Leonard Fournette was back in Baton Rouge this week, speaking with the LSU Tigers during their preseason camp.
In the process, he blessed Trey'DeZ Green and Whit Weeks to wear the No. 7 jersey he made famous during his time at LSU. Fournette also gifted DJ Pickett a No. 5 chain, a gesture that came weeks after the controversy surrounding Jayden Daniels' former jersey number.
The gesture comes weeks after Jayden Daniels' dispute with LSU over the use of his former No. 5. The Heisman Trophy winner sent the school a cease-and-desist letter earlier this month after Pickett was ******* igned the number. In a video of him gifting Pickett the chain, the former LSU running back could be heard saying:
"Gotta bless the five."
A statement from a spokesperson for the signal-caller argued that the school's continued use of the No. 5 constitutes an unauthorized use of his name, image, and likeness, a position that has been met with skepticism by fans and ******* ysts.

#pickett #chain

Ben Roethlisberger's arm ligaments turned al dente sometime around 2019. The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense behind him remained strong. That juxtaposition created the broken path that leads us to 2026. That's the year where the Steelers, in a league where most teams will have only two quarterbacks on their active roster, plan to keep four passers at the 53-man cutdown day.
That's what first-year head coach Mike McCarthy told ESPN's Brooke Pryor to expect when rosters as finalized August 30 at 6 p.m. ET. His QB1 will be a soon-to-be 43-year-old Aaron Rodgers, heavily diminished from his MVP peak. His veteran backup will be Mason Rudolph, exiled to Nashville in 2024 to bring his special brand of underwhelming football to the Tennessee ***** ans before reuniting with the team last year. Behind them, for now, is the duo of mid-round draft picks Pittsburgh picked up as lottery tickets in hopes they may have dug a diamond from a coal mine: Will Howard (sixth round, 2026) and Drew Allar (third round, 2026).
The need for four quarterbacks can be traced back to the end of the Roethlisberger era. This team was too competent to fall to a top 10 draft pick as the two-time Super Bowl champion's arm weakened and his average target distance dropped to league lows. Stopgap solutions followed; Mitchell Trubisky. Kenny Pickett. Rudolph. Russell Wilson. Justin Fields. Now, it's Rodgers.
When Pickett, the first quarterback selected in one of the worst quarterback drafts of all time, failed, the Steelers bought in to retread passers just good enough to keep the team at slightly above average. Playoff appearances followed. Playoff wins did not. Between weak draft position and the franchise's general distaste for big free agent splashes -- missing out on Kirk Cousins (good!) and Sam Darnold (not as good!) -- Pittsburgh went from renting to owning its place in contender's limbo.
2026 has marked the franchise's desire to stay there. Mike Tomlin, architect of zero losing seasons in 19 years at the helm, parted ways with the team. Rather than start fresh with a rising young head coach, the team hired Mike McCarthy, a man with a 126-80-2 record in the regular season since 2011 and a 6-9 playoff record. It brought back Rodgers, who can no longer use his legs to extend plays and has been forced into a diet of short, quick passes to avoid pressure even as his otherworldly arm talent remains in flashes of "remember when?" And, importantly, rather than casting his lot with Howard and Allar in case of injury and letting the chips fall where they may, McCarthy is keeping Rudolph as QB2.

#team #year #mike #rodgers

More than anything to do with his expected performance on the field headed into Year 3 of his NFL career, the story of Jayden Daniels' offseason focused on a strange beef that became public with his college team.
The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for LSU, who is now the starting signal-caller for the Washington Commanders, sent his former university a cease-and-desist letter over the use of his name, image, and likeness after the Tigers gave his No. 5 jersey to cornerback DJ Pickett.
The story has already been memed to death, but it's apparently no laughing matter for Daniels, who refused to answer questions about it during a press scrum earlier this week.
"Nah, I posted a statement on Instagram and it said everything I needed to say. So, appreciate y'all," Daniels told reporters.
The reporter who asked the question was Nicki Jhabvala, who covers the Commanders for The Athletic. After the video of Daniels refusing to answer the question went viral on social media, some online took issue with asking Daniels about the situation at all.

