Category: Sports

Manchester United advanced to the Women’s Champions League league phase after delivering a huge 3-0 victory over Brann at Leigh Sports Village with Elisabeth Terland scoring all three goals. 

After falling 1-0 behind during their visit to Norway in the first leg of the qualifying tie, all eyes were on Marc Skinner’s Red Devils as they looked to secure a spot among Europe’s top sides in the group stage, and it took just eight minutes for Terland to bring the sides level on aggregate, reacting to a perfect cross to stun her former team.

Man Utd worked hard for their opening goal, dominating possession and demonstrating impeccable levels of control as they boxed Brann into a corner they could not escape from. A second goal came just minutes later for Terland as she nodded the ball into the back of the net after a swift corner from Julia Zigiotti Olme.

The atmosphere inside the stadium lifted in favour of the hosts as they continued to block their opponents, rarely giving Brann the chance to breathe and work the ball towards their box.

Glimmers of hope came for Brann when play resumed after the break. Unfortunately, United’s complete dominance meant they could neither push on to attack or sit back to defend without being taken advantage of.

Terland’s third goal came with ease just after the hour mark, breaking into space after spotting a fast Melvine Malard charging down the pitch with the ball. The French forward glided the ball towards the Norwegian and she made light work of sealing her hat-trick and ending the hopes of Brann.

It was an almost flawless performance from United who looked like a completely different side to the one that travelled to Bergen last week. Thrashings of Leicester City and London City Lionesses in the league gifted them a deserved confidence that they rightfully took into this game.

As for Brann, the Toppserien side failed to qualify for the Women’s Champions League group phase after last competing against Europe’s giants in 2023/24. They sit comfortably atop Norway’s top-flight table after appointing former Crystal Palace boss Leif Smerud.

What next for Man Utd Women?

Man Utd face a quick turnaround before their next fixture against Arsenal, who sit level on points with them at the top of the WSL table, on September 21.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A fight between two Miami Dolphins players during a sweltering August joint practice session with the Chicago Bears might have looked like a team tearing itself apart. But for people within the organization, it was one of the first positive signs that an important change had taken hold.

During team drills, linebacker Jordyn Brooks took exception to teammate and fellow linebacker Tyrel Dodson for not, in Brooks’ view, being physical enough with a Bears offensive player during a particular rep. Ultimately, both players had to be separated as tempers flared.

Afterward, Brooks and Dodson apologized to Dolphins teammates and coach Mike McDaniel for the scuffle. They later gave a joint interview in the locker room after the teams’ preseason game that weekend, downplaying the incident as an argument between brothers, but the clash was seen within the team as a resounding example of players taking pride in a new standard of accountability the franchise had tried to instill this offseason.

“Honestly in Chicago, with [Brooks and Dodson] — [it was] players holding players accountable,” linebacker Bradley Chubb told ESPN. “We were in the heat of battle, so it got a little bit more heated than it should have. … Just guys getting in each other’s face, but at the end of the day, knowing it’s all love and this is about pushing each other to be the best.

“It was probably the biggest turning point for our defense this offseason because we saw two alphas going at it and pushing each other to be better.”

Since their disappointing 2024 season ended, the Dolphins — according to multiple current and former players, coaches and team officials — have sought to improve the culture inside their building. The team has reinforced the importance of accountability and jettisoned players who decision-makers in the organization believed weren’t conducive to the team’s success, while bringing in those they thought would buy in and put team over self. Included in those moves was trading away one of Miami’s best players in Jalen Ramsey this summer. Among other measures taken to turn the culture around were offseason three-a-day workouts, voluntary wind sprints at practice and an early-season players-only meeting.

Throughout the offseason, players and coaches referenced their new standard being upheld and the reemphasized the importance team leaders — including player captains, Coach McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier — have placed on relationship-building. This, they hoped, would help the franchise contend for a Super Bowl a year after missing the playoffs for the first time in McDaniel’s three seasons in charge.

But two weeks into the 2025 season, and after back-to-back losses to the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, the resolve Miami believes it has instilled is being tested as it enters a critical game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video).

The Dolphins’ defense, which was scrutinized this summer after replacing its entire secondary from a season ago, allowed opponents to score on 13 of their first 15 drives to start the season. In the season opener against the Colts, the Dolphins’ offense recorded just 211 yards — the fewest under McDaniel in a game when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had started.

