while guarding its massive, high-intent global user base, the company limits its exposure to heavy upfront capital expenditure and margin compression.
Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) high user retention continues to drive significant cash flow generation. Its hardware and premium services loop creates deep consumer loyalty, allowing the company to maintain pricing power and high profitability without taking on the aggressive infrastructure risk carried by other major technology players.

#Apple #aapl #last

WATERBURY - High school football's double-wing offense is affectionately known by smashmouth running game enthusiasts as the "hammer."
Naugatuck was down 14 points in its season opener against Holy Cross on Thursday night at Municipal Stadium's Ray Snyder Sr. Field, but that changed once the visitors went to the hammer offense.
The Greyhounds scored three unanswered touchdowns, the last two runs of 15 and 4 yards by Brandon Andoh behind a monster offensive line, to stun the Crusaders 27-20.
Andoh's 4-yard score with 33.4 seconds left in the game and Gabriel Bello's third extra point in four attempts gave Naugatuck a 7-point lead, its first of the game.
The Greyhounds' defense made sure a last-ditch Hail Mary pass from Crusaders quarterback Brady Lombardo came up short of the end zone. That set off a massive celebration by Naugatuck and its student section.

#game #last

Chargers news: Mike McDaniel's quote on Justin Herbert is another gold appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The new season is pivotal for Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers as they try to turn years of encouraging promise into a legitimate push to the Super Bowl, especially since it will be held at SoFi Stadium.
With Mike McDaniel taking over as offensive coordinator, Herbert has a fresh system designed to maximize his arm talent and create more scoring opportunities. The 28-year-old quarterback is in his seventh year and is looking to build on his laudable campaign last season, earning him a second nod to the Pro Bowl.
When asked about Herbert's "comfort level" with the new system, McDaniel had another all-time response.
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#bowl #mcdaniel

49ers vs. Rams overreactions: Matthew Stafford loses MVP form, Christian McCaffrey in RB committee & more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams were getting hyped as a heavy favorite to win the NFC West and Super Bowl 61 going into the 2026 NFL season. There was even some buzz, with the trade for edge rusher Myles Garrett and the return of tackle Aaron Donald, they would have a dominant enough defense to go undefeated.
That narrative was all blown up by one game. Instead of flexing on their division rival San Francisco 49ers in the first-ever NFL game in Melbourne, Australia, the Rams were the ones dominated in a 27-7 loss to start 0-1.
With the reigning Super Bowl and NFC West champion Seattle winning on Thursday night, the Rams are in last place, with the 49ers joining the Seahawks at 1-0 and the Cardinals not playing until Sunday.
Donald didn't play in the far-away "home" opener. Thanks to the 49ers' offensive line and the rest of their blockers, it also felt like Garrett wasn't playing in the game, either.

#Rams #super #bowl

The Dallas Cowboys are dealing with a significant offensive line issue just days before their 2026 season opener. Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys' three-time Pro Bowl left guard and a cornerstone of their offensive line since being selected 24th overall in the 2022 draft, is headed to injured reserve.
Even though T.J. Bass is a more probable replacement, it has also opened the door for veteran offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson to protect quarterback Dak Prescott and fill the gap.
Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys' three-time Pro Bowl left guard and a cornerstone of their offensive line since being selected 24th overall in the 2022 draft, is headed to injured reserve.
Sep 21, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Houston Texans guard Laken Tomlinson (75) before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Tyler Smith had been dealing with a thumb issue since the offseason. He reported the problem to head coach Brian Schottenheimer but initially tried to play through it. On Monday, Schottenheimer informed the media that Smith would undergo surgery on the thumb and is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks. The team could not pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred. With the season opener against the New York Giants scheduled for September 13 at MetLife Stadium, the Cowboys moved quickly to address the depth issue.