#daniels #story #trophy

The announcements of Tigers finding their way on to watch lists continued on Friday. Princewill Umanmielen, Whit Weeks, and DJ Pickett were each named to the Bednarik Award preseason watch list.
The Chuck Bednarik Award is given annually to college football's best defensive player. The honor is presented by the Maxwell Football Club, the same club that bestows the Maxwell Award to the top overall college football player. Both are two of the most distinguished honors in the sport.
Named after Chuck Bednarik, a former All-American at the University of Pennsylvania and Pro Football Hall of Famer, the award is chosen by a wide variety of voters including NCAA head coaches, sports writers, sports casters, and the members of the Maxwell Football Club. It was established in 1995 and was won most recently by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech.
Only two players in LSU's program history have earned the honor and they came in back-to-back years. Patrick Peterson won it in 2010, followed by Tyrann Mathieu in 2011.
Princewill Umanmielen came over with Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss and is poised to give Blake Baker a legitimate pass rusher, which they were missing a year ago. The senior defensive end was #3 in the SEC in 2025 with 9.0 sacks. The last time LSU had a player record at least 9.0 sacks was 10 years ago when Arden Key set the program's single-season record with 12.0. Umanmielen is also a force against rushing attacks, finishing #8 in the conference with 13.0 tackles for loss. He was a Third-Team All-SEC selection last year and has already been named to the Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team.

#Football #club

The NWSL returns with a potential playoff preview between top sides, San Diego Wave and Utah Royals.
URFC are healthy, meanwhile SDW are a bit shorthanded going into the matchup.
Here's the latest availability report:
SAN DIEGO WAVE FC
OUT: Trinity Armstrong (Knee – SEI), Gia Corley (Lower Leg), Dudinha (Knee – SEI), Kenza Dali (Lower Leg), Didi Haracic (Lower Leg), Cat Macario (Heel), Kiki Pickett (Ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: Kimmi Ascanio (Thigh)
INTERNATIONAL DUTY: None

#knee #nwsl #Royals #armstrong

Eight LSU football players landed on the preseason Coaches' All-SEC team. That's the third-most total, after Georgia and Texas with 11 apiece, then Oklahoma with 10. The Tigers tied with the Longhorns for the most first-team selections with five each.
Tight end Trey'Dez Green, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen, linebacker Whit Weeks and punter Grant Chadwick landed on the first team. Cornerback DJ Pickett is on the second team while safety Ty Benefield and center Braelin Moore are on the third team.
A mix of veterans from the 2025 roster and the transfer portal, along with young stars, characterizes this year's LSU team. Its All-SEC selections reflect that as well. Weeks and Moore fought through injuries with the Tigers last year, both returning to lead the purple and gold in its first year under head coach Lane Kiffin.
Umanmielen played under Kiffin at Ole Miss last year, ending the year as a third-team All-SEC selection. Chadwick also earned a spot on the All-SEC third team last year as LSU's punter. Benefield and Seaton came to Baton Rouge as two of the top players out of the transfer portal.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Eight LSU football players make Coaches All-SEC team

#players #tigers #seaton

My son recently sent me this tweet from someone named Trey Rowland: "ordered the number 5 at Jimmy John's and now I have a voicemail from Jayden Daniels' lawyer." I responded that I didn't get the joke. He then told me that Daniels's lawyer, Adam Kenner, had sent a cease-and-desist letter to LSU, demanding that the school not ******* ign the number 5 (the number Daniels wore while winning the Heisman in his final season at LSU) to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett. I was intrigued, and decided to investigate.
With all due respect to Kenner, this is a legal fumble of epic proportions (I abide by the longstanding rule that requires me to use puns whenever I write about sports).
I got a copy of the letter, and it has more holes than the Bengals' offensive line (see above). Interestingly, the letter does not actually mention the number. It purports to address LSU's use of Daniels' "name, image and likeness," or "NIL." It may be that LSU is using Daniels' name or image in some fashion, but all the reporting I've seen indicates it is a direct response to the ******* ignment of Daniels' old number.
More: USA TODAY Network 2025 Ohio Super 25 football preseason poll
Even though a lawyer wrote the letter, it gets to the point quickly. It states in the second paragraph "[w]e have been informed that LSU...continues to use Mr. Daniels' NIL notwithstanding the expiration of the contractual period during which LSU was authorized to do so." So we can presume that Daniels' theory is that the number 5 is part of Daniels' NIL.