The Dolphins are 8-11 since the start of the 2024 season, despite having some of the league’s highest-paid skill position players, and injuries have plagued a pass rush in which Miami has invested multiple first-round picks. Some fans have made clear their desire for both McDaniel and Grier to be fired, even taking to the skies before Sunday’s game.

Players and coaches believe the Dolphins’ culture has changed — or at least, has matured. But Grier acknowledged that words have little value without action behind them, and Miami’s 0-2 start leaves it at a crossroads: Down one path, the accountability culture within the building catches on and the team rebounds to a successful season. Down the other, the Dolphins’ 25-year drought without a playoff win is extended and forces team owner Stephen Ross into difficult decisions about who is running his franchise.

“We can say all the stuff has changed, and words and everything,” Grier said in August. “It doesn’t really matter; we have to go do it on the field and win games. It’s just the simple way of saying we can say how good we feel, and everything is going, but until we win games and do it on the field it doesn’t matter.”

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IN THEIR FINAL team meeting of the 2024 season, shortly after a season-ending loss on Jan. 5 to the New York Jets, McDaniel issued a challenge to his players.

According to multiple players and team staff, the Dolphins coach stressed the importance of player-driven accountability and said that anyone who wasn’t on board could say so, and the team would either trade or release them.

Players repackaged his message to local media later that day during locker room cleanout. Defensive tackle Zach Sieler, a team captain and team leader, told reporters that players needed to hold themselves to a higher standard.

“Absolutely, yep, I think so,” Sieler said in January. “And I think what McDaniel does a great job of is preaching the player locker room and I think it needs to come from us as players and leaders and captains as well as the staff and get everyone here and get everyone working together from Day 1 in OTAs and camp and get things taken care of from Day 1, and take care of business to start fast next year.”

Multiple sources in and around the team said tardiness was an issue throughout last season. McDaniel told reporters in his end-of-season news conference that fining players “didn’t particularly move the needle,” and said “bringing it up as a team and continuing to fine guys wasn’t enough.”

One current Dolphins player said he believed some captains this past season took advantage of the role. Ramsey and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who were two of the eight players voted captains in 2024, were among repeat offenders who received numerous fines throughout the season.

Players were often late to practice and meetings, with multiple team sources suggesting it reflected a lack of respect for McDaniel — who was hesitant to publicly admonish players outside of posting fines.

However, one former Dolphins player who played for McDaniel in Miami said that behavior wasn’t exclusive to the 2024 season and issues only arose when the team stopped winning games.

In 2024, Miami rebounded from a 2-6 start to finish the season 8-9.

“Everyone was fine with cutting meetings, cutting practice when they’re winning, but once you’re losing, it’s like now you can’t get mad at that,” the player said. “You were just enjoying it when you were winning.”

As losses mounted this past season, players were called out for tardiness or absence — which the former player said added to some players’ frustrations. That frustration boiled over when Hill removed himself from the team’s season finale loss to the Jets.

After that Jets game, McDaniel told reporters he was informed Hill was not available and that his absence wasn’t injury related. In the locker room, Hill, who was in the first season of a three-year, $90 million extension he signed in August, hinted at a potential exit from Miami.

“I just have to do what’s best for me and my family — if that’s here or wherever the case may be,” he said in January. “I’m about to open up that door for myself. … I’m out, bruh. It was great playing here but at the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for my career.

“I’m too much of a competitor to just be out there.”

Former Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert said during an appearance on the “Stugotz and Company” podcast earlier this month that he understood why Hill pulled himself from the game amid one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, although it’s something Mostert himself said he would never do.

Hill apologized publicly in February to both the team and Tagovailoa — who did not play in the Week 18 game — and ultimately conveyed to the team he still wanted to be a part of it after the season, although Tagovailoa said in July that their relationship required repair.

When asked last week, Hill told ESPN that he doesn’t believe he received preferential treatment and insisted on his high-caliber work ethic — but did not deny missing meetings or arriving late to meetings and practice.

Hill told ESPN he has not missed any meetings this season, dating back to the offseason, and has been on time to “everything.”

Ramsey’s behavior, meanwhile, became a drain on team morale, according to multiple sources, including current and former players, who said his actions varied from being late to team activities to outright leaving practice.

Grier spoke publicly in April, saying the team and Ramsey mutually agreed to seek a trade — but a source within the organization said the decision was team driven.

