FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets spent a lot of money and draft capital in the offseason to rebuild their broken team, and there is no question they have a lot more talent than they had last year.

But when they got a first look at their retooled roster in a competitive setting on Tuesday morning, it served mostly as a reminder of the one thing they still don’t have.

And that, as always, is a viable quarterback. As much as they’d like to believe the second time will be the charm for Geno Smith, the Jets’ joint practice against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn’t a good omen at all.

The 35-year-old Smith struggled against a Bucs’ defense that Jets coach Aaron Glenn admitted was “a scheme that’s difficult to deal with.” He was 10-of-16 in team drills, was sacked way too often, and was picked off twice (though Bucs linebacker Josiah Trotter couldn’t hold on to the second one). He was also picked off once in 7-on-7 drills, where veteran quarterbacks are usually flawless.

It’s early in the summer, of course, and Smith has had a generally good camp up to this point. But he remains the glaring Achilles heel on the improved roster that Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey assembled. There is a lot to love about this group. They have electric skill players, like wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall, a strong offensive line, a big and veteran-heavy defense, and a rookie edge rusher (David Bailey) who has looked sensational all summer long.

The Jets turned back to Geno Smith again at quarterback this offseason. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

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In fact, the Jets stack up pretty well with the Bucs up and down the roster — except at the most important spot. The Bucs have Baker Mayfield at quarterback, and while he’s hardly a flawless starter. He’s a capable one who averaged 4,079 passing yards in his three seasons in Tampa. Smith threw for a lot of yards in Seattle two seasons ago (4,320), but his most glaring stat is the 32 interceptions he’s thrown in the last two years.

And for the Jets, that really is a tradition like any other. They have been locked in a perpetual quarterback search for as long as most of their fans have been alive. It has been eight years since Smith’s last start with the Jets in 2016. The Jets have had 14 different starting quarterbacks in that time.

But even a mid-level quarterback like Mayfield with this group of Jets and they might have a realistic chance of ending their astonishing and NFL-worst 15-year playoff drought. But Smith, once a promising second-round pick who was thought to be the Jets’ quarterback of the future, is just more of the same at this point. He’s a reminder that this lost franchise won’t be fully restored until they finally get the quarterback position right.

  Other Observations

• Edge rusher David Bailey, the second overall pick in the draft, is the real deal. The Jets rookie had his way at this practice with Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke, blowing by him with his speed and bull-rushing him with his strength in both individual drills and the full team sessions. “He looks like a No. 2 pick,” said veteran Jets linebacker Demario Davis. “He looks like everything that’s been advertised, and more.” Bailey and Will McDonald, who had 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons, could be a very dangerous duo. And they’ll have plenty of help after the Jets added veterans David Onyemata, Kingley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai in the offseason, too.
• Bucs wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a terrible finish after a promising start to his rookie season, but he seems to be back in form now. He got behind the Jets’ defense several times, showing off his speed and game-breaking ability. And in warmups, he made a ridiculous, one-handed catch, just as a reminder of the skill he possesses. He’s got No. 1 WR potential, especially if he can get help from someone else to take some of the coverage away.
• The practice was marred by about five separate fights, most of which seemed to be sparked by some interaction between the Bucs offensive line and Jets defensive front. Goedeke and Bailey were often in the middle of it, though the big one was between Goedeke and Jets edge Kingsley Enagbare. Goedeke responded to what he thought was a “cheap shot” by Enagbare. In their scuffle, Goedeke ripped off Enagbare’s helmet and tossed it about 20 yards downfield. “Obviously not the greatest decision by me,” Goedeke said. “But I’m always going to defend my players and myself. I’m not going to get punked and not do anything about it.”

Players To Watch

Bain, the 15th overall pick in the draft, was much quieter. He was hardly noticeable, to be honest. But he still had a couple of impressive moments, mostly while making plays against the run. He clearly showed his speed to track down Jets running backs before they could turn the corner. He’s got the ability to be a top pass rusher too, even if it wasn’t on display against the Jets.

Bailey was the star of the practice, consistently wrecking the Bucs’ offensive line and blowing up plays in the backfield. His speed, power and explosiveness are going to make him one of the best pass rushers in the NFL over the next few years. 

David Bailey had 14.5 sacks at Texas Tech this past season. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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The two of them could easily be Pro Bowlers a year or two down the road, if not sooner. And both will be on aggressive defenses, playing for defensive-minded coaches eager to turn them loose.

  Quote Of The Day

“I have a rule: If you’re over 240, I ain’t messing with you. … When I see a fight happen, that’s my water break.”

— Jets running back Breece Hall on why he didn’t get involved in any of the MANY fights between the Jets and Buccaneers players during their joint practice on Tuesday.

  Long-Term View

Bucs: Contenders 
Jets: Not so much

Calling the Bucs contenders is a no-brainer, considering they tied for first in their division with an 8-9 record last season. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be at least a little better. 

If they get better health from running back Bucky Irving and wide receiver Chris Godwin, and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is OK after slamming into the rookie wall last year, they should piece together enough offense even with wide receiver Mike Evans gone. And once defensive tackle Vita Vea’s contract dispute is over, Todd Bowles’ defense still has a bunch of good pieces, especially if linebackers Ruben Bain and Josiah Trotter — their first two picks in the draft — are as good as the Bucs expect. 