#lawyer #kenner #name #trey

Jayden Daniels has been in the midst of an awe-inspiring, reputation-ruining run for the last week after it went public that he'd sent a legal threat to LSU over the use of the No. 5, which he wore while winning the Heisman Trophy for the Tigers.
The Washington Commanders quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner is engaged in a dispute with his former school over sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett wearing his former jersey number. Not only is Daniels upset, but his lawyer has also sent the school a formal cease-and-desist letter demanding that they stop using his name, image, and likeness.
Social media has had a field day with all of this, including pro sports teams pointing out all the ways they didn't score 5 points because they didn't want to run afoul of Daniels.
The media critiques haven't been kind either, as ESPN's Paul Finebaum excoriated the Commanders quarterback, saying, "I've rarely, if ever, seen a dumber, more senseless move," and warning him to never return to Baton Rouge.
SiriusXM host Adam Schein joined in the fun during a recent episode of his Mad Dog Radio show, saying that Daniels is effectively dead to LSU and its fans now.

#former #Commanders #quarterback

Tanner McKee has already shown enough in the NFL to make the idea of trading him intriguing. He has shown moxie in relief and as a starter. Fair or unfair, that makes the Philadelphia Eagles' preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens feel particularly disappointing. It is easy to forget that McKee's first NFL game action came in Week 17 of his second season in 2024, when he replaced Kenny Pickett against the Dallas Cowboys and threw two touchdown passes on just three completions.
The following week, he completed 27 of 41 passes with two touchdowns in a 20-13 victory over the New York Giants as Philadelphia's starter. His 2025 season was quieter, which was understandable for a third-string quarterback.
McKee made only one start, completing 21 of 40 passes with one touchdown and one interception in a 24-17 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 18. Perspective is necessary, though. The Eagles weren't playing their starters that week, and there wasn't much to play for.
The circumstances made the game feel somewhat like a preseason contest, even if it technically counted. Saturday's loss in Baltimore carried even less consequence. However, McKee's performance still mattered because Philadelphia is evaluating him alongside Andy Dalton and may also be considering his value on the trade market.
There has been plenty of discussion surrounding Philadelphia's reported attempts to trade McKee, including speculation that the Eagles' asking price in draft capital (a second-rounder) may have been too high for interested teams.

#philadelphia #baltimore

Despite the Cincinnati Bengals preseason kicking off against the Detroit Lions this week, it wasn't the only news Joe Burrow found his name in.
Burrow was recently mentioned in Jayden Daniels' statement regarding drama about the use of his jersey number.
The attorney for Daniels released a statement to LSU that it can no longer use his name, image, and likeness, according to a letter sent to Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry.
"The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU's decision to give Jayden's number to another player," the statement from Daniels' spokesperson said. "Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university."
Sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett is officially rocking number 5 this season, and this is the first time an LSU player has worn that jersey number since Daniels was drafted by the Commanders.

#daniels #number

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has been in the news over the past week. When you're a franchise quarterback in the NFL, that's not new. And Daniels has had a terrific start to training camp, including a flawless performance in Wednesday's joint practice with the Miami Dolphins.
But on Wednesday night, ESPN broke a story about Daniels sending a cease-and-desist letter to LSU, his alma mater, over his name, image and likeness (NIL). While some things remain unclear about what exactly transpired between Daniels and LSU, it seemingly began when the Tigers reissued the No. 5 jersey to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett.
For his part, Daniels released a statement acknowledging a disagreement between the two sides, but said he was focused on the Commanders and that he hoped they would resolve the situation soon.
The story should have died, right? Not exactly, as the social media teams for various professional teams, specifically in Major League Baseball, have had some fun at Daniels' expense.
The Philadelphia Phillies also joined in on the fun.

#jayden

The Carolina Panthers' starting offense ended their day against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday with a resounding thud. Quarterback Bryce Young managed just 18 yards in the first half on five pass attempts, with the unit failing to pick up a single first down on any of their three possessions.
Fortunately, the second-string offense proved a little more lively—albeit against backups for Buffalo's defense. In his first possession of the game, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett led a 10-play, 83-yard touchdown drive to get Carolina on the scoreboard just before the break.
Along the way, Pickett completed 11-yard passes to running back Trevor Etienne and wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. The Bills helped with a 15-yard face mask penalty, as Pickett got clobbered by several defenders at once.
Pickett finished the drive with a well-placed ball to wide receiver Ja'seem Reed on a slant route.
Pickett ended the first half having completed all three of his throws for 28 yards and a 145.1 passer rating.