Miami traded him and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick in June. Ramsey and his agent, David Mulugheta, did not respond to multiple attempts to obtain a comment.

Miami also refrained from making high-capital additions this offseason, bringing in players on modest deals while signing Sieler to a three-year, $63 million extension.

Grier said in August the Dolphins’ roster moves this offseason — like allowing homegrown safety Jevon Holland to leave in free agency and releasing veterans such as Mostert, Kendall Fuller and Durham Smythe — were an effort to financially reset, but also hinted at needing to move forward with “the right guys” on the roster.

“When you bring in so many new players that have been stars that played other places and you kind of work through it, you have your expectations, but you’re winning,” Grier said. “But you look at it and you’re like, ‘Hey, I don’t know if we’re winning the right way.’ You know what I mean? That’s kind of what it was. We had a lot of good guys in that locker room, as you know, some of the guys that are leaders were here before as well. They were held accountable, but at times guys, it didn’t matter to them.

“Moving on from those people with the right guys here and focusing on that, because when you have a year like we did last year, we had gone to the playoffs the two previous years, and at some point you say, ‘OK. All right, enough is enough.’”

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THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, Dolphins players stressed the importance of establishing their new standard — which included one-upping each other in offseason workouts away from the facility.

“Since the season ended last year, I’ve spent a lot of time with [left tackle] Pat [Paul]. So our grind, his mentality, his work, doing two-a-days, three-a-days, stuff like that, it’s different,” Dolphins center Aaron Brewer said.

“He’s doing it, so I’m trying to do the same thing to keep each other on the same level. Hold each other accountable.”

On the field, players were seen running wind sprints during and after practice.

“It’s something we as the players decided,” Dolphins tackle Austin Jackson said. “If we have pre-snap penalties, we’re going to punish ourselves for that. Things that are in our controllables — that’s what we call that. Pre-snap penalties, we can control that, so if you make the mistake in practice, we’re going to self-correct ourselves with a little disciplinary action.”

Player-driven leadership has always been emphasized under McDaniel, who began his Miami tenure with a 20-14 record and two playoff appearances. His style, as one current player described it, is laid back without being hands off.

The former Dolphins player who played for McDaniel said the coach was always “open and vulnerable” with his players, which he thinks players misconstrued as being “soft.”

“Some people like having someone that’s going to keep them accountable,” he said. “Some people like having that hard-nosed guy as a head coach — but Mike was always open with the guys, always vulnerable. … I personally take it as being a person, you’re being human. … But some people just don’t respect that and that’s on them.

“I personally don’t think that you need your coach to rile you up, to be hovering over you for you to do your job — because we’re not in high school anymore. We’ve got to take care of our own business. I don’t care if Tyreek gets special treatment or not, because that doesn’t affect me. What affects me is what I do, what I go out there and do.”

McDaniel said Tuesday he hasn’t issued any fines for lateness or attendance since the end of this past season, outside of an “alarm clock issue in Week 2 of training camp.” He said, “be on time” is the third team rule, behind “protect the team” and “no excuses” and players have adhered to it this season.

“You acknowledge and attack a problem for a solution and all you can ask for is that this team hasn’t been a victim of that,” he said.

McDaniel hasn’t changed his leadership style this year — although the team source told ESPN that McDaniel has been more willing to call out players, starting with the team’s captains.

After the Dolphins’ 33-8 Week 1 loss to the Colts, McDaniel told the media that Tagovailoa’s play “left something to be desired.” Tagovailoa completed 14 of 23 passes in the loss for 114 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. His 2.7 QBR was the worst of any start he’s had where he did not leave with an injury, and it was the worst performance among all quarterbacks that week.

McDaniel also mentioned Sieler as a player who abandoned his assignment, which led to an explosive play for the Colts.

Dolphins players met Sept. 9 following the Indianapolis loss to make sure the result didn’t snowball, although the players-only meeting didn’t prevent a 33-27 loss to New England in Week 2.

Brooks said McDaniel relies on the team’s captains to keep a handle on locker room morale.

“I mean, it’s player-led, but he’s still the head coach,” Brooks said. “So, it’s not so much the players are just running the team and setting things. I think he kind of relies on us for moments like this. We go out there and get whooped, like ‘Oh, we got to gather the troops.’

