1 month ago
The San Francisco 49ers waived tight end Brayden Willis Saturday to make room for long snapper Jon Weeks on the active roster.
Per the NFL's transaction wire, Willis went unclaimed. Willis showed positional versatility during the preseason, but he was also a 7th-rounder from '23 with as many regular-season receptions since then as you and I.
That means the team can bring him back to the practice squad and potentially elevate him to the active roster for this upcoming week against the Rams. He's expected to practice with the team after re-joining the practice squad, as he did not leave Australia, per Matt Maiocco.
Willis's best chance to contribute offensively is at fullback. During this past preseason, he lined up at fullback 15 times. Kyle Juszczyk recently returned to practice after breaking his finger. If Juszczyk can't perform his usual duties or gets hurt again, Willis is his logical backup — ***** uming the team would have him on the active roster so he can play special teams.
Juszczyk is entering the final year of his two-year contract. He's 35. It makes you wonder if the 49ers want to keep Willis around to take over for Juszczyk if this ends up being Juice's final year as a Niner. In my opinion, Willis offers more out of the backfield than as a tight end. That was likely part of the reason he was waived.
#willis #juszczyk #roster #team
Per the NFL's transaction wire, Willis went unclaimed. Willis showed positional versatility during the preseason, but he was also a 7th-rounder from '23 with as many regular-season receptions since then as you and I.
That means the team can bring him back to the practice squad and potentially elevate him to the active roster for this upcoming week against the Rams. He's expected to practice with the team after re-joining the practice squad, as he did not leave Australia, per Matt Maiocco.
Willis's best chance to contribute offensively is at fullback. During this past preseason, he lined up at fullback 15 times. Kyle Juszczyk recently returned to practice after breaking his finger. If Juszczyk can't perform his usual duties or gets hurt again, Willis is his logical backup — ***** uming the team would have him on the active roster so he can play special teams.
Juszczyk is entering the final year of his two-year contract. He's 35. It makes you wonder if the 49ers want to keep Willis around to take over for Juszczyk if this ends up being Juice's final year as a Niner. In my opinion, Willis offers more out of the backfield than as a tight end. That was likely part of the reason he was waived.
#willis #juszczyk #roster #team
1 month ago
The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana travel to Mestalla for a La Liga game against Valencia, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 24 players for Sunday's clash:
Goalkeepers: 1. Joan Garcia, 13. Wojciech Szczesny, 25. Dominik Livakovic
Defenders: 2. João Cancelo, 3. Alejandro Balde, 5. Pau Cubarsí, 12. Xavi Espart, 15. Andreas Christensen, 18. Gerard Martín, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric Garcia
Midfielders: 4. Brian Fariñas, 6. Gavi, 7. Fermín López, 8. Pedri, 16. Rodri, 20. Dani Olmo, 22. Marc Bernal
Forwards: 9. Gabriel Jesus, 10. Lamine Yamal, 11. Raphinha, 14. Karim Adeyemi, 17. Anthony Gordon, 29. Hamza Abdelkarim
#garcia #mestalla #valencia
Goalkeepers: 1. Joan Garcia, 13. Wojciech Szczesny, 25. Dominik Livakovic
Defenders: 2. João Cancelo, 3. Alejandro Balde, 5. Pau Cubarsí, 12. Xavi Espart, 15. Andreas Christensen, 18. Gerard Martín, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric Garcia
Midfielders: 4. Brian Fariñas, 6. Gavi, 7. Fermín López, 8. Pedri, 16. Rodri, 20. Dani Olmo, 22. Marc Bernal
Forwards: 9. Gabriel Jesus, 10. Lamine Yamal, 11. Raphinha, 14. Karim Adeyemi, 17. Anthony Gordon, 29. Hamza Abdelkarim
#garcia #mestalla #valencia
1 month ago
From Travis Scott and David Harbour to Tory Burch, stars gathered at the 2026 US Open game dressed to their nines. Among them was New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye's wife, whose outfit grabbed fans' attention and is receiving tons of praise.
"Okay, outfit of the day going to the U.S. Open," Patriots quarterback Drake Maye's wife, Ann Michael Maye, said on her TikTok account. "My dress is this little white mini dress from Abercrombie. The sweater is J Crew. These little cute flats are from Marshalls, and then my bag is Distry. So, yeah, let's go. Okay."
This isn't the first time Ann Michael Maye turned heads with her outfit. She came to Santa Clara in 2026 to cheer for her husband, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, as he prepared to face the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium.
For the big day, Ann Michael stole the show in a custom cropped navy Patriots jacket made by Kristin Juszczyk, the wife of 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk. The jacket had the Patriots logo, and she matched it with studded white jeans, a slicked-back bun, gold earrings, and oversized sunglasses.
Drake Maye's Patriots are worth following, especially with all the storylines brewing in New England. Subscribe for more interesting stories.
#maye #quarterback
"Okay, outfit of the day going to the U.S. Open," Patriots quarterback Drake Maye's wife, Ann Michael Maye, said on her TikTok account. "My dress is this little white mini dress from Abercrombie. The sweater is J Crew. These little cute flats are from Marshalls, and then my bag is Distry. So, yeah, let's go. Okay."
This isn't the first time Ann Michael Maye turned heads with her outfit. She came to Santa Clara in 2026 to cheer for her husband, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, as he prepared to face the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium.
For the big day, Ann Michael stole the show in a custom cropped navy Patriots jacket made by Kristin Juszczyk, the wife of 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk. The jacket had the Patriots logo, and she matched it with studded white jeans, a slicked-back bun, gold earrings, and oversized sunglasses.
Drake Maye's Patriots are worth following, especially with all the storylines brewing in New England. Subscribe for more interesting stories.
#maye #quarterback
1 month ago
After weeks of uncertainty, a decision has been made: San Francisco 49ers stars George Kittle and Nick Bosa will board the team's Wednesday flight to Melbourne, Australia, for the Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
That does not necessarily mean both players are locks to play Sept. 10. Kittle is in the late stages of his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered in January; he took part in San Francisco's final three practices ahead of the team's departure. Bosa is dealing with the lingering effects of a second ACL tear in his right knee; he participated in drills during the open portion of Wednesday's practice for the first time since Aug. 3, sporting a black sleeve on his right knee.
Even if Bosa and Kittle aren't yet guaranteed to take the field at Melbourne Cricket Ground, these developments signal there's a strong chance they will. It seems unlikely the 49ers would send either player to Melbourne without - at the very least - intending for them to suit up against the Rams.