#quarterback #offense #ended

Thanks to the Jayden Daniels gripe with LSU over his old No. 5 jersey going to Tigers cornerback DJ Pickett, there's a new meme that's being used by fans and teams, and it's spreading quickly.
As you'll recall, Daniels' attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter over LSU using his name, image and likeness, and a Daniels spokesperson said that it was over "LSU's decision to give Jayden's number to another player."
So now you have admins and other folks on social media making similar jokes about the No. 5 being eliminated from various places, from lines on a football field to hurricane categories. Here's a roundup with a sampling of what it looks like:
Will this last into the season when Daniels begins the regular season for the Washington Commanders? We'll see.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jayden Daniels roasted by fans, teams with No. 5 memes

#teams #season #washington #Commanders

TAMPA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 09: Quarterback Kyle Trask #2 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts to a touchdown in the first half during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between the Tennessee ****** ans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Getty
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JULY 23: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passes the ball as Kyle Trask #2 looks on on during the 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center on July 23, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Getty
After an electric performance in the annual National Football League Hall of Fame game, Carolina Panthers quarterback Haynes King suffered a hamstring injury, which is considered to be week-to-week.
As a result ot the Haynes King injury, the Carolina Panthers have brought in another QB to challenge Kenny Pickett for the QB2 position.
GettyTAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 09: Quarterback Kyle Trask #2 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts to a touchdown in the first half during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between the Tennessee ****** ans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

#buccaneers #trask #quarterback #game

Carolina signed former Florida quarterback Kyle Trask on Sunday after a hamstring injury is expected to sideline rookie Haynes King for an extended period of time. The ex-Gator joins Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett as the Panthers' top options under center entering Week 2 of the preseason.
The 2020 NCAA passing touchdowns leader spent 2025 on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad after being released by Tampa Bay in August of last year. The Buccaneers made Trask the 64th overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft after his record-breaking senior campaign in Gainesville helped the Gators reach the SEC championship game.
While at UF, Trask went from unheralded backup to Heisman finalist in a season that saw him toss 43 touchdowns, breaking the program's single-season mark set by Danny Wuerffel in 1996.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 236-pound Manvel, Texas, native has failed to translate his magical 2020 performance into opportunities at the next level. As a professional, Trask has appeared in just seven regular-season games and completed 4-of-11 passes for 28 yards. The fact that Trask continues to command attention despite last taking a snap in December 2024 speaks to how much teams value his size, arm talent, and upside.
After an underwhelming three seasons, Trask will look to revive his career and prove that he can be a serviceable NFL backup. King is considered week-to-week and sustained the injury in Carolina's preseason win over Arizona.

#week #backup

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers signed Kyle Trask as a third quarterback on Sunday with Hall of Fame game hero Haynes King expected to miss time with a hamstring injury.
Trask gives the Panthers a third QB behind starter Bryce Young and backup Kenny Pickett.
Trask has familiarity with Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, having spent the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has limited game experience, with only 11 career pass attempts during his career.
Trask could see playing time on Saturday when the Panthers visit the Buffalo Bills.
King, an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech, ran in from the 5 on the final play to give the Panthers a dramatic 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, to kick off the NFL preseason. The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year last season, King was 21 of 34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 39 yards and the winning score.

#panthers #trask #king

What channel is Panthers vs. Cardinals on? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch NFL Hall of Fame Game 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Nearly six months after the Super Bowl, the NFL is back Thursday night.
The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals will face off in the traditional preseason opener, the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, getting an early start on their preparations for the 2026 campaign.
While Bryce Young remains key to the Panthers' fortunes, he won't be suiting up Thursday. Kenny Pickett will get the start at QB for Carolina with undrafted rookie Haynes King from Georgia Tech set to back him up.
The Cardinals will use the opener to take a long look at third-round pick Carson Beck, who will start at QB with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew not expected to play.