Baker Mayfield is leading the charge for the Bucs again in 2026, but his supporting cast will look different. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

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The Bucs could easily be a nine-win team, and in the NFC South that might be more than enough.

The Jets, though, won’t have nearly enough. 

They have a lot of excellent pieces, like Wilson, Hall, the offensive line, Bailey, and a veteran-heavy defense. But they are not deep, and the quarterback position is still a huge problem. Smith will be a lot better than last year’s original starting quarterback, Justin Fields, but that’s not saying much. Smith’s history is that for every one good thing he does, he counteracts it with a bad thing. So expect moments of promise and maybe even brilliance, followed by a game-killing bad decision or interception. 

In all, the Jets should be more competitive and better than they were last season. But again, the bar is very, very low. Maybe they can squeeze out six wins, if everything breaks right. But by Thanksgiving, their eyes will be laser-focused on the quarterbacks coming out in the 2027 NFL Draft.

My Next Stop: Ashburn, Virginia

 

After beginning my road trip in New Jersey, Wednesday begins my travels around the Northeast. The Washington Commanders will be hosting the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday for a joint practice, just ahead of their preseason game on Friday night. The practice will be a good chance for Washington to see what its new receiver, Stefon Diggs, still has left at age 32, since he likely won’t do much in the preseason game, if he plays at all. And it’ll be a good chance for new Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley to see what his team has left … period. They have a new quarterback in Malik Willis and they still have running back De’Von Achane. But really, that’s about it after a massive offseason of changes. 

Temperatures should be relatively cool (upper 70s to low 80s), so maybe these two teams will do a better job of getting through practice without trying to throttle each other than the Jets and Bucs did in the New Jersey heat on Tuesday.

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With preseason games on the horizon, Tuesday brought us our first taste of joint practices across the NFL this summer — and with joint practices came injuries and fights. 

The Los Angeles Rams had an eventful day, with All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett missing Tuesday’s practice, while wide receiver Puka Nacua left early with a groin injury. Following a competitive quarterback competition, the Minnesota Vikings named Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback.

Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant is undergoing knee surgery and expected to miss the next four-to-six months, while San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa deals with tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee as he eyes a Week 1 return.

Catch up with all the updates across the NFL:

Garrett Misses Practice; Nacua Exits Early

The Los Angeles Rams held defensive end Myles Garrett out of Tuesday’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys due to knee swelling.  Head coach Sean McVay didn’t appear concerned and labeled the decision to reporters as precautionary. 

“I don’t know what 100% is going to look like, but it must be pretty good if that’s 85%,” McVay told reporters. “He’s so tough, he wanted to be able to be out there. … There’s nothing to be concerned about. It was just kind of us erring on the side of caution. There wasn’t any setbacks, anything like that.”

Danny’s Top 10 Most Exciting Players entering the 2026/27 NFL Season | FTF

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Wide receiver Puka Nacua left Rams practice early with trainers, leaving McVay without an immediate update on his status. It was later revealed that the star receiver is dealing with general groin soreness and the team plans to take a cautious approach with Nacua, NFL Network reported.

Following practice, quarterback Matthew Stafford downplayed concerns regarding Nacua’s early exit, telling reporters he didn’t believe the issue was major.

“I’m not really sure what the issue was, but nobody ran up to me in a panic,” Stafford said. “I don’t think it was anything too major.”

After weeks of split reps, film study, and heavy debate, the Minnesota Vikings have made their decision at quarterback. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is rolling with Kyler Murray over J.J. McCarthy this season, the team announced Tuesday.

Murray signed a league-minimum deal with the Vikings this offseason and every indication suggested he would eventually win the job. The team was desperate for stability at the position after a year that saw McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer all take snaps under center.

Vikings name Kyler Murray starting QB, Is this the right decision?

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Not only did Murray’s Arizona Cardinals tenure end abruptly, but his lack of production in recent seasons was hard to ignore. With O’Connell’s strong reputation as a quarterback whisperer, Murray signing with the Vikings felt like the ultimate opportunity to potentially reignite his career.

In seven NFL seasons, Murray has never reached the 4,000-yard mark and has thrown 25 passing touchdowns only once. O’Connell’s system is built to elevate passing numbers; just ask Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold, who both hit those benchmarks under his watch.

Now that the dust has settled on the competition, all eyes turn to McCarthy. Entering his third season, the former national champion finds himself on the bench, now leaving his long-term future in Minnesota suddenly up in the air.

San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa hasn’t played since week three of last season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee. He’s been working on his recovery all offseason, but hit a setback this week after head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed he’s dealing with tendinitis.

Shanahan and the rest of the coaching staff don’t appear concerned, as they described it as “a pretty normal thing with ACLs.”

Still no firm timetable for Bosa’s return, but Shanahan gave an update Monday saying that Bosa is currently week-to-week with tendinitis. He also said he has “no concerns” about Bosa’s long-term status and expects him ready for the Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Rams.

  4 Fights In 10 Minutes!?

Joint practice sessions brought physical play and multiple altercations between the San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans before both squads are scheduled to face each other in preseason action Thursday.

The two teams were reportedly involved in four separate scrums during the first 10 minutes of their joint session, NBC Sports Bay Area reported.

One of the altercations was reportedly initiated following a hit by 49ers cornerback Renardo Green on receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. This led to immediate responses from players on both teams before coaches stepped in to separate the groups.

Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant has undergone knee surgery following a recent training camp injury, significantly shifting his recovery timeline. He is now expected to miss four to six months while recovering from the procedure, the team announced.

Chicago remains hopeful that the veteran defensive back could return in time for a potential postseason run.

Bryant signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Bears this offseason after winning the Super Bowl last season with the Seattle Seahawks. With Bryant now sidelined, the defense will be looking at Oregon first-round pick Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Elijah Hicks and Xavier Woods to fill out the safety room.

Cardinals Starters To Play vs. Raiders

The Arizona Cardinals are heading into the season with plenty of question marks, but that won’t stop head coach Mike LaFleur from playing his starters in the preseason. He revealed to the media on Monday afternoon that he plans to play all of his starters on Thursday night.

Not only will rookie running back Jeremiyah Love finally see some game action, but veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will also take the field.

“They’re all going to play, so we’ll have our guys out there,” LaFleur said. “How much? It’s not going to be much. Could be one drive, max of two for those main guys. They’ll be playing and they know that…that includes Jacoby [Brissett].

More News & Notes

• 49ers TE George Kittle continues to make “terrific” progress and there’s a high level of confidence “at this point” that he’ll be ready to play in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, per CBS Sports.
• Baltimore Ravens CB Nate Wiggins was carted off the practice field with a lower leg injury. According to ESPN, Wiggins avoided a major injury and the MRI confirmed there was no structural damage.
• Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins, and DT Dexter Lawrence will play in Thursday’s preseason opener vs. the Detroit Lions.
• Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak says Fernando Mendoza will get “plenty” of snaps on Thursday night against the Cardinals.
• Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed quarterback Daniel Jones will sit out the entire preseason while continuing to recover from last season’s Achilles injury. 
• Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater is dealing with a “flare-up” on his surgically repaired knee, ESPN reported.

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Patrick Mahomes’ place atop FOX Sports’ Nick Wright’s NFL quarterback power rankings has been so consistent the segment adopted his name. 

And, in Wright’s opinion, Mahomes continues to be the king of the mountain as the 2026 NFL season approaches. 

FOX Sports’ Chris Broussard, however, felt otherwise. Other questions consist of, can Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford repeat his MVP form? How far has Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson fallen? Who will continue to ascend toward the summit?

Matthew Stafford vs. Josh Allen, Will Patrick Mahomes be dethroned on Mahomes Mountain? | FTF

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Mahomes is on the peak for now, but will Mahomes Mountain retain its rightful leader, or will another quarterback claim the top spot? 

In Wright’s first edition of “Mahomes Mountain” this season, he’s confident there are “18 or 19 teams that feel pretty good about their quarterback situation.” The bottom rung aren’t part of that group. 

8th Row

“Either young, unproven players or guys you don’t feel comfortable being your starting quarterback,” Wright said. 

While both quarterbacks competing for the Atlanta Falcons’ starting job made the list, only one half of the Cleveland Browns’ competition was included. No DeShaun Watson. 

“I don’t think it’s a real competition,” Wright said. “If DeShaun Watson’s the starting quarterback, I think it’s because the owner made him do it… It’s pretty clear who [Todd Monken] likes more, it’s pretty clear who has more upside — even though I’m not a Shedeur [Sanders] guy — it’s pretty clear what the best thing for the Browns is.”

7th Row

The seventh row consists of a group with the potential to make their teams feel good about the quarterback position, but also the chance to destroy their season with poor quarterback play. 

That list includes: Daniel Jones, Cam Ward, Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart, Bryce Young, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers.

“[Cam] Ward, [Tyler] Shough and [Jaxson] Dart…They’re too young to have proven anything,” Wright said. 

Ward will get boosted with the addition of Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate at hideout, while Dart will get the experience of John Harbaugh in his ear. Shough will get a full season under his belt with the addition of rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. 

Wright, however, isn’t as optimistic about whom the Minnesota Vikings named their starting quarterback on Tuesday.

“I’m not a Kyler Murray guy, you guys will see how this year goes,” Wright said.

6th Row

Wright left two vacant spots on the sixth row, “because this is the line of demarcation on if you’re set at quarterback, believe you’re set at quarterback, or have a potential problem.” He believes these quarterbacks have proven themselves, but aren’t solidified as reliable week-in and week-out starters. 

Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud

“Stroud is borderline, but the three playoff wins…the playoffs every year and the great rookie season,” Wright said. “I’m not putting him down in the other group.”

5th Row

Wright’s fifth row is the definition of solid. The quarterbacks Wright listed know who they are, and their teams are confident in what they have. Still, they lack the superhero traits possessed by the quarterbacks Wright ranks above them. 

4th Row

Each of these quarterbacks, according to Wright, are “clearly top-10 quarterbacks.”

Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott have supported their teams even as the defenses have struggled. Trevor Lawrence and Sam Darnold led their teams to success after being doubted in most of their careers, with Darnold taking the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory last season.

3rd Row

“Three guys that either are already superheroes… and two guys with superhero talent.”

Jackson dropped to 14th among quarterbacks in ESPN’s top 100, but Wright believes he’s securely in the top 10.

“I have some pretty well established concerns about Lamar [Jackson] in the playoffs, and concerns about Lamar not being a consistent rushing threat, but the idea that he’s not still a top 10 quarterback in the league is total absurdity.”