Asked Monday if the decision to play or sit Kittle had to be made by Wednesday's flight, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "It'd be much nicer to make that decision before we go instead of having him go through all that." But he noted that Kittle spending 10 days away from the medical staff and out of team meetings is a "big deal," even if he isn't going to play.
Other players who returned to practice Wednesday: wide receiver Mike Evans (adductor), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (finger) and defensive back Ephesians Prysock (shoulder). Evans, who worked off to the side Tuesday, appears to be on track to play in Week 1.
#play
That does not necessarily mean both players are locks to play Sept. 10. Kittle is in the late stages of his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered in January; he took part in San Francisco's final three practices ahead of the team's departure. Bosa is dealing with the lingering effects of a second ACL tear in his right knee; he participated in drills during the open portion of Wednesday's practice for the first time since Aug. 3, sporting a black sleeve on his right knee.
Even if Bosa and Kittle aren't yet guaranteed to take the field at Melbourne Cricket Ground, these developments signal there's a strong chance they will. It seems unlikely the 49ers would send either player to Melbourne without - at the very least - intending for them to suit up against the Rams.
Asked Monday if the decision to play or sit Kittle had to be made by Wednesday's flight, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "It'd be much nicer to make that decision before we go instead of having him go through all that." But he noted that Kittle spending 10 days away from the medical staff and out of team meetings is a "big deal," even if he isn't going to play.
Other players who returned to practice Wednesday: wide receiver Mike Evans (adductor), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (finger) and defensive back Ephesians Prysock (shoulder). Evans, who worked off to the side Tuesday, appears to be on track to play in Week 1.
#play
2 months ago
With just days ahead of a flight to Melbourne, Australia for their season-opening showdown with the Rams, several 49ers stars descended upon St. Francis High School in Mountain View to watch Kyle Shanahan's son play.
George Kittle and his wife Claire, Kyle Juszczyk and his wife Kristin, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Mac Jones were all in attendance for the first St. Francis game of the season with a field-level view against Manteca High School. Instagram Stories posts by Kristin Juszczyk and Claire Kittle show the pair en route to and in attendance at a high school football game, and the group of 49ers can be seen sitting underneath the scoreboard on the school's livestream of the game.
While there were many games going on across the Bay Area on Friday night, the connection with their coach's family appears to be a big reason why all the 49ers went to the Mountain View private school for a game. Shanahan's son, Carter, is a junior this year who takes after his dad, who was a wide receiver at the University of Texas, and plays the same position for the Lancers. Carter Shanahan was a starter on Friday night as the Lancers beat Manteca, 31-23, and even was the team's primary kick returner.
The 49ers ties at St. Francis run deeper than just the coach's kid, too. Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bryant Young were hired as ******* istant coaches for the varsity team over the summer, and both are in their first seasons on the Lancers' staff. And two former St. Francis players are currently with the 49ers: the team signed defensive end Villami "Junior" Fehoko Jr. last week and employs Michael Lauck, a former quarterback at the school, on the 49ers' video team. Other former 49ers stars have also sent their kids to St. Francis in the past, including Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott and former head coach Steve Mariucci, and were frequently seen at the school's sporting events.
It isn't the first time the 49ers have made their presence felt on the St. Francis football field, as Shanahan also attended his son's junior varsity game last season after his team's Week 5 dramatic win against the Rams.
#school #high #view
George Kittle and his wife Claire, Kyle Juszczyk and his wife Kristin, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams and Mac Jones were all in attendance for the first St. Francis game of the season with a field-level view against Manteca High School. Instagram Stories posts by Kristin Juszczyk and Claire Kittle show the pair en route to and in attendance at a high school football game, and the group of 49ers can be seen sitting underneath the scoreboard on the school's livestream of the game.
While there were many games going on across the Bay Area on Friday night, the connection with their coach's family appears to be a big reason why all the 49ers went to the Mountain View private school for a game. Shanahan's son, Carter, is a junior this year who takes after his dad, who was a wide receiver at the University of Texas, and plays the same position for the Lancers. Carter Shanahan was a starter on Friday night as the Lancers beat Manteca, 31-23, and even was the team's primary kick returner.
The 49ers ties at St. Francis run deeper than just the coach's kid, too. Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bryant Young were hired as ******* istant coaches for the varsity team over the summer, and both are in their first seasons on the Lancers' staff. And two former St. Francis players are currently with the 49ers: the team signed defensive end Villami "Junior" Fehoko Jr. last week and employs Michael Lauck, a former quarterback at the school, on the 49ers' video team. Other former 49ers stars have also sent their kids to St. Francis in the past, including Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott and former head coach Steve Mariucci, and were frequently seen at the school's sporting events.
It isn't the first time the 49ers have made their presence felt on the St. Francis football field, as Shanahan also attended his son's junior varsity game last season after his team's Week 5 dramatic win against the Rams.
#school #high #view
2 months ago
Barcelona have completed the signing of Dominik Livakovic, but the Croatian goalkeeper's future for the coming season remains unresolved as the club's preferred loan arrangement has hit an unexpected obstacle.
The 31-year-old has joined Barcelona from Fenerbahce in a deal worth €2 million plus a possible €500,000 in variables.
After arriving in Barcelona on Tuesday, Livakovic is scheduled to undergo his medical examination on Wednesday before putting pen to paper on a contract running until 2030.
The signing itself is not the issue. The question Barcelona must now answer is where their new goalkeeper will spend the season.
According to SPORT, Barcelona initially planned to send Livakovic out on a one-year loan before integrating him into the first-team setup in 2027, when Wojciech Szczesny's spell at the club comes to an end.
#Barcelona #signing #dominik
The 31-year-old has joined Barcelona from Fenerbahce in a deal worth €2 million plus a possible €500,000 in variables.
After arriving in Barcelona on Tuesday, Livakovic is scheduled to undergo his medical examination on Wednesday before putting pen to paper on a contract running until 2030.
The signing itself is not the issue. The question Barcelona must now answer is where their new goalkeeper will spend the season.
According to SPORT, Barcelona initially planned to send Livakovic out on a one-year loan before integrating him into the first-team setup in 2027, when Wojciech Szczesny's spell at the club comes to an end.
#Barcelona #signing #dominik
2 months ago
Dominik Livaković is set to sign for FC Barcelona, although it's still not clear whether he'll play for the Catalans this season or join Dinamo Zagreb on loan.
Barcelona already have Wojciech Szczęsny and Joan Garcia as goalkeepers, and there are rumors that they wanted to loan Livaković for a season while Szczęsny remains as backup to Garcia. However, competing whispers say that he could stay with Barça as Garcia's backup without going on loan first.