“This is where the leaders come in, making sure that everybody’s locked in, making sure that your team is still committed … that’s what I think what he means player-led. He’s still the head coach, you know what I mean? If he wants something to go that way, it’s going to go that way.”

One former Dolphins player, who spent the previous two seasons with the team under McDaniel, said the issues plaguing Miami don’t stem from a poor culture.

“I think it’s schematic and personnel-wise that’s more of the problem than the culture,” the player said. “They’ve had the same culture for the years they were winning as they did the one down year.”

In the loss to New England, Miami committed two pre-snap penalties on a potential game-winning drive before ultimately turning the ball over on downs. After the game, McDaniel and Tagovailoa each expressed frustration over the team’s level of communication, with McDaniel saying his assistant coaches “did not execute … in a very dire period of the game.”

Tagovailoa said he would take some initiative to clean up an ongoing issue for Miami; its offense was also flagged for having too many men in the huddle on a 2-point conversion attempt in Week 1.

“I’m going to go have a conversation with Mike. I’m going to go have a conversation with [quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell], with our offensive guys and talk about it because what we put out there,” Tagovailoa said. “Anyone who knows football and anyone who doesn’t know football just knows that was not clean and that was not right, what we were doing at the end of the game.

“We’ll get that fixed, communicate that to those guys, and we’ll move forward from there.”

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HIGH ABOVE HARD Rock Stadium prior to the Dolphins’ loss to the Patriots on Sunday, a small aircraft flew a banner behind it with an unmistakable message:

“FIRE GRIER. FIRE MCDANIEL.”

It didn’t outwardly bother McDaniel.

“Fans want their team to win. … I don’t think it’s personal,” he said. “I think they want to win. And so do I.”

Ross issued a statement hours after the 2024 season ended, committing to McDaniel as the Dolphins’ coach and Grier as their general manager — with an important caveat.

“I believe in the value of stability,” Ross said. “However, continuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that status quo is good enough.”

A source familiar with Ross’ thinking told ESPN this offseason they don’t believe McDaniel’s and Grier’s job security hinges on something as simple as “playoffs or bust,” and reiterated that sentiment after Week 1. Grier said in January that Ross hadn’t issued an ultimatum to either of them. McDaniel said Monday that his conversations with Ross haven’t changed despite Sunday’s loss to the Patriots.

According to the aforementioned team source, Ross’ status quo comment pertained more to the process than the results — although there is a limit to his patience with the team’s results. After a winless start to the 2025 season, and prime-time games against division opponents coming, there will be increased outside attention on how far Ross’ patience will stretch.

Even as the losses have continued, McDaniel said this week he isn’t worried about losing his job.

“I think if I worry about my job security, I won’t be doing my job — and I think that inherently is against all things that I believe in,” McDaniel said following the Week 2 loss to New England. “I’ve never felt entitled to this position and it’s very important for me to spend all my waking hours worrying about exactly how to do my job.

“I won’t spend one moment thinking about all the things that, whatever people want me to think about. [I’m] thinking about this team and the Buffalo Bills here, after I get done with this podium.”

In light of all their efforts to change things, the Dolphins’ players and coaches acknowledge the team is still finding its identity.

McDaniel believes how his team responds to the adversity is what will ultimately define it.

“I feel like we have a unified locker room and a unified team; it’s one of those things that failure provides an opportunity to see that with transparency. It’s not as gray as everybody going in the same direction.

“A lot of times when you experience collective failure, you lose a game or two games, you get to see exactly what type of culture you have based upon how people respond. That’s one of the reasons I focus on response so much because to me that’s all really life is, and teams are and cultures are.”

If there’s an overriding storyline through three weeks, it has been about the winners and losers of some big bets on quarterbacks.

Miami bet on Carson Beck reviving his NFL prospects after a down year at Georgia. So far, he has delivered, averaging nearly 10 yards per pass with eight total touchdowns, and the Canes are ranked in the top five.

Oklahoma wagered Brent Venables’ future on John Mateer, and the Washington State transfer has been electric, leading the Sooners past Michigan in a Week 2 showdown and earning Heisman front-runner status.

Auburn felt sure former five-star recruit Jackson Arnold still had plenty of untapped potential, and through three weeks, he has looked like the superstar he once was, getting the Tigers to 3-0.

Ohio State, Georgia and Oregon all bet on in-house QBs rather than dipping into the transfer portal, and all have been rewarded.

Florida State, Indiana and Tulane hit pay dirt in the portal.