“And then you have two guys that, I believe, are going to be perennially top 5 quarterbacks throughout their prime. Maybe this year Drake’s already in it. Maybe Caleb’s entering it… I think they’re star quarterbacks.”

“We are in an era of the best quarterbacks having these superhero athletic traits that make it very hard to be atop the mountain if they don’t have one of those. I think Caleb Williams and Drake Maye have those.”

2nd Row 

Chris Broussard believes Stafford should jump up the list.

“Mahomes should not be atop the mountain right now,” Broussard said. “He’s coming off the worst season of his career. He’s coming off the worst injury of his career. His receiving core doesn’t look special… And his last three years, individually, he doesn’t look great. Stafford should be atop the mountain right now.”

1st Row

“I believe Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL. Did he have the best season? Nope. Is he coming off a torn ACL? Yep. Did Matt Stafford have an unbelievable year? Yeah. Did Josh Allen have a pretty good year until the playoffs? Sure. Those guys had the opportunity to go out and grab it, and they didn’t. They didn’t. So, still atop the mountain is a guy who, god forbid, has made five of the last seven Super Bowls, god forbid, three people have won an MVP more recently than him.”

 

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Get your popcorn ready. 

Using player intrigue across the league as his guide, Danny Parkins unveiled his list of the ten most exciting NFL players heading into the upcoming season on First Things First. 

Parkins emphasized that the exercise focuses on viewing entertainment and narrative stakes rather than pure positional rankings or overall roster value. Counting down from number ten to the top spot, the ranking features established stars, potential trade targets, and young quarterbacks.

Danny’s Top 10 Most Exciting Players entering the 2026/27 NFL Season | FTF


Danny Parkins lists his players he’s most excited to see (or potentially see) this season, including Josh Allen, Aaron Donald, and Jordan Love.

10.

Aaron Donald opens the list as a conditional entry at number ten despite currently being retired from football. Speculation of his return to the league has started with Donald working out for the Rams already and being spotted working out at the team facility.

“If Donald returns… He’s arguably the best defensive player of my lifetime,” Parkins said. “The guy was number one in pass rush win rate. He was a first-time All Pro when he retired, so he retired early. He walked away. It wasn’t because anything had really dipped off. So if he joins the overwhelming Super Bowl favorites after two years away, it’ll just be an absolutely fascinating story.”

Though Donald is not on an active roster, rumors regarding a potential comeback keep him in the discussion on the list.

9.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud occupies the ninth spot following an inconsistent second half of last season. He enters the upcoming year with expectations to recapture his efficiency from his rookie year and drive the Texans deep into the postseason.

“I don’t think anyone individually has more riding on this season than C.J. Stroud,” Parkins said. “They picked up his fifth-year option, but he was bad in every loss last year.”

Parkins went on to question whether Houston looks into the quarterback market pending Stroud’s performance.

“Was absolutely terrible in the playoffs,” Parkins said. Is this a J.J. McCarthy spot? Do they just turn to Davis Mills as their backup? Do they call Jimmy Garoppolo, or does he play like he did as a rookie?” 

8.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker lands at eighth on the list as a major addition to the Kansas City offense. Parkins labeled Walker as the most accomplished running back Patrick Mahomes has played alongside during his career.

“Kenneth Walker is the best running back Patrick Mahomes has ever had,” Parkins said. “The Chiefs have never ranked higher than 16th in rushing yards per game since Mahomes has been there.” 

“They gave him a ton of money,” Parkins said. “They’re going to use him, and there’s two things that really contribute to a great play-action game. When you have to honor and respect the run. You give Mahomes a real running game. I think that part of the game opens up for him.”

7.

Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Max Crosby comes in at seventh as a potential in-season trade candidate.

Because the Raiders timeline may not align with young talent development, Parkins projects that a strong start to the season could prompt contending franchises to pursue Crosby before the trading deadline, potentially altering division races and championship odds across the league.

“I don’t think he’s finishing the season with the Raiders. So if he has a good September and is healthy, he gets traded for one first-round pick instead of two to a team that starts hot,” Parkins said regarding Crosby’s situation in Las Vegas. 

“Is he a Bear by October? Is he a Bill by October? Is he a Cowboy by October? An in-season trade for a pass rusher that could tilt the Super Bowl odds mid-season,” Parkins continued. “That’s interesting. I think it’s going to be a huge story.”

6.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love takes the sixth spot as one of the league’s most talented passers. 

Parkins described Love as a high-upside quarterback capable of producing elite offensive production during hot stretches, balanced by occasional turnover issues during off weeks. 

“He is just streaky. When he is on a hot streak, he looks like he could be the MVP of the league. He doesn’t throw a lot of interceptions, but when he throws interceptions, they are among the worst interceptions you’ve ever seen,” Parkins said. 

“The first five, six, seven weeks of the season, Micah Parsons is going to be out. So Jordan Love, I mean, they gave him Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, and Tucker Kraft is back,” Parkins said. “He has to lead a top 10 offense this year.”

5.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs arrives at fifth as an explosive offensive focal point for Detroit. 

“I think he should be the number one pick in fantasy football over Bijan Robinson, a great one v two debate. But also, we’ve never seen this guy without David Montgomery. Like his touches have gone up year-to-year to year,” Parkins said. 