#cowboys #line #since

HAMDEN - Matt Witteman performed as you would expect from one of Connecticut's top returning quarterbacks Thursday night - he accounted for all five of Law's touchdowns.
And if the Lawmen can provide more defensive efforts like they did against Hamden, then they will be tough to beat. Law forced four turnovers in the 36-0 win over the Green Dragons in an SCC football game at Joe Bruno Field.
"We have really high expectations for this defense, so we were just expecting to do really good this week and that's what we did," said Alex Konilan, who had a fumble recovery for Law.
Law forced three turnovers in the third quarter alone, leading to 14 points - two touchdown runs by Witteman for 20 and 2 yards, respectively.
"The defense was on fire today," Witteman said. "Offensively, we started out a little bit slow, but the defense was right there to pick us up. We have a lot of trust in them and we believe in them, so for them to come through and just pick us up when we're down, it's huge for us."

#defense #really #matt

As the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, young swingman Jonathan ******* inga couldn't be more excited about his basketball future. After a difficult parting with the Warriors, ******* inga had some tough decisions to make this summer, but he would say it worked out for the best with a two-year, $12.4 million deal to join Anthony Edwards and his rising young team.
Thursday evening marked ******* inga's introductory press conference with the organization, where he answered all sorts of questions relating to his free-agent process and expectations for the future. Notably, he also spoke about teaming up with LaMelo Ball, someone he called his best passing teammate ever (yes, even over Curry).
"I think his ability to pass the ball, I was watching him work out yesterday and I was watching him and the way he can pass the ball, it's incredible," said ******* inga. "I've played with so many point guards in my career, but I've never played with anybody that can pass as good as LaMelo. I'm looking forward to it; I'm excited."
In ******* inga's defense, Ball is famously skilled offensively with career averages of 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.3 ******* ists, 1.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 41.8% shooting. While he often likes to get flashy with the ball, he's undeniably elite as a playmaker and passer, opening up the floor for teammates and adding a layer of flexibility to the rotation.
To claim that Ball is a better passer than Curry might sound like blasphemy, but the stats back it up. Curry averages 24.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 ******* ists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for his career, falling short of even Ball's passing numbers. More so than LaMelo, Curry is much more of a scorer, and he's always had teammates to help him run the offense.

#lamelo #pass

ATLANTA (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays were prevented from possibly becoming the first team to clinch a playoff berth when Martín Pérez threw seven scoreless innings and Austin Riley's run-scoring single in the eighth inning gave Atlanta its first lead of the series in the Braves' 3-1 win Thursday.
Seeking its first division ****** le since 2021, Tampa Bay entered with a four-game AL East lead and would have clinched no worse than a wild card with a victory and a loss by Texas to Seattle or the Chicago White Sox to Pittsburgh.
Riley's hit came after pinch-hitter Ozzie Albies' had his first triple of the season, a drive against Kevin Kelly (6-4). Light-htting Ha-Seong Kim tacked on a two-run single for the offensively struggling Braves that proved crucial when Victor Mesa Jr. led off the ninth with a homer against Raisel Iglesias.
Iglesias bounced back to get the final three outs for his 32nd save in 35 chances for the Braves, who began the day with a three-game NL East lead.
Didier Fuentes (6-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win, which sent the Braves into an important series against second-place Philadelphia with a big lift.

#Braves #tampa

After their first day off in September on Thursday, the Brewers will continue their stretch of NL Central foes as they'll host the Reds for three games in Milwaukee, the second time they'll see Cincinnati in the last two weeks, as the Reds took two of three in Cincy last weekend. The Brewers are coming off of a sweep of the Cubs to balloon their NL Central lead to 10 games over the rest of the pack, sitting at 91-56 with 15 games left. The Reds, who sit in last place, are 69-77 after being swept by the Dodgers to begin the week.
Since the last time these teams met, the Reds have activated right-hander Graham Ashcraft and third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes from the IL, with left-hander Sam Moll designated for ******* ignment and utility man Edwin Arroyo optioned to Triple-A Louisville in the corresponding moves. The Brewers have only lost Grant Anderson, who was placed on the 15-day IL with biceps tendinitis. He was replaced on the active roster by Brandon Sproat, though Sproat was demoted once again on Thursday, with the corresponding move expected to be a recall of right-hander Garrett Stallings to shore up the bullpen. Jake Bauers is also continuing to deal with a variety of lower-body injuries, and the Brewers have opted to focus on managing the injuries rather than putting him on the IL.
Just to remind you of what these two teams bring to the table offensively and on the mound, here's a quick rundown of both squads.
Milwaukee is hitting .257/.339/.400 (.739 OPS ranks fourth), with 137 homers (last), 742 runs scored (third), and 143 steals (fourth). The Reds are hitting .230/.308/.398 (.706 OPS ranks 23rd), with 196 homers (fourth), 611 runs scored (25th), and 102 steals (11th).
On the mound, Milwaukee ranks second in the majors with a 3.56 team ERA, including a 3.63 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.46 bullpen ERA (fifth). They've struck out 1,406 batters (second) over 1,312 2/3 innings. Cincinnati ranks 27th with a 4.73 team ERA, including a 4.78 starter ERA (27th) and a 4.68 bullpen ERA (25th). They've struck out 1,186 batters (20th) over 1,293 innings.