That’s the good news.

On the flip side, so many quarterbacks who were expected to provide massive dividends — Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, DJ Lagway, Nico Iamaleava, LaNorris Sellers — have wavered between average or awful.

Week 4 offers some chances for redemption, with Lagway getting another big test against Miami, Klubnik hoping to right the ship against Syracuse and UNC‘s Gio Lopez going on the road against UCF in the Tar Heels’ first real test since a blowout loss to TCU.

Some of the nation’s most talented young players have a chance to break through, too. CJ Carr can earn win No. 1 against woeful Purdue. Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, coming off a strong performance against Central Michigan, has a much bigger test against Nebraska. Ole Miss’ Austin Simmons hopes to return from injury in time to make his mark in a showdown with Tulane.

The story is just beginning to be written, so there’s plenty of time for Manning, Klubnik and other preseason darlings to find their footing. But it has been a cold September for some of the nation’s most renowned passers, and Week 4 could be another opportunity for others to grab their share of the spotlight. — David Hale

Jump to:
Auburn-Oklahoma | Utah-Texas Tech
Quarterbacks who are falling short
Breakout players | Quotes of the week

What do each of these teams need to do to win?

Auburn: The Tigers have to disrupt Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer and make him pay for running the ball, and they have the ingredients to do so. Auburn is tied for sixth nationally in sacks per game (3.67) and tied for 12th in tackles for loss per game (8.7). Although Keldric Faulk is the headliner, Arkansas State transfer Keyron Crawford has been the team’s most disruptive pass rusher so far with three sacks and a forced fumble. The defense and run game, which ranks 16th nationally at 240 yards per game, ideally must reduce the pressure on quarterback Jackson Arnold in his highly anticipated return to Oklahoma. Arnold is completing nearly 70% of his passes, running the ball effectively and limiting mistakes, but the more Auburn’s other playmakers can take off his plate, the better the chances for a key road win. — Adam Rittenberg

Oklahoma: Arnold started nine games for the Sooners last fall. If anyone knows his weak spots, it’s Oklahoma coach Brent Venables. As Adam points out, Arnold (eight turnovers in 2024) has played efficient, mistake-free football in his first three games at Auburn. A Sooners defense that’s creating pressures on 44.6% of its snaps this season — 10th nationally, per ESPN Research — is built to change that and make Arnold uncomfortable, although Oklahoma will be without 2024 sack leader R Mason Thomas for the first half Saturday following a Week 3 targeting ejection. Mateer will have his own work cut out for him against the Tigers’ defensive front, but he should be able to find holes in a secondary that ranks 85th in yards allowed per game (220.0). The difference, ultimately, could come on the ground where a still-figuring-out Oklahoma rushing attack meets Auburn’s 10th-ranked run defense (67.0 yards per game) on Saturday. Freshman Tory Blaylock (5.4 yards per carry) has been the Sooners’ most effective running back through three games. — Eli Lederman

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How do each of these quarterbacks need to perform?

Utah: Through three games a year ago, Utah had gone without a first down on nearly a quarter of its drives. This season, it has happened only three times in three games. The difference is Devon Dampier, who has looked as at ease running his brand of dual-threat football in a Power 4 backfield as he did a year ago at New Mexico. Dampier has racked up more than 800 yards of offense and accounted for eight touchdowns, and he has yet to turn the ball over. His skill set has made him particularly effective. He has already accumulated 80 yards on scramble plays, and three of his seven TD passes have come from outside the pocket. This will be his biggest test to date, but he’ll also be, by far, the biggest challenge for Texas Tech’s defense. — Hale

Texas Tech: Behren Morton hasn’t taken a snap after the third quarter across three straight 30-plus point victories to open the season. Still, Texas Tech’s senior quarterback enters Week 4 tied for No. 1 nationally in passing touchdowns (11) and ranks ninth in passing yards (923), leading the nation’s highest-scoring offense (58.0 PPG). Utah, with the nation’s 20th-ranked pass defense (134.0 yards per game), should present Morton with his toughest test yet in 2025. He’ll have to be accurate against an experienced Utes secondary, and Morton’s decision-making will be key, too, in the face of a Utah front seven that features the nation’s joint sack leader in John Henry Daley — five in three games — and blitzes on 42.6% of its snaps, the 10th-highest rate among FBS defenses, per ESPN Research. Most of all, Texas Tech will hope Morton’s experience (27 career starts) can keep its offense steady in the Red Raiders’ first visit to a notoriously hostile Rice-Eccles Stadium. — Eli Lederman