Parkins highlighted Gibbs’ dynamic playmaking ability out of the backfield and as a receiver, Gibbs projects as one of the most versatile weapons in football.

“I don’t see why Jahmyr Gibbs shouldn’t lead the league in touches this year. So if Jahmyr Gibbs gets 350 plus touches, I just think the sky’s the limit for him. Is one of the most dynamic offensive players in football.”

4.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen lands at fourth due to the structural expectations and legacy implications tied to his upcoming season after a divisional round exit last season.

“Speaking of dynamic offensive players, Josh Allen at number four. No one has more on the line legacy-wise for him,” Parkins said about the Buffalo quarterback on First Things First. 

Parkins went on to highlight the recent addition of wide receiver DJ Moore.

“You add DJ Moore. I don’t think the defense is going to be very good this year. Think they’ve got a real shot at the number one ranked offense.”

3.

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett enters the rankings at third following his offseason trade from Cleveland. 

“We talked about this when the trade happened when we were all on. It is a stat that is just now seared into my brain. He had 23 sacks last year. It’s five straight years of 14 or more sacks,” Parkins explained. 

Parkins went onto explain how Garrett can break his own record that he set last year.

“Why can’t he have more sacks this year than he did last year and break his own record when he’s going to be playing with a lead. He is going to just have more pure pass rush opportunities this year than he’s had in the last couple of years combined in Cleveland could be an absolutely monstrous season.”

2.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert takes the second spot on the list of most exciting players across the NFL.

Parkins went on to explain how injuries to both starting tackles led to Herbert being the third-most sacked player in the league and how the hiring of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel can unlock a new version of Herbert.

“Geno Smith and Cam Ward were the only two players sacked more than Justin Herbert [last] year,” Parkins said. “When you have an entirely new offensive line this year, you bring back two of the best tackles football and you add a new offensive coordinator.”

1.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams claims the top spot on the list as the single most compelling figure entering the upcoming NFL season. 

“Number one, it’s Caleb Williams,” Parkins declared to close out his rankings, with Nick Wright summarizing Williams as a young ascending superstar quarterback.

Entering his third year as the starter in Chicago and second year under Ben Johnson, Williams combines elite arm velocity, pocket mobility, and off-script playmaking abilities that make the Bears offense central to league-wide attention.

NFL Related Stories

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NEW YORK – After another exceptional outing from their starting pitcher, the Yankees were trailing 2-0, down to their final out, facing a loss that would directly be blamed on an insipid performance from the offense. But New York’s bats came alive at just the right time on Friday night against the Atlanta Braves. 

Austin Wells and Ben Rice delivered big hits, forced the game into extra innings, and the Bronx Bombers eventually walked it off in the 10th inning for a 3-2 victory.

It was another tense, ugly win. But winning doesn’t have to be pretty for these Yankees, who are operating without three of their biggest bats. 

“We haven’t played well on offense the last two months,” Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt told me on Tuesday. “We’re not satisfied with how we’ve played, at all. It hasn’t turned as quickly as we’d like.”

Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger are all dealing with injuries. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)

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Since June 1, when Aaron Judge went on the injured list with a fractured right rib, the Yankees offense has been rudderless. They rank last in the majors in batting average (.217), on-base percentage (.284), and wRC+ (87). They’re ranked 29th in MLB in RBIs (214), 28th in OPS (.670), 27th in runs scored (226), 25th in slugging (.385), and 24th in walks (174). Across all the major statistical hitting categories, the Yankees are a mess. 

And yet, Yankees hitting coach James Rowson saw something in that come-from-behind win against the Braves. There was a steady confidence in the dugout when it was easier to believe they were toast. The fight from the lineup meant a lot to Rowson, who thinks that was exactly the type of close, gritty win the Yankees will need to emphasize in October — with or without Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton, who are all currently sidelined with injuries. 

“This is a great experience for our group,” Rowson told me on Tuesday before New York’s series opener against Seattle. “What happens is, when our lineup’s full, we have Judgy, we have Belli, we have G, and you get away from fighting. You win so many games with a three-run homer. You win so many games by double-digit runs because those guys can do it. But all of a sudden, when we’re in tight games, we haven’t played a lot of those throughout the year. So I think there’s a different mentality.

“I think, right now, this is going to help us down the stretch. This is going to help us win close games. To get where we want to go, which is to hoist that trophy at the end of the season, I guarantee we’re going to have to win some close games no matter who’s in the lineup. So I’m trying to use this as a breeding ground for how we have to play.”

It says something about the Yankees that two-plus months of underwhelming offense hasn’t derailed them. 

As recently as the 2023 season, the Yankees completely slid out of contention and missed the playoffs when Judge spent significant time on the IL due to a toe injury. This year, they’ve remained in second place in the AL East, the same position they were in when Judge was healthy. 

New York (67-52) has scored three or fewer runs in 16 of its last 21 games, and the club is 11-10 in that span. The Yankees’ 30 comeback wins this season are tied for second-most in the AL.

Rookie shortstop George Lomard Jr. is already turning heads. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

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Despite a surging Red Sox team (64-54) that’s threatening to catch up, the Yankees have continued to win by leaning on brilliant pitching. Their 3.29 ERA as a staff leads the majors, and it’s not close. Plus, at the trade deadline, they welcomed an unexpected boost from 21-year-old rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr., who has so far met the sky-high expectations that the Bronx demands of him. 