#games

PARSIPPANY − Donovan Martell's 9-yard touchdown catch in the final minute of the first half was enough for Parsippany Hills to take down rival Parsippany, 27-0, on Sept. 10.
The Vikings turned their offensive struggles around when a penalty on a punt gave them a first down. They took advantage of the second chance with a touchdown on the restarted drive, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Anthony Caponegro. Martell's touchdown gave Parsippany Hills a 14-0 lead at the half.
Parsippany Hills held Parsippany to only one offensive drive that crossed the 50-yard line. It's the first time the Vikings have shut out an opponent since defeating High Point, 25-0, during the 2021 season.
Both teams are now 2-1 on the season. Parsippany Hills has won four of its last six games dating back to last season after snapping an 18-game losing streak.
Check back soon for more.

#parsippany #season

Sep. 10—To preview Washington State's next game, a road test against Big 12 foe Kansas State, The Spokesman-Review conferred with K-State beat writer Ryan Gilbert, who covers the Wildcats for GoPowercat.
Here is our Q&A.
1. How did K-State's offensive line look against Nicholls, and do the injuries to John Pastore and George Fitzpatrick look to hamper the Cats as much as it might seem?
The offensive line checked all the boxes it could on Saturday. There were a lot of questions surrounding this group entering the season, but game No. 1 was a success. That being said, Nicholls is just not a good football team, so it's tough to get too excited over that performance in the trenches. K-State simply had the bigger, more physically dominant dudes at the point of contact. Anything other than a promising night would have been a concern for the offensive line.
George Fitzpatrick not being able to give it a go didn't help matters, but Collin Klein & Co. certainly couldn't have been caught off guard when they learned he had to be sidelined this season. His health condition from last offseason just lingered and lingered, so it's not like this just happened out of nowhere. There was ample time to create a backup plan. John Pastore, though, was supposed to be not just a starter but a true star at left tackle. His injury, which will sideline him for the season, happened about a month before the season, and then Tanner Morley also had to miss some time late in camp, so everything kind of just compounded at once.

#state #season #line #game

It's only Week 1, but a lot is on the line as the Vikings and Packers meet for the 132nd time on Sunday. Both teams will be looking to make a statement to start the 2026-27 regular season. Let's dive into the matchup, scouring every nook and cranny for details that will help decide the latest border battle between the NFC North rivals.
The sense I have is that the Vikings should (and do) feel confident going into this game, even if it's a small Vegas spread and there are a lot of Week 1 unknowns. They're at home, where they've won four of the last five meetings with the Packers. Green Bay is without leading rusher Josh Jacobs and has major questions on the offensive line. The Packers have some talented defenders but may struggle to generate a consistent pass rush without their superstar on that side of the ball, Micah Parsons.
The one area of concern that the Vikings must limit to win the game is Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love. Minnesota is well aware of how talented Love is. He's not going to be as rattled by Brian Flores' complex blitzes as other QBs might be. Love is plenty capable of delivering accurate throws downfield while staring down pressure.
"His growth and development has been outstanding," Flores said on Thursday. "He's just grown and grown. Whether it's cadence, whether it's on the ball, no-huddle, he's got total, total command and understanding of what they're trying to do. Obviously he's got a great coach and they work extremely well together. Great rapport with his receivers. He's always been super talented. Just a naturally gifted, accurate thrower of the ball. It's actually been fun to watch him grow.
"Big, big challenge for us, no doubt about that."

#talented