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Three quarterbacks who aren’t meeting their preseason hype

1. Arch Manning

Anyone can have a rough outing in a Week 1 matchup against the defending champs, and Manning looked fine a week later against San José State. So, nothing to worry about, right? Ah, not so fast. A dismal first half against UTEP ignited a full-on inferno of criticism of the preseason Heisman favorite, and for good reason. Manning is completing just 55% of his throws and has turned the ball over three times, and Texas has gone without a first down on nearly a quarter of its drives so far. Add the sideline grimace that coach Steve Sarkisian chalked up to — well, we’re not quite sure — and it would be enough reason for concern even if Manning didn’t carry a legendary name and a ton of hype. That this all comes on the heels of such high expectations means Manning will be fighting critics for the foreseeable future.

2. Cade Klubnik

What’s wrong with Clemson‘s offense? The answers are everywhere, but none appear bigger than Klubnik, who has at times looked lost, frustrated or intimidated in the pocket. His 37.5 QBR through three games ranks 121st out of 136 FBS passers, and his miserable first-half performances — no passing touchdowns, two turnovers — have put Clemson in some early holes. Klubnik is completing less than 60% of his throws on the year, but the bigger issue is the number of open receivers he hasn’t even targeted in key moments. He has been sacked just three times this year, but he has gotten moved off his position too often, and abandoned ship even more frequently. So, what’s wrong with the Tigers? The better question is what’s wrong with the Tigers’ QB?

3. DJ Lagway

After last year’s hot finish, the assumption was that Lagway would take the next step in 2025 to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Through three weeks, he’s nowhere close. Not only is Florida off to a 1-2 start, Lagway has been the primary culprit. He’s completing 71% of his throws, but nearly one-third of his throws are behind the line of scrimmage. He has done nothing to extend the field, attempting just seven throws of 20 yards or more. On those throws, he has one completion and two picks. Lagway’s six interceptions overall are tied for the second most nationally through three games. If Florida wants to turn things around amid a brutal schedule, it has to start with Lagway looking more like the player he appeared to be down the stretch in 2024. — Hale

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Five early breakout players

Rueben Bain Jr., DL, Miami: The 6-foot-3, 275-pound pass rusher is performing at an All-America level so far this season with 15 stops, 11 pressures, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble through three games. Bain was a top-100 recruit and a Freshman All-American in 2023, so there’s nothing shocking about his rise, but he’s making the leap as a junior and proving he’s a no-doubt NFL draft first-round pick. As ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid put it, no other draft-eligible player in the sport is having a greater down-to-down impact than Bain.

Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas: Green is off to an incredible start to his second season under OC Bobby Petrino, leading the country in total offense with 866 passing yards, 307 rushing yards (most among all FBS QBs) and 13 total touchdowns. Last week against Ole Miss, he became the first QB in program history to surpass 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in a single game. The Razorbacks came up short in their SEC opener but have seven more top-25 opponents on the schedule, which should give Green every opportunity to play his way into Heisman contention.

Mario Craver, WR, Texas A&M: The Aggies faced Craver last year during his freshman season at Mississippi State and knew he could be a dangerous playmaker. He has been an absolute game changer for Marcel Reed and Texas A&M’s passing game with an FBS-leading 443 receiving yards and four TDs on just 20 receptions. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound wideout isn’t flying under the national radar anymore after burning Notre Dame’s secondary for a career-best 207 yards on seven catches, and his 279 yards after catch are nearly 100 more than any other pass catcher in the country.

Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri: Hardy had a prolific freshman season at UL Monroe and hasn’t slowed down one bit since making his move to the SEC. He’s now the second-leading rusher in the FBS with 462 yards and five TDs after a ridiculous 250-yard day against Louisiana last week. The sophomore has played in only 15 career games, yet he already has three 200-yard performances on his résumé, and he leads all FBS backs with 29 forced missed tackles, according to ESPN Research.