Put it all together and this stretch just might be building the team that shows up in October.

“It’s been several weeks now where it’s been difficult for us to score runs, an area where we gotta be better, and we know that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The good thing is we’ve had to play a lot of really close games day in and day out. We’ve done a really good job against a lot of really good teams by winning a lot of those games.”

On Saturday in the cafeteria after the Yankees put the finishing touches on yet another come-from-behind win against the Braves, Lombard was already quizzing teammates about the next day’s starting pitcher. To his teammates, it doesn’t seem like Lombard is overly locked in. This is simply the only way he knows how to be after growing up in and out of major-league clubhouses. 

Lombard is impressive at the plate and on the field. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Lombard is the son of former major-leaguer and current Tigers bench coach, George, who played six seasons as an outfielder for the Braves, Tigers, Nationals, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Lombard’s younger brother, Jacob, made his pro ball debut the same day as his older brother. The Lombard brothers are commended for their high baseball IQs, no doubt a result of spending their childhood around clubhouses, batting cages, and big leaguers. They both hit home runs in their respective debuts, underlining the extreme preparation that’s been built into the foundation of their young careers. 

It’s no wonder, then, that Lombard said he felt “relaxed” on the field and at the plate throughout his major-league debut last week. 

“I think the biggest thing is his demeanor,” Rowson said when I asked what has stood out to him about Lombard’s first handful of games in the majors. “It’s impressive how calm he is through this. You see a 21-year-old kid coming up to the big leagues in this situation, in this part of the season, things are on the line. We’re playing for something. And he was able to step in and kind of go seamlessly and move forward with the work. To me, that’s the story.”

Lombard entered Tuesday batting .294 (5-for-17) with two home runs and four runs scored in his first 20 plate appearances in MLB. He’s helped spark the Yankees offense, to be sure. But his biggest impact has been at shortstop, where his dazzling plays elicit loud gasps and thunderous applause from the home crowds on a nightly basis. Already, Lombard has accumulated 0.6 WAR in just five games, and his terrific defense has a lot to do with it. 

The Yankees are doing their best to downplay Lombard’s instant and obvious positive impact on the rest of the roster, to avoid over-hyping his future and unnecessarily increasing expectations. But it’s getting harder to ignore how much of a star he’s already been.  

“It’s not surprising coming from the family he’s from,” Goldschmidt said of Lombard. “He’s been in and out of major-league clubhouses. It’s a little bit unique, which is why those things are so valuable. He’s able to slow the game down. You know there’s going to be struggles, ups and downs. But he’s seen that, and probably knows that’s part of the game. Definitely confidence is a big thing, and he’s wise beyond his years. That’s a big reason he’s had success.”

Whether we’re analyzing the Yankees offensive struggles or Lombard’s standout play and maturity as a rookie, both pieces tie into the same reason New York has managed to remain successful in the standings without Judge. 

Their new identity is composure under pressure. They’re winning without hitting. They’re relying on sharp defense and stellar arms to keep games close. The Yankees are figuring out ways to win, while being refreshingly honest about how punchless their offense has been. That matters now, as the Yankees hold on to the top AL wild card spot, but it will matter even more in October.

Whenever Judge, Bellinger and Stanton return and the lineup is whole again, the habits that the Yankees have formed without them will only help. By then, Lombard will have settled in, and the Yankees will have proven to themselves that their late-game grit can pay off. In the long run, how New York has handled this adversity is what will determine whether the club can finally break its 17-year championship drought.

“It’s hard to go through,” Rowson said. “But you’re learning something. You learn how tough you are. You learn to fight. And there’s a lot to knowing that you have that inside of you to get where we want to go, which is to be World Series champs.”

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The Minnesota Vikings have chosen Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback over J.J. McCarthy, the widely expected conclusion to what coach Kevin O’Connell pledged was a true competition.

O’Connell made the announcement before practice on Tuesday afternoon, giving Murray a full month of full-time repetitions with the first-team offense before the regular season begins on Sept. 13. O’Connell and general manager Nolan Teasley met with both players in the morning to discuss the decision.

“I didn’t come in here expecting to be handed the job or anything like that. I just expected to come here and compete,” Murray said after practice. “I’m very appreciative of how it was handled.”

With 87 starts over seven years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, two Pro Bowl selections and a unique elusiveness that has fueled 3,193 career rushing yards, Murray was going to have to either get hurt or badly struggle with his grasp of O’Connell’s offense for McCarthy to keep the job.

An earlier end to the audition was always going to be ideal for Murray, too, in the familiarization process with a layered playbook that asks more of the quarterback than most teams in the league.

Based purely on performance in open-to-the-public practices, this depth chart battle was more even than not. But the Vikings have clearly been cognizant of the downside to splitting turns considering the value to Murray of maximizing his preseason time running the offense.

“It’s just the appropriate time now to allow our team and everybody clarity for exactly the direction we’re moving going forward,” O’Connell said.

Murray, who signed a one-year contract with the Vikings for the veteran minimum salary, will be the fourth starting quarterback in four season openers following McCarthy, Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins.

“There’s moments in time where you know there’s comfort from Kyler in the scheme. He had some really high completion days where he was able to show some really, really good understanding of just putting the ball in play, playing with great timing, rhythm,” O’Connell said. “You guys have seen him be explosive when there’s opportunities there, but you’ve also seen him check the ball down and put the ball in play and get us from a first-and-10 to a second-and-3. And then, as you continued to look at the body of work through those 10 days, what jumped out is what could be.”