#hall

Elite five-star cornerback DJ Pickett emerged onto the scene last season as a True Freshman All-American. He arrived at LSU with tremendous hype as the highest-rated cornerback in his recruiting class, and needless to say, he did not disappoint. Pickett quickly became a staple of the LSU defense and an instant fan favorite while wearing the No. 3 jersey.
However, during practice today, I noticed that Pickett was wearing No. 5, the same number he wore in high school and in all of his official visit photos while being recruited, instead of No. 3.
During the press conference following practice, head coach Lane Kiffin was asked about the number change. Kiffin explained that Pickett was promised he would be able to wear No. 5 as part of his recruitment and ultimately in order to sign with LSU. Kiffin went on to say that he had done a lot of research by speaking with Pickett's family and representatives, but for whatever reason, that promise was never fulfilled. He added that he was not going to judge a situation that occurred before he arrived at LSU. However, because Pickett was promised the number in order to come to the school, Kiffin felt it should be honored.
This is another example of Kiffin going the extra mile to ensure that even promises made to players before he became LSU's head coach are kept. He is making it clear that his staff intends to build trust by honoring commitments made to players whenever possible.
Seeing Pickett in purple and gold will never be a sight for sore eyes, but it will certainly be interesting to see the No. 5 jersey back in action inside Tiger Stadium. The last player to wear the number was Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. LSU has seemingly had an unwritten tradition of not reissuing the jersey numbers of its Heisman Trophy winners—Billy Cannon, Joe Burrow, and Jayden Daniels—until now.

#daniels

OC Brad Idzik preps for Panthers' primary playcalling position originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Kenny Pickett will be the team's lab rat.
As they experiment with Brad Idzik becoming the Panthers' primary offensive playcaller in 2026, Pickett will be the first to experience the way the offensive coordinator engineers an in-game offensive possession.
With No. 1 QB Bryce Young, along with most of the other first-teamers, not expected to dress for Thursday's Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, Pickett will get the start against the Arizona Cardinals.
After handling occasional preseason playcalling duties the previous two seasons, Idzik has yet to run a regular-season drive. With four preseason outings this summer, the extra outing could prove important for him to test what works for him durign play calls – and what doesn't.

#idzik #brad

On Thursday night, for the first time in approximately six months, there will be NFL action as the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals open the preseason when they clash in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. And while there is never too much to take away from this game (or most preseason games), and neither team is expected to be a top Super Bowl contender this season, there are some things to keep an eye on Thursday night.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the game will be the battle between the two "starting" quarterbacks. The term "starting" is in quotation marks because we know that neither announced starter for the game, which will be Kenny Pickett for the Panthers and Carson Beck for the Cardinals, is expected to start this season for their respective teams. But both men have something to prove.
For Pickett, who was a first-round draft pick in 2022 for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers, every preseason is the window for the now-fifth-year signal-caller to prove he belongs in the league. He went 7-5 as a starter during his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, but the statistics were worse than the admittedly average record, and he eventually was benched and traded.
Since then, he has only started three games in the past two seasons and hopes to prove he can compete with Bryce Young for the starting job. If he wants that to happen, it starts on Thursday night in Canton.
Meanwhile, Beck was a third-round draft pick this year after leading Miami (FL) to a national runner-up finish, but he has some obstacles in his way if he hopes to be an NFL starter. But even though one of those players, Jacoby Brissett, finally settled his contract dispute with the Cardinals, he is still relatively unproven and inconsistent as an NFL starter.

#thursday #cardinals #preseason

Michael Scotto: The Los Angeles Clippers and Jalen Pickett have agreed to a two-way deal, league sources told hoopshype . The 26-year-old guard spent the past three seasons with the Denver Nuggets where he shot 39% from 3-point range. Pickett was the 32nd pick of the 2023 NBA Draft.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Clippers, Jalen Pickett agree to two-way contract

#hoops

We know who the Arizona Cardinals will start at quarterback in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday against the Carolina Panthers. The team announced it on Monday morning.
That means the game will be a gripping battle between Beck, a third-round pick, and Kenny Pickett, the Panthers' veteran backup quarterback.
Beck will likely start with a bunch of third-string players and players deeper on the roster, but it will be what the Cardinals need to see — can he handle the speed of the NFL game and handle offensive operations — the huddle, the communication and more.
The game kicks off Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. Arizona time) and will air on NBC.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.