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, QB, Cal: The true freshman from Hawaii was a late riser in the recruiting rankings as a high school senior, and we’re quickly learning why he became so coveted. Sagapolutele signed with Oregon but flipped back to Cal in early January, believing he’d have a chance to start right away for the Golden Bears. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefty has flashed big-time arm talent and exciting potential with 780 passing yards and seven total TDs while leading a 3-0 start. He’s becoming must-see TV on a Cal squad that looks poised to exceed expectations. — Max Olson

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Quotes of the Week

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney on speculation about his job security:
“Hey, listen, if Clemson’s tired of winning, they can send me on my way. But I’m gonna go somewhere else and coach. I ain’t going to the beach. Hell, I’m 55. I’ve got a long way to go. Y’all are gonna have to deal with me for a while.”

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian on quarterback Arch Manning:
“Here’s a guy who’s had an awesome life, the way he’s grown up, the people he’s been surrounded by. I think you learn a lot about yourself through adversity and overcoming adversity. … When he gets on the other side of it, I think all of this is going to serve well not only for him, but for us as a team.”

LSU coach Brian Kelly:
“LSU won the football game, won the game. I don’t know what you want from me. What do you want? You want us to win 70-0 against Florida to keep you happy?”

Michigan fill-in coach Biff Poggi on Bryce Underwood:
“He might actually be Batman. We need to do a DNA test on him.”

Georgia Tech coach Brent Key addressing his team after beating Clemson:
“Enjoy the s— out of it, man. Guess what? Next week is going to be bigger.”

Emma Raducanu has been knocked out of the Korea Open after suffering a three-sets defeat to former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Krejcikova was on the brink of defeat but staged a remarkable turnaround to beat the British star 4-6 7-6 (12-10) 6-1.

Raducanu won the first set and was serving for the match, but Krejcikova got a vital break.

It meant, from being 5-2 down in the second set, Krejcikova levelled it at 5-5.

Raducanu hit back to win the next game. A double fault from Krejcikova then saw the next game go to deuce but the Czech, a previous winner at both Wimbledon and the French Open, regrouped to take them into a tiebreaker.

Raducanu got onto the front foot and began to extend her lead, despite pressure from Krejcikova.

However Krejcikova overhauled the Briton with an overarm smash to grab a set point. Raducanu served up an ace to snuff out that threat and delivered another heavy serve to reach her second match point. The Czech defended it and they remained neck-and-neck in the tiebreak.

Eventually Krejcikova overhauled her to secure the tiebreak 12-10 to take them into a deciding set.

Krejckova then ran away with the third, taking a commanding 4-1 lead. Raducanu needed to hold serve in the sixth game but was broken again. That allowed Krejcikova to serve out the match.

She will next play Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals.

Watch the ATP and WTA Tour, live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen rolled his eyes.

The question hadn’t even been finished, but the words that the Buffalo Bills quarterback had heard over and over again were brought up — to his displeasure: When you’re asked about getting over that hump and winning the Super Bowl, does that ..?

“I think if I knew how to get over that hump, we would’ve gotten over that hump already,” Allen said. Allen has become all too familiar with the line of questioning as the Bills’ quest to reach the Super Bowl has extended over the years.

His seven playoff wins are the most by any quarterback in NFL history without a Super Bowl appearance. Allen is now a winner of the league’s MVP award and widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

So, the question comes up often.

“You have to continue to keep giving yourself chances, and I feel like, one thing that I’ve for sure learned this last offseason is trusting in God’s timing. It’s never wrong, and when it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen, and you just got to continue to keep putting yourselves in opportunities where it could happen.”

The losses over the years have been memorable in their own ways. In the first AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, coach Sean McDermott said the team wasn’t ready to win the biggest of games. The loss the following year to the Chiefs in the divisional round is remembered by two words, “13 seconds.” Despite taking a three-point lead and leaving just 13 seconds on the clock for the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes was able to orchestrate a game-tying drive that ended with a Kansas City win in overtime before the rule change that both teams are guaranteed possession.

Allen walked up to a lectern after the 2024 AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs again this past January and sighed, visibly crestfallen, before taking the questions about what went wrong again.

For years, Allen has maintained that his only goal is to win a Super Bowl. But after an offseason of significant highs, both personally and professionally, the 29-year-old shares a different perspective on football and its place in his life. The Bills have once again started strong with a 2-0 start in Allen’s eighth season, and now host the Miami Dolphins on “Thursday Night Football” (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Winning the Super Bowl is still the ultimate professional goal but now comes with the mentality that there’s also more to life.

“It’s never been a goal of mine to win MVP. If anything, it’s been to win the Super Bowl