"I'm very happy to be here," the keeper said, having landed in Barcelona. When asked whether he would stay or go out on loan, he simply said, "we'll see."
The main deciding factor is reportedly whether Barça will have enough **** e within the FIFA Fair Play salary limit. If there's room, he'll stay, if not, he'll go out on loan and re-join in a year.
The keeper comes from Fenerbahçe, it's understood Barcelona will pay four million euro to sign him from the Turkish giants.
#he 'll #szcz
Barcelona already have Wojciech Szczęsny and Joan Garcia as goalkeepers, and there are rumors that they wanted to loan Livaković for a season while Szczęsny remains as backup to Garcia. However, competing whispers say that he could stay with Barça as Garcia's backup without going on loan first.
"I'm very happy to be here," the keeper said, having landed in Barcelona. When asked whether he would stay or go out on loan, he simply said, "we'll see."
The main deciding factor is reportedly whether Barça will have enough **** e within the FIFA Fair Play salary limit. If there's room, he'll stay, if not, he'll go out on loan and re-join in a year.
The keeper comes from Fenerbahçe, it's understood Barcelona will pay four million euro to sign him from the Turkish giants.
#he 'll #szcz
2 months ago
The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana kick off a new season with a trip to Elche for the first La Liga game of the campaign, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Sunday's clash:
Goalkeepers: Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Eder Aller
Defenders: João Cancelo, Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Álvaro Cortés, Jordi Pesquer
Midfielders: Gavi, Fermín López, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Brian Fariñas, Xavi Espart
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon, Hamza Abdelkarim
#garcia #elche #goalkeepers #wojciech
Goalkeepers: Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Eder Aller
Defenders: João Cancelo, Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Álvaro Cortés, Jordi Pesquer
Midfielders: Gavi, Fermín López, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Brian Fariñas, Xavi Espart
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon, Hamza Abdelkarim
#garcia #elche #goalkeepers #wojciech
2 months ago
Several 49ers WAGs didn't let the looming season stop them from savoring summertime.
This was made very clear by the summer getaway that George Kittle's wife, Claire, and Kyle Juszczyk's wife, Kristin, took to Italy, while their husbands were in the thick of training camp.
Per usual, Kittle and Juszczyk were active on social media throughout this vacation. And Kittle posted an Instagram collage of the trip that includes several bikini photos.
Claire Kittle taking a selfie while on an Italian vacation.
The post was captioned, "Loves an Italian summa
#kittle #wife #wags #kyle
This was made very clear by the summer getaway that George Kittle's wife, Claire, and Kyle Juszczyk's wife, Kristin, took to Italy, while their husbands were in the thick of training camp.
Per usual, Kittle and Juszczyk were active on social media throughout this vacation. And Kittle posted an Instagram collage of the trip that includes several bikini photos.
Claire Kittle taking a selfie while on an Italian vacation.
The post was captioned, "Loves an Italian summa
#kittle #wife #wags #kyle
2 months ago
Barcelona are gearing up for the new season, with the Catalans slated to take on Elche CF in their opening match tomorrow.
Heading into this game, there were question marks over who will serve as the team's third-choice goalkeeper behind Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny.
That question has now been answered, as revealed by Barça's training preparations in the lead up to the contest.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Eder Aller is going to serve as Barcelona's third-choice goalkeeper for their league opener vs Elche CF.
Eder Aller will be Barcelona's third-goalkeeper this weekend. (Photo courtesy: X/FCBMasia)
#Third #question #catalans
Heading into this game, there were question marks over who will serve as the team's third-choice goalkeeper behind Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny.
That question has now been answered, as revealed by Barça's training preparations in the lead up to the contest.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Eder Aller is going to serve as Barcelona's third-choice goalkeeper for their league opener vs Elche CF.
Eder Aller will be Barcelona's third-goalkeeper this weekend. (Photo courtesy: X/FCBMasia)
#Third #question #catalans
2 months ago
FC Barcelona have made a major splash in the transfer market after reaching a full agreement with Turkish side Fenerbahçe for the signing of goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. This was reported by Carlos Monfort in Sport.
The Blaugrana sporting department, led by Deco, has accelerated talks in recent hours. The Turkish club has given the final green light to Barça's financial offer.
Both clubs are currently exchanging the required documentation to finalize the transfer in the coming days. The deal has been set at a fixed fee of two million euros, plus another two million in add-ons.
With this move, Deco secures the generational transition between the posts for Barça. The Croatia international is shaping up as the chosen man to take over as first-choice goalkeeper once the Wojciech Szczęsny era comes to an end.
The goalkeeper will bring international experience and reliability to the squad after standing out both for his club and for the Croatia national team. His arrival strengthens the medium- and long-term planning of the sporting project.
#turkish #croatia #transfer #Barcelona
The Blaugrana sporting department, led by Deco, has accelerated talks in recent hours. The Turkish club has given the final green light to Barça's financial offer.
Both clubs are currently exchanging the required documentation to finalize the transfer in the coming days. The deal has been set at a fixed fee of two million euros, plus another two million in add-ons.
With this move, Deco secures the generational transition between the posts for Barça. The Croatia international is shaping up as the chosen man to take over as first-choice goalkeeper once the Wojciech Szczęsny era comes to an end.
The goalkeeper will bring international experience and reliability to the squad after standing out both for his club and for the Croatia national team. His arrival strengthens the medium- and long-term planning of the sporting project.
#turkish #croatia #transfer #Barcelona
2 months ago
The San Francisco 49ers' short-term future doesn't look great, according to ESPN. An expert panel consisting of ****** ysts Louis Riddick, Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, and Seth Walder ranked the 49ers No. 14 in ESPN's Future Power Rankings.
ESPN's methodology evaluates how well all 32 NFL franchises are set up for sustained success over a three-year window spanning the 2027 through 2029 seasons. The panel rated each team's quarterback situation, non-QB roster makeup, front office, and coaching staff on a 1–100 scale. Those grades were then calculated into a weighted overall score: roster makeup (30%), coaching staff (25%), front office (25%), and quarterback (20%).
The 49ers earned an overall score of 82.4, placing them behind NFC West rivals Seattle (No. 1, 88.7) and Los Angeles (No. 5, 85.3). San Francisco's category breakdown features elite respect for their coaching staff (93.5 score, second in NFL) and a top-10 quarterback rating (87.0 score, 10th in NFL). However, lower marks for their non-QB roster (77.0 score, 16th in NFL) and front office (74.0 score, 23rd in NFL) pulled down their overall grade.