Both Murray and McCarthy will play in the first exhibition game on Saturday against the New York Giants, O’Connell said. McCarthy will be the second stringer, followed by Carson Wentz, who started five games last season while McCarthy was injured. Max Brosmer, who made two starts, is the other quarterback in camp.

McCarthy, who was not immediately made available for comment, was the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft. He tore the meniscus in his right knee during the first exhibition game and underwent surgery that kept him sidelined for his entire rookie year while Darnold helped the Vikings rack up 14 wins.

After Darnold departed as a free agent for the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, McCarthy inherited the job without any legitimate competition and struggled as a variety of injuries limited him to 10 starts.

“Look, he’s a young player with a whole bunch of outstanding things in his future,” O’Connell said, adding: “I know he’s going to continue to improve, and the long-term mindset of him as a Minnesota Viking and all the things that he’s brought here is still absolutely part of the long-term vision for sure. I’m excited to see him go do that and get to do it with him.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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The Dodgers managed to end their losing streak with a win over the Diamondbacks Saturday before dropping the series finale the very next day, the previously surging Red Sox have lost a series for the first time since July 1, and the AL Central race looks like it’ll come down to the wire.

Most of the MLB divisions range from hotly contested to at least up for grabs, while the wild-card race in both leagues is open to practically anyone, to the point you have to wonder why some of the teams that sold at the deadline chose that over buying.

Here is where the postseason races stand with just under two months remaining in the MLB season.

JUMP TO:

AL: East | Central | West | Wild Card
NL: East | Central | West | Wild Card

The Rays extended their division lead to 5.5 games after sweeping the Mariners over the weekend. 

The Yankees split two extra-inning outings as they won two of three against the Braves  over the weekend. Max Fried continues to work back into the rotation alongside Gerrit Cole. However, New York remains without Aaron Judge (rib fracture) and Cody Bellinger, who is out four-to-six weeks with a hamstring strain.

The Red Sox saw their streak of nine consecutive series wins come to a halt over the weekend after dropping consecutive tight games to Oakland, leaving Boston 6.5 games behind Tampa Bay and 1.5 games behind the Yankees.

The White Sox remain in first place after taking two of three from Cleveland over the weekend. Chicago has weathered slugging rookie Munetaka Murakami’s extended injury absence while maintaining the fourth-best run differential in the AL.

Cleveland and Detroit sit tied for second place, 3.0 games behind Chicago, while Minnesota lurks 3.5 games back after dropping back-to-back 4-3 heartbreakers in Milwaukee.

Four teams are still fighting in this division with the post season lurking around the corner.

The Astros hold a slim 1.0-game lead in the AL West over the Rangers who fell 10-5 to Orioles on Sunday. Seattle dropped both weekend contests to Tampa Bay, falling 4.0 games behind Houston.

The most wide-open division in MLB might be the AL West, and that’s not just because the top three teams remain within four games of each other. The Rangers have been outscored by 28 runs on the year; the Astros have been outscored by 23. The Mariners carry a minus-15 run differential, but at least Seattle has allowed the fewest runs in the division (474).

This is anybody’s division in part because no one is stepping up to take it.

The Yankees and Red Sox occupy the top two AL Wild Card spots, while the Rangers hold a paper-thin margin for the third spot. Cleveland, Detroit, and Minnesota remain within 1.5 games of Texas, keeping the AL postseason picture wide open.

Boston’s winning ways of late helped erase much of the early damage to its season, helping bring it from a season-worst 14 games under .500 to 11 games over. Nothing is locked up yet for any of these clubs, however: the Rangers have the Twins right on their tails, and four more teams are within striking distance of Texas.

The AL is a mess, but in a way that will be fun these last two months.

Atlanta pulled a game back in the Bronx, capping the three game series with a 2-1 10-inning victory on Sunday to maintain an 8.5-game division cushion over Philadelphia. 

The Braves dropped two games to the Yankees after reaching 70 wins, however, Atlanta hold the largest division lead in MLB. Ronald Acuña Jr. continues to lead the lineup on offense and defense since returning in late July.

Acuña Jr. has five homers and a .520 slugging percentage since returning in late-July, two games before the start of that winning streak. Atlanta is 46-20 with Acuña in the lineup in 2026, and 25-27 without him. 

Philadelphia was just 12-19 at the end of April, but consecutive 18-win months pushed it back into the NL East race. July was less kind, but even so, the Phillies at least have the wild-card to fall back on.

The Brewers have been their typical steady selves, and have the most wins in MLB as well as the best run differential. 

Milwaukee has rotation depth, led by NL Cy Young frontrunner Jacob Misiorowski—who became the second-fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 200 strikeouts in a season on Sunday, bringing his total to 204—and a lineup that has added rookies Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara to fill holes at short and in right. Milwaukee also picked up Dustin May at the deadline, and he picked up a deserved W in his Brewers’ debut.

The Cubs might have lost 10 games in a row in mid-May, but also won 10 games in a row on two occasions and have played better-than-.500 ball in their remaining games. Pete Crow-Armstrong has established himself as an MVP candidate after a slow start, and leads the majors in wins above replacement as he approaches a 30 homer, 30 stolen base season with Gold Glove defense in center.