#thursday

On Thursday, Carolina Panthers star Derrick Brown was revealed as the highest-rated defensive tackle in EA Sports' Madden NFL 27. The Pro Bowl wrecking ball, who is fresh off a career-high 5.0 sacks and a share of the organization's first division ****** le in a decade, also leads the way for his team.
So, how do Brown's fellow cats stack up in this year's game?
Here are the all of the player ratings for the Panthers from Madden NFL 27:
Bryce Young: 78
Kenny Pickett: 67

#derrick

Since the 2000s began, the Cowboys have had several trades for big-name wide receivers. It's still too early to make an official proclamation, but so far, the trade for George Pickens is looking like it may be the most successful. Our rundown series now comes to one of Dallas' brightest stars, and perhaps their most talked-about player this offseason.
Years in NFL: 4
Acquired by: Trade (2025)
2022 was a year of sweeping change for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger retired, there was a new general manager, and the receiver position was also in flux. George Pickens was part of this new offensive era, a second-round pick to go with first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett. Unlike the rookie QB, Pickens was an immediate contributor in a trio with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. Pittsburgh traded Claypool away in November, leaving Johnson and Pickens as the clear starting duo.
For three years, Pickens' talent was clear but so were issues with his maturity and relationship with the Steelers. The team struggled to find its next QB, going through the poo-poo platter of Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph before bringing in Russell Wilson in 2023. While Wilson helped bring some respectability back at QB, Pickens' status with the team was already breaking down. Criticism of his effort became public, and he went into his fourth year without a clear path forward in Pittsburgh.
As it turned out, the path led to Dallas. Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick were sent to the Cowboys for a 2026 third-rounder and Dallas' fifth-round pick in 2027. For the Steelers, it was a decent return on a former second-rounder who they clearly had no intention of re-signing after his rookie deal. For the Cowboys, it was an immediate upgrade at WR2 and a much-needed wingman for CeeDee Lamb, who'd been carrying too much of the receiving load since the departure of Amari Cooper and the decline of Michael Gallup.

#clear

The Panthers' roster went down to three quarterbacks when Will Grier retired earlier this month.
The plan is now to hold that number at the position through training camp.
In his Wednesday press conference, General Manager Dan Morgan told reporters that Carolina has "no plans" right now to bring in a fourth QB.
"Obviously, wish Will and his family the best," Morgan said. "In terms of his career, just playing as long as he did — just wish him the best moving forward."
So, Carolina will go through training camp with Kenny Pickett and Haynes King behind starter Bryce Young at quarterback.

#morgan #carolina #training #best

The Cleveland Browns quarterback room in 2025 was a story even Hollywood’s best writers would have had trouble turning into a believable one.
Starting in the offseason and continuing through training camp, the preseason, and into the fall, fans and media members alike believed at one time or another that:
Kenny Pickett was actually going to start a regular-season game for the Browns.
Deshaun Watson would see the field during the regular season despite still recovering from a twice-torn Achilles tendon.
Joe Flacco could re-create his brief but magical run from 2023.

UFC middleweight contender Kyle Daukaus speaks with MMA Fighting’s José Youngs about his love for the Watchmen, Batman, and Spider-Man movies, The Boys television series, and more on the latest episode of Anything But Fighting.
Daukaus (17-5), a two-time CFFC middleweight champion, was last seen coming up short to Bo Nickal at UFC White House in June. This setback, not only snapped his six-fight win streak but also marked his first UFC loss since re-signing with the promotion in 2025.
To date, 12 of Daukaus’ 17 have come by way of submission. He also holds notable wins over Gerald Meerschaert, Michel Pereira, Jamie Pickett, and Dustin Stoltzfus.

Training camp begins later this month. Let’s take a summer recap on the Las Vegas Raiders’ free-agent picture.
Re-signed with Raiders as unrestricted free agents:
Cornerback Eric Stokes, pass-rusher Malcolm Koonce, tight end Ian Thomas,
Departed Raiders in free agency:
Quarterback Kenny Pickett (Panthers), Stone Forsythe (Panthers), defensive back Lonnie Johnson (Dolphins), guard Dylan Parham (Jets), cornerback Darnay Holmes (Falcons), linebacker Jon Rhattigan (Bears).

Prior to what became the last year of Terry Bradshaw's career, the Steelers had a chance to select Pitt product Dan Marino with the 21st overall selection in the draft. They passed.
In the months after the last game of Ben Roethlisberger's career, the Steelers had a chance to select Pitt product Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall selection in the draft. They pounced.
After only two seasons, they punted on Pickett.
Earlier this week, former Steelers G.M. Kevin Colbert defended the decision to draft Pickett during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh.
"We projected Kenny to be a start-and-win NFL quarterback, and quite honestly, he lived up to that in his first two seasons with us," Colbert said, via Jack Markowski of SI.com. "For us, he was 14-10 and trending in the right direction. So that's what we thought we had in Kenny."