The primary reason for optimism centers around head coach Kyle Shanahan's play-calling brilliance and a young defense. Solak noted that as long as Shanahan remains at the helm printing high-caliber offensive schemes, San Francisco will stay dangerous regardless of offensive line inconsistencies or playmaker injuries.
Conversely, Riddick highlighted roster age and durability as major causes for concern. Crucial veterans like Trent Williams (38), Kyle Juszczyk (35), Mike Evans (32), and George Kittle (32, returning from an Achilles tear) face steep longevity questions. Paired with a history of significant annual injury bug issues, the 49ers will lean heavily on Shanahan and his staff to continuously develop unheralded talent to remain in contention over the next three-year cycle.
#overall
ESPN's methodology evaluates how well all 32 NFL franchises are set up for sustained success over a three-year window spanning the 2027 through 2029 seasons. The panel rated each team's quarterback situation, non-QB roster makeup, front office, and coaching staff on a 1–100 scale. Those grades were then calculated into a weighted overall score: roster makeup (30%), coaching staff (25%), front office (25%), and quarterback (20%).
The 49ers earned an overall score of 82.4, placing them behind NFC West rivals Seattle (No. 1, 88.7) and Los Angeles (No. 5, 85.3). San Francisco's category breakdown features elite respect for their coaching staff (93.5 score, second in NFL) and a top-10 quarterback rating (87.0 score, 10th in NFL). However, lower marks for their non-QB roster (77.0 score, 16th in NFL) and front office (74.0 score, 23rd in NFL) pulled down their overall grade.
The primary reason for optimism centers around head coach Kyle Shanahan's play-calling brilliance and a young defense. Solak noted that as long as Shanahan remains at the helm printing high-caliber offensive schemes, San Francisco will stay dangerous regardless of offensive line inconsistencies or playmaker injuries.
Conversely, Riddick highlighted roster age and durability as major causes for concern. Crucial veterans like Trent Williams (38), Kyle Juszczyk (35), Mike Evans (32), and George Kittle (32, returning from an Achilles tear) face steep longevity questions. Paired with a history of significant annual injury bug issues, the 49ers will lean heavily on Shanahan and his staff to continuously develop unheralded talent to remain in contention over the next three-year cycle.
#overall
2 months ago
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle's wife, Claire, is on a European vacation with some of her friends. The 49ers star, on the other hand, is nursing himself back from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered last season during the wild-card Round matchup against Philadelphia.
Kristin Juszczyk, a fashion designer and the wife of 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, posted a video on Instagram earlier today ****** led "Outfits we wore in Italy." Claire Kittle was next to Kristin and others as they showed off different outfits at scenic locations.
"& now it's time to trade in euro summer for game days!" she captioned the post.
At the time of his Achilles injury, George Kittle was expected to miss a portion of the 2026 NFL season. However, his recovery has been remarkable so far, and Kittle could potentially be available for his team from Week 1.
During a SiriusXM NFL Radio interview, Kittle said that he is ahead of schedule and could soon lace up for the 49ers.
#achilles #kristin #juszczyk #season
Kristin Juszczyk, a fashion designer and the wife of 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, posted a video on Instagram earlier today ****** led "Outfits we wore in Italy." Claire Kittle was next to Kristin and others as they showed off different outfits at scenic locations.
"& now it's time to trade in euro summer for game days!" she captioned the post.
At the time of his Achilles injury, George Kittle was expected to miss a portion of the 2026 NFL season. However, his recovery has been remarkable so far, and Kittle could potentially be available for his team from Week 1.
During a SiriusXM NFL Radio interview, Kittle said that he is ahead of schedule and could soon lace up for the 49ers.
#achilles #kristin #juszczyk #season
2 months ago
Hansi Flick has named his Barcelona squad for Sunday's friendly against FC Basel at Sankt Jakob-Park in Switzerland.
The Barcelona boss has named 24 players for the trip but has left out Pedri and Gavi, with both players working on specific training plans right now.
Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji miss out due to injury, while there's also no place for Marc Casado, Hector Fort, Tommy Marques, Jofre Torrents, Guille Fernandez, or Toni Fernandez who are all expected to depart before the transfer window closes.
Here's the squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Joan García, Wojciech Szczęsny, Eder Aller
#Barcelona #flick
The Barcelona boss has named 24 players for the trip but has left out Pedri and Gavi, with both players working on specific training plans right now.
Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji miss out due to injury, while there's also no place for Marc Casado, Hector Fort, Tommy Marques, Jofre Torrents, Guille Fernandez, or Toni Fernandez who are all expected to depart before the transfer window closes.
Here's the squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Joan García, Wojciech Szczęsny, Eder Aller
#Barcelona #flick
2 months ago
Now that NFL training camps are well underway, many wives and girlfriends of the league's biggest stars are giving behind the scenes looks about their training camp experience.
San Francisco 49ers WAGs Claire Kittle and Kristin Juszcyk are not among these. Instead, the two prominent social media personalities are on a girls trip in Italy, which has contained daily trips on boats while their husbands are dealing with injuries back in California.
George Kittle, left, and Claire Kittle attend the Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club Hosts FIFA World Cup Final. Getty Images
Kittle and Juszczyk are all smiles on this trip, which was shown by an Instagram story post that Claire made on Tuesday morning.
The short video shared the two WAGs looking at each other and laughing while on the back of the boat. Both were wearing bold bikinis, with Claire's being some sort of halter-style top with shell-like embellishments. Kristin's was a multicolor, animal print look that included some purple tones and was mostly covered by a cream wrap.
#instead
San Francisco 49ers WAGs Claire Kittle and Kristin Juszcyk are not among these. Instead, the two prominent social media personalities are on a girls trip in Italy, which has contained daily trips on boats while their husbands are dealing with injuries back in California.
George Kittle, left, and Claire Kittle attend the Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club Hosts FIFA World Cup Final. Getty Images
Kittle and Juszczyk are all smiles on this trip, which was shown by an Instagram story post that Claire made on Tuesday morning.
The short video shared the two WAGs looking at each other and laughing while on the back of the boat. Both were wearing bold bikinis, with Claire's being some sort of halter-style top with shell-like embellishments. Kristin's was a multicolor, animal print look that included some purple tones and was mostly covered by a cream wrap.
#instead
2 months ago
Barcelona superstar Joan Garcia has now been registered with La Liga heading into the new season with a new shirt number.
The goalkeeper, who joined from RCD Espanyol last year, will wear the No. 1 kit this season, taking over the number left vacant by Marc-Andre ter Stegen following his loan move to Ajax.
Meanwhile, veteran star Wojciech Szczesny, who wore No. 25 after joining Barcelona, will take No. 13, which was vacated by the World Cup winner after he returned to training last Sunday.
Garcia's registration this season is very different from last year's, when Barcelona completed the process at the last possible moment.
Courtesy: La Liga official website
#Barcelona #liga #espanyol #marc
The goalkeeper, who joined from RCD Espanyol last year, will wear the No. 1 kit this season, taking over the number left vacant by Marc-Andre ter Stegen following his loan move to Ajax.
Meanwhile, veteran star Wojciech Szczesny, who wore No. 25 after joining Barcelona, will take No. 13, which was vacated by the World Cup winner after he returned to training last Sunday.
Garcia's registration this season is very different from last year's, when Barcelona completed the process at the last possible moment.
Courtesy: La Liga official website
#Barcelona #liga #espanyol #marc
2 months ago
A trio of first-team stars at La Liga giants Barcelona on Sunday moved to reiterate their commitment to the cause with a view to the season ahead in Catalunya's capital.
This came through respective early returns to pre-season training.
The majority of Hansi Flick's squad have of course now reported to base at the Ciutat Esportiva to kickstart preparations for the 2026/27 campaign. The likes of Marc Bernal, Alejandro Balde and Wojciech Szczęsny, in fact, have been hard at work for a number of weeks already.
For those members of Barca's ranks to have advanced all the way to the semi-finals of this summer's World Cup, though, their comebacks were pencilled in for this coming Wednesday, August 12th.
This group includes the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Jules Koundé.
#hansi
This came through respective early returns to pre-season training.
The majority of Hansi Flick's squad have of course now reported to base at the Ciutat Esportiva to kickstart preparations for the 2026/27 campaign. The likes of Marc Bernal, Alejandro Balde and Wojciech Szczęsny, in fact, have been hard at work for a number of weeks already.
For those members of Barca's ranks to have advanced all the way to the semi-finals of this summer's World Cup, though, their comebacks were pencilled in for this coming Wednesday, August 12th.
This group includes the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Jules Koundé.
#hansi
2 months ago
WELCOME TO BLUENERGY STADIUM!!! The beautiful home of Udinese in Udine, Italy is the site of Barcelona's next preseason ******* ignment as the Catalans face off against the hosts as well as Nottingham Forest of the Premier League in the Friuli Venezia Giulia triangular tournament
Barça will play two 45-minute halves, one against each team. Barça's first game starts at 9pm CET against Forest, with the second game against Udinese scheduled for 10pm CET. It's a peculiar but fun format (more info here), and Hansi Flick will once again give minutes to La Masia youngsters and first team reserves. This should be fun, and you're welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!
Editor's note: this will be the single live thread for both games. We will start with coverage of Barça-Forest, then update the thread with the lineups and match info for the Barça-Udinese clash. Once the first game ends, you can simply stay here to follow and comment the second.
BARCELONA
Starting XI: Szczesny; Espart, Christensen, Martín, Pesquer; Fariñas, Bernal; Adeyemi, Fermín, Raphinha; Hamza (4-2-3-1)
#first #game #once
Barça will play two 45-minute halves, one against each team. Barça's first game starts at 9pm CET against Forest, with the second game against Udinese scheduled for 10pm CET. It's a peculiar but fun format (more info here), and Hansi Flick will once again give minutes to La Masia youngsters and first team reserves. This should be fun, and you're welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!
Editor's note: this will be the single live thread for both games. We will start with coverage of Barça-Forest, then update the thread with the lineups and match info for the Barça-Udinese clash. Once the first game ends, you can simply stay here to follow and comment the second.
BARCELONA
Starting XI: Szczesny; Espart, Christensen, Martín, Pesquer; Fariñas, Bernal; Adeyemi, Fermín, Raphinha; Hamza (4-2-3-1)
#first #game #once
2 months ago
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently went team by team projecting each franchise's realistic Hall of Fame candidates, and while several 49ers stars fared well, one veteran was tabbed as unlikely to reach Canton.
Barnwell explained his approach before sorting players into five tiers: players that are in, on the cusp, need to keep it up, have work to do and will be missing out on the Hall of Fame, based on historical comparables rather than personal opinion on merit.
San Francisco had plenty of representation across the spectrum. Barnwell listed receiver Mike Evans, running back Christian McCaffrey and tackle Trent Williams as locks, while tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner landed in the "on the cusp" group. Edge rusher Nick Bosa and quarterback Brock Purdy were tabbed as having "work to do" but remain on a promising trajectory.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, however, fell into the "missing out" category despite a decorated career in the Bay Area.
Juszczyk will be a fascinating case to see whether that keeps up, given that he just earned his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2025. Of course, while Juszczyk is a good player, it's fair to wonder whether he's racking up Pro Bowl appearances by virtue of being the most conspicuous player at a position where there simply aren't many others, just as Mike Alstott became a six-time Pro Bowler with the Bucs. Juszczyk plays only about half of the offensive snaps in a typical game, and it seems telling that the 49ers were willing to cut him this offseason before re-signing him, saving about $500,000 in the process. I'd be a little surprised if he made it in just given how the league has valued fullbacks.
#hall #cusp
Barnwell explained his approach before sorting players into five tiers: players that are in, on the cusp, need to keep it up, have work to do and will be missing out on the Hall of Fame, based on historical comparables rather than personal opinion on merit.
San Francisco had plenty of representation across the spectrum. Barnwell listed receiver Mike Evans, running back Christian McCaffrey and tackle Trent Williams as locks, while tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner landed in the "on the cusp" group. Edge rusher Nick Bosa and quarterback Brock Purdy were tabbed as having "work to do" but remain on a promising trajectory.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, however, fell into the "missing out" category despite a decorated career in the Bay Area.
Juszczyk will be a fascinating case to see whether that keeps up, given that he just earned his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2025. Of course, while Juszczyk is a good player, it's fair to wonder whether he's racking up Pro Bowl appearances by virtue of being the most conspicuous player at a position where there simply aren't many others, just as Mike Alstott became a six-time Pro Bowler with the Bucs. Juszczyk plays only about half of the offensive snaps in a typical game, and it seems telling that the 49ers were willing to cut him this offseason before re-signing him, saving about $500,000 in the process. I'd be a little surprised if he made it in just given how the league has valued fullbacks.
#hall #cusp
2 months ago
The San Francisco 49ers list of injured players surged during Wednesday's practice when offensive lineman Nick Zakelj and defensive end Sam Okuayinonu both exited the session early with unknown ailments.
Zakelj and Okuayinonu joined DE Nick Bosa, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, OL Carver Willis, wide receiver Jacob Cowing, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, OL Brett Toth among the players who were new to the injury list before and during training camp Wednesday. That's on top of WR Mike Evans, WR Christian Kirk, WR De'Zhaun Stribling, RBs Kaelon Black and Jordan James, OL Vederian Lowe, DL Keion White and S Malik Mustapha all already sitting out practice with various injuries.
However, while the list of San Francisco's injured ballooned to 20 including the trio of players on the PUP list, ESPN's Nick Wagoner had a note that shows the injury situation might not be as bad as it looks on paper.
Wagoner posted a different sort of injury update in his daily practice recap on Twitter:
For the record, many of these guys, including Evans and Kirk did some work on the side, including some full speed running. Guerendo and Mustapha, in particular seem to be close to back. Greenlaw also seemed to be fine as he got a bit of a rest today with soreness. He watched practice from the defensive back field.
#list #including #zakelj
Zakelj and Okuayinonu joined DE Nick Bosa, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, OL Carver Willis, wide receiver Jacob Cowing, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, OL Brett Toth among the players who were new to the injury list before and during training camp Wednesday. That's on top of WR Mike Evans, WR Christian Kirk, WR De'Zhaun Stribling, RBs Kaelon Black and Jordan James, OL Vederian Lowe, DL Keion White and S Malik Mustapha all already sitting out practice with various injuries.
However, while the list of San Francisco's injured ballooned to 20 including the trio of players on the PUP list, ESPN's Nick Wagoner had a note that shows the injury situation might not be as bad as it looks on paper.
Wagoner posted a different sort of injury update in his daily practice recap on Twitter:
For the record, many of these guys, including Evans and Kirk did some work on the side, including some full speed running. Guerendo and Mustapha, in particular seem to be close to back. Greenlaw also seemed to be fine as he got a bit of a rest today with soreness. He watched practice from the defensive back field.
#list #including #zakelj
2 months ago
It's fantasy football draft season.
What a glorious sentence. Training camps are underway in earnest, preseason kicks off this week and the season will be here before you can spell "Kyle Juszczyk" (which takes me about 25 business days on average). Whether you've been following the beats all summer or are just now tuning back in, one of your best tools for taking the temperature of the fantasy football community is Average Draft Position, or ADP.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
But that ADP is subject to change — quite a lot — over the next month. So, as we hit the heart of mock drafts (and eventually real drafts) and these ADPs continue to shift, here are 10 players whose draft cost I'm watching closely.
The closer we get to September, the more ADP shifts away from the brainchild of degenerates and diehards — like me — and closer to the consensus of the average fantasy player. Oftentimes, that comes with a notable shift in perception on rookies. Running back Jeremiyah Love was drafted third overall out of Notre Dame and is the top rookie in fantasy ADP — a potentially game-changing talent. But the Cardinals entered training camp with a lot of question marks on offense and have raised even more with recent comments about James Conner and Tyler Allgeier. Historically speaking, Love's draft capital suggests he will be a workhorse, but a long look at Arizona's roster raises some red flags about efficiency and scoring chances. The breakdown of snaps and touches will likely remain something of a mystery until Week 1 (or beyond), so fantasy drafters will have to work off conjecture for now.
#draft #average #season #drafts
What a glorious sentence. Training camps are underway in earnest, preseason kicks off this week and the season will be here before you can spell "Kyle Juszczyk" (which takes me about 25 business days on average). Whether you've been following the beats all summer or are just now tuning back in, one of your best tools for taking the temperature of the fantasy football community is Average Draft Position, or ADP.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
But that ADP is subject to change — quite a lot — over the next month. So, as we hit the heart of mock drafts (and eventually real drafts) and these ADPs continue to shift, here are 10 players whose draft cost I'm watching closely.
The closer we get to September, the more ADP shifts away from the brainchild of degenerates and diehards — like me — and closer to the consensus of the average fantasy player. Oftentimes, that comes with a notable shift in perception on rookies. Running back Jeremiyah Love was drafted third overall out of Notre Dame and is the top rookie in fantasy ADP — a potentially game-changing talent. But the Cardinals entered training camp with a lot of question marks on offense and have raised even more with recent comments about James Conner and Tyler Allgeier. Historically speaking, Love's draft capital suggests he will be a workhorse, but a long look at Arizona's roster raises some red flags about efficiency and scoring chances. The breakdown of snaps and touches will likely remain something of a mystery until Week 1 (or beyond), so fantasy drafters will have to work off conjecture for now.
#draft #average #season #drafts
2 months ago
Fred Warner has been to two Super Bowls and two additional NFC Championship Games with the San Francisco 49ers, and he's walked away empty-handed every time. Now entering his ninth season under head coach Kyle Shanahan, the All-Pro linebacker says the group around him understands the opportunity in front of it isn't guaranteed to last.
"There's only so long that we're going to have these opportunities together as this group," Warner said on KNBR. "It's funny though, 'cause I feel like every year our sense of urgency is through the roof. Ever since I've been here, we've had the standard of winning a Super Bowl. It's always been Super Bowl or bust for us."
Since Shanahan took over in 2017, San Francisco lost two Super Bowls to the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC ****** le in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022 to the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively. Warner has been part of that core the entire way, and the roster around him has only gotten older in the pursuit.
With Deebo Samuel's return this offseason, the 49ers are positioned to potentially start five non-quarterback skill players age 30 or older: Samuel, Mike Evans, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk. That group size and age has been matched by only a handful of teams in Super Bowl-era history, none of which found much postseason success doing it.
Warner said the volume of accolades this roster has compiled over the years — All-Pro nods, Pro Bowls, conference ****** le appearances — carries no weight once the season starts.
#bowl #kyle #since
"There's only so long that we're going to have these opportunities together as this group," Warner said on KNBR. "It's funny though, 'cause I feel like every year our sense of urgency is through the roof. Ever since I've been here, we've had the standard of winning a Super Bowl. It's always been Super Bowl or bust for us."
Since Shanahan took over in 2017, San Francisco lost two Super Bowls to the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC ****** le in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022 to the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively. Warner has been part of that core the entire way, and the roster around him has only gotten older in the pursuit.
With Deebo Samuel's return this offseason, the 49ers are positioned to potentially start five non-quarterback skill players age 30 or older: Samuel, Mike Evans, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk. That group size and age has been matched by only a handful of teams in Super Bowl-era history, none of which found much postseason success doing it.
Warner said the volume of accolades this roster has compiled over the years — All-Pro nods, Pro Bowls, conference ****** le appearances — carries no weight once the season starts.
#bowl #kyle #since
2 months ago
According to SPORT, FC Barcelona wrapped up their preseason training camp in England with an internal training match, providing Hansi Flick with encouraging news ahead of the team's return to Spain.
After the scheduled friendly against Preston North End was cancelled because the English club did not have enough first-team players available, Flick instead organised an in-house match at St. George's Park.
The game was played on Pitch 6, named after England legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
The session began shortly before midday and consisted of three 20-minute periods, and finished in a 1-1 draw.
The first team lined up with: Wojciech Szczesny, Xavi Espart, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Jofre Torrents, Marc Bernal, Marc Casado, Orian Goren, Karim Adeyemi, Ebrima Tunkara, and Alex Gonzalez.
#training #match #first #Barcelona
After the scheduled friendly against Preston North End was cancelled because the English club did not have enough first-team players available, Flick instead organised an in-house match at St. George's Park.
The game was played on Pitch 6, named after England legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
The session began shortly before midday and consisted of three 20-minute periods, and finished in a 1-1 draw.
The first team lined up with: Wojciech Szczesny, Xavi Espart, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Jofre Torrents, Marc Bernal, Marc Casado, Orian Goren, Karim Adeyemi, Ebrima Tunkara, and Alex Gonzalez.
#training #match #first #Barcelona
2 months ago
The San Francisco 49ers' reunion with Deebo Samuel pushed the team into historically unusual territory when it comes to roster age at the skill positions.
According to the ******* ociated Press' Josh Dubow, the 49ers could now start five non-quarterback skill position players age 30 or older in the same game: Mike Evans, Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk.
That would put San Francisco in exceedingly rare company. Per Dubow, only three teams in the Super Bowl era have started five skill position players 30 or older in a single game: the Buccaneers did it once in 2004 with Tim Brown, Charlie Garner, Mike Alstott, Joey Galloway and Ken Dilger, the Broncos did it once in 20023 with Mike Anderson, Ed McCaffrey, Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe, Dwayne Carswell and Washington did it twice in 1992 with Gary Clark, Art Monk, Earnest Byner, Don Warren and Terry Orr.
The track record for those teams was mixed. The 2004 Buccaneers finished 5-11 and missed the playoffs, a steep decline from their Super Bowl ******* VII run two years earlier. The 2003 Broncos went 10-6 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2000, but were routed 41-10 by the Colts in the Wild Card round. Washington's 1992 club was the most successful of the three, going 9-7 and beating Minnesota in the Wild Card round before falling to the 49ers in the Divisional round.
San Francisco was already trending toward one of the NFL's oldest rosters heading into 2026 before the Samuel move, and adding a 30-year-old wideout to a group that includes 32-year-old Evans only reinforces that profile.
#mccaffrey
According to the ******* ociated Press' Josh Dubow, the 49ers could now start five non-quarterback skill position players age 30 or older in the same game: Mike Evans, Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk.
That would put San Francisco in exceedingly rare company. Per Dubow, only three teams in the Super Bowl era have started five skill position players 30 or older in a single game: the Buccaneers did it once in 2004 with Tim Brown, Charlie Garner, Mike Alstott, Joey Galloway and Ken Dilger, the Broncos did it once in 20023 with Mike Anderson, Ed McCaffrey, Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe, Dwayne Carswell and Washington did it twice in 1992 with Gary Clark, Art Monk, Earnest Byner, Don Warren and Terry Orr.
The track record for those teams was mixed. The 2004 Buccaneers finished 5-11 and missed the playoffs, a steep decline from their Super Bowl ******* VII run two years earlier. The 2003 Broncos went 10-6 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2000, but were routed 41-10 by the Colts in the Wild Card round. Washington's 1992 club was the most successful of the three, going 9-7 and beating Minnesota in the Wild Card round before falling to the 49ers in the Divisional round.
San Francisco was already trending toward one of the NFL's oldest rosters heading into 2026 before the Samuel move, and adding a 30-year-old wideout to a group that includes 32-year-old Evans only reinforces that profile.
#mccaffrey
3 months ago
Barcelona took on Club Esportiu Europa in a friendly training match on Friday evening and came away with a 4-1 victory.
The two teams played behind closed doors, which means details are a little thin on the ground, but we do know Hansi Flick picked a very youthful team for the first half.
Here's a look at the team:
Barcelona starting XI: Wojciech Szczęsny; Hector Fort, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín, Jofre Torrents; Guille Fernández, Brian Fariñas; Roony Bardghji, Ibrahim Diarra, Hamza Abdelkarim and Shane Kluivert.
New signing Karim Adeyemi was present but didn't feature for Barcelona after only meeting up with his new team-mates for training for the first time today.
#team
The two teams played behind closed doors, which means details are a little thin on the ground, but we do know Hansi Flick picked a very youthful team for the first half.
Here's a look at the team:
Barcelona starting XI: Wojciech Szczęsny; Hector Fort, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín, Jofre Torrents; Guille Fernández, Brian Fariñas; Roony Bardghji, Ibrahim Diarra, Hamza Abdelkarim and Shane Kluivert.
New signing Karim Adeyemi was present but didn't feature for Barcelona after only meeting up with his new team-mates for training for the first time today.
#team
3 months ago
With less than a month to go until the start of the new season, Bristol City fans are again wondering if this is going to be our year for achieving promotion to England's top flight after an absence of 46 years.
There have been massive changes at the club over the past five months with a new CEO, the sacking of boss Gerhard Struber, Roy Hodgson's managerial swansong, the appointment of James Ellis as sporting director, the departure of playing legend Brian Tinnion as technical director and the arrival of Michael Skubala as manager.
Are fan expectations more elevated than they have been for a while as City approach their 12th successive Championship season? On balance I would say yes, even though the hierarchy at the club say this is the start of a three-year plan to achieve Premier League status.
My mildly positive view is based on the fact that City have done a lot of their transfer activity early rather than in the latter stages of the window.
First through the door was goalkeeper Sam Tickle from Wigan while former England Under-21 midfielder Sam Greenwood was signed for an undisclosed fee from Polish side Pogon Szczecin.
#season #director #bristol #james
There have been massive changes at the club over the past five months with a new CEO, the sacking of boss Gerhard Struber, Roy Hodgson's managerial swansong, the appointment of James Ellis as sporting director, the departure of playing legend Brian Tinnion as technical director and the arrival of Michael Skubala as manager.
Are fan expectations more elevated than they have been for a while as City approach their 12th successive Championship season? On balance I would say yes, even though the hierarchy at the club say this is the start of a three-year plan to achieve Premier League status.
My mildly positive view is based on the fact that City have done a lot of their transfer activity early rather than in the latter stages of the window.
First through the door was goalkeeper Sam Tickle from Wigan while former England Under-21 midfielder Sam Greenwood was signed for an undisclosed fee from Polish side Pogon Szczecin.
#season #director #bristol #james
3 months ago
The Arizona Cardinals open training camp on Wednesday, July 22, and have a few questions facing them. One involves the offense.
With Mike LaFleur as head coach and bringing a new offensive system, what will it look like?
LaFleur has worked under LA Rams head coach Sean McVay and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. Both have similarities in their offensive schemes.
We have heard that pre-snap motion will be a big part of it.
Now, will we see more multiple tight end formations, like the Rams did last season? Will they use multiple running backs like the 49ers often do, although that is with fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who operates more like a tight end than a running back?
#head #coach
With Mike LaFleur as head coach and bringing a new offensive system, what will it look like?
LaFleur has worked under LA Rams head coach Sean McVay and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. Both have similarities in their offensive schemes.
We have heard that pre-snap motion will be a big part of it.
Now, will we see more multiple tight end formations, like the Rams did last season? Will they use multiple running backs like the 49ers often do, although that is with fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who operates more like a tight end than a running back?
#head #coach
3 months ago
49ers tight end George Kittle has targeted Week 1 for his return since tearing his right Achilles in a Jan. 11 playoff game against the Eagles. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk expressed optimism over the weekend that Kittle will play in the season opener against the Rams in Australia.
"I really [do] feel that way," Juszczyk told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area at the American Century Championship. "I was so impressed by the way he was moving [at Tight End U], and I was impressed the last week of OTAs, how he was moving. He was doing this zigzag drill, and he told me he had reached like 16 miles an hour that day. I was already impressed with that.
"But then, seeing him go through that warm-up, I was like, 'Wow, I really do think there is a chance that he's ready for Week 1.'"
Kittle made his seventh career Pro Bowl last season despite playing only 11 regular-season games due to hamstring and ankle injuries. He then required surgery to repair his Achilles after the playoff victory over Philadelphia, missing the divisional playoff loss to the Seahawks.
Kittle has repeatedly said he is ahead of schedule in his rehab, but the 49ers are sure to be deliberate with his practice schedule.
"I really [do] feel that way," Juszczyk told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area at the American Century Championship. "I was so impressed by the way he was moving [at Tight End U], and I was impressed the last week of OTAs, how he was moving. He was doing this zigzag drill, and he told me he had reached like 16 miles an hour that day. I was already impressed with that.
"But then, seeing him go through that warm-up, I was like, 'Wow, I really do think there is a chance that he's ready for Week 1.'"
Kittle made his seventh career Pro Bowl last season despite playing only 11 regular-season games due to hamstring and ankle injuries. He then required surgery to repair his Achilles after the playoff victory over Philadelphia, missing the divisional playoff loss to the Seahawks.
Kittle has repeatedly said he is ahead of schedule in his rehab, but the 49ers are sure to be deliberate with his practice schedule.
3 months ago
Would George Kittle be ready for training camp? Probably not. But as far as his readiness for Week 1 goes, Kyle Juszczyk is pretty hopeful.
The San Francisco 49ers fullback met with Matt Maiocco at the American Century Championship golf tournament in South Lake Tahoe to discuss the rookies and Juszczyk's appearance at Kittle's Tight End University. Juszczyk was optimistic then, and he remains optimistic now in his response to Maiocco:
"I really did feel that way. I was so impressed by the way he was moving, and I was impressed the last week of OTAs, how he was moving. He was doing this zigzag drill, and he told me he had reached like 16 miles an hour that day. I was already impressed with that. But then, seeing him go through that warm-up, I was like, 'Wow, I really do think there is a chance that he's ready for Week 1.'"
Kittle already provided a rehab update a couple of weeks ago, saying he was ahead of schedule. The thing is, the ahead-of-schedule target was set for mid-November. Not Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Season, which is in early September. It would certainly help Kittle reclaim his No. 1 spot in annual tight end rankings if he had a whole season to tear up the field.
The 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, in an international Week 1 game. If there ever was a Week 1 where they need their star tight end, this is the game.
The San Francisco 49ers fullback met with Matt Maiocco at the American Century Championship golf tournament in South Lake Tahoe to discuss the rookies and Juszczyk's appearance at Kittle's Tight End University. Juszczyk was optimistic then, and he remains optimistic now in his response to Maiocco:
"I really did feel that way. I was so impressed by the way he was moving, and I was impressed the last week of OTAs, how he was moving. He was doing this zigzag drill, and he told me he had reached like 16 miles an hour that day. I was already impressed with that. But then, seeing him go through that warm-up, I was like, 'Wow, I really do think there is a chance that he's ready for Week 1.'"
Kittle already provided a rehab update a couple of weeks ago, saying he was ahead of schedule. The thing is, the ahead-of-schedule target was set for mid-November. Not Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Season, which is in early September. It would certainly help Kittle reclaim his No. 1 spot in annual tight end rankings if he had a whole season to tear up the field.
The 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, in an international Week 1 game. If there ever was a Week 1 where they need their star tight end, this is the game.
3 months ago
When the Toronto Raptors reacquired Kawhi Leonard earlier this month, it looked like one of the biggest steals of the NBA offseason. The reunion made perfect sense. Leonard was returning to the franchise where he delivered its first and only NBA championship before departing for the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency. For Raptors fans, it felt like a storybook homecoming. Now, however, the entire situation has been thrown into chaos.
MORE: LeBron James looking to turn 2026-27 NBA season into 'Last Dance'-style series
Dec 3, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in action against the Denver Nuggets at Scotiabank Arena. The Nuggets beat the Raptors 106-103. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images
According to a report, Leonard's trade to Toronto isn't simply on hold—it could lead to the veteran superstar being suspended. Even more shocking is the report's claim that the NBA has been investigating both Leonard and the Clippers for the past 10 months.
If that timeline is accurate, it raises a serious question about how this situation was handled by the league. This is where the NBA deserves criticism.
MORE: LeBron James looking to turn 2026-27 NBA season into 'Last Dance'-style series
Dec 3, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in action against the Denver Nuggets at Scotiabank Arena. The Nuggets beat the Raptors 106-103. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images
According to a report, Leonard's trade to Toronto isn't simply on hold—it could lead to the veteran superstar being suspended. Even more shocking is the report's claim that the NBA has been investigating both Leonard and the Clippers for the past 10 months.
If that timeline is accurate, it raises a serious question about how this situation was handled by the league. This is where the NBA deserves criticism.