The Diamondbacks might be pretty good. The Padres, if the players who were supposed to be hitting this whole time actually keep hitting, might be decent, too, and now they have Robbie Ray and Casey Mize in the rotation. None of that seems to matter to the Dodgers, though, as the Dodgers are still 7.5 games ahead despite losing eight of its last nine.

The Dodgers have the second-best run differential in the NL, and while losing Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher for an indeterminate length of time does add some questions, Los Angeles has already weathered the storm of Mookie Betts’ offense disappearing and injuries to the likes of Tommy Edman, as well as big offseason acquisition Kyle Tucker just being okay out there. Oh, and Tarik Skubal is here now.

This is a team much more than one minor crisis away from collapsing, but it should be pointed out that the crises are starting to pile up.

The Cubs have proved they can hang with the league’s best after a recent sweep of the Dodgers, and the Phillies, despite a recent slide, are as well as their success against the Nationals this week. 

The Diamondbacks are in the mix, but their lead is slim, with the Padres right there just 1.5 games out, and then the Marlins, Cardinals, Reds and Pirates all between 2.5 and 4.5 games back, with Pittsburgh the furthest back. The Pirates added Luke Weaver to fix their major bullpen woes, though, so they maybe aren’t as far back as that looks, either.

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Center Cade Mays, who was signed to anchor the Detroit Lions’ reworked offensive line, will be out for significant time because of a wrist injury, coach Dan Campbell said Monday.

“You hate it, I hate it for him because I felt like he was having a good camp and he’d grown so much in our system just since spring,” Campbell said.

He would not give a timeline on Mays’ return from what he described as a freak injury that happened at camp Sunday.

Cade Mays joined the Lions this offseason after playing for the Panthers for the first four years of his NFL career. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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“It stinks, but I know he’ll work his way back and be ready to go at some point,” quarterback Jared Goff said.

Mays’ absence will give Seth McLaughlin and Juice Scruggs the opportunity to compete for the start at center. Scruggs was sidelined with a soft tissue injury on Monday, so McLaughlin got all the snaps with the starters while Michael Niese worked with the No. 2s.

Goff said communication was good with McLaughlin even though he had never had a snap from him before Monday.

“That’s the best way to find out on some of these guys, that’s all you can ask for. Man, it’s your shot, we’ll see where we can go with it,” Campbell said.

McLaughlin will start in the Lions’ preseason game at Cincinnati on Thursday.

“It’s the hand you’re dealt and you move on,’’ Campbell said.

Lions sign backup QB Josh Dobbs

Veteran Josh Dobbs was signed to replace quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, whose retirement was announced Sunday. It’s the second stint in Detroit for Dobbs, who spent two weeks on the practice squad in 2022.

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“We really liked him and then he got poached, that’s kind of where it went,” Campbell said. “It’s good to get him back.”

Dobbs was on the field for Monday’s practice but did not take any reps. Rookie QB Luke Altmyer will start Thursday night. If Dobbs is up to speed, he could see action.

A fourth-round draft pick out of Tennessee by the Steelers in 2017, Dobbs has made 27 career appearances and 15 starts. He spent last season with the Patriots as Drake Maye’s backup. He appeared in four games and completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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One of the most promising young U.S. players will reportedly be heading to the English Premier League. 

Zavier Gozo is set for a transfer from MLS side Real Salt Lake to Crystal Palace in a deal worth $15 million. 

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder made the MLS All-Star team this season and has already made 50 career appearances across all competitions for RSL, scoring 10 goals with eight assists. 

(Photo by David Jensen/MLS via Getty Images)

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While he has yet to make a senior appearance for the U.S. men’s national team, he was considered for the 2026 World Cup squad. While he wasn’t selected for Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man roster, Gozo is expected to be one of the USMNT’s rising youngsters. 

At Palace, he will join USA defender Chris Richards on a retooled roster under new manager Pierre Sage. The south London side won the UEFA Conference League trophy last season under Oliver Glasner, who left his post as manager earlier this summer. 

The Athletic first reported Gozo’s upcoming move to Palace. 

United States 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Mini-Movie 🇺🇸 Why Not Us?

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Head coaches will no longer have to juggle a red flag with their game-day wardrobe. 

The NFL is updating its rulebook for the 2026 season to allow head coaches to delegate replay challenge duties to a designated sideline staff member, ESPN reported Monday. 

The updated Rule 15, Section 1, Article 1(a) now reads, “The head coach or head coach’s pregame challenge designee can initiate a challenge by throwing a red flag onto the field of play before the next legal snap or kick.”

The league finalized the procedural modification during its routine summer rulebook adjustments, a process that does not require an ownership vote.

The adjustment comes after a 2025 season that reportedly featured 151 coach challenges, the highest single-season total since 2019. 

Allowing a staff designee to throw the flag would help advise against emotional decision-making. Head coaches are expected to remain heavily involved in challenge decisions, whether it’s communicating with the staff through a headset or telling them directly.

Under standard NFL rules, each team receives two challenges per game, with the opportunity to earn a third. To be awarded that additional challenge, a team must have at least one of its initial two challenges successfully overturned upon review.

If a coach’s challenge is unsuccessful, the team loses a timeout, meaning teams cannot challenge plays if they have no timeouts remaining. If the first two challenges are unsuccessful, the team will be ineligible to receive a third challenge for the game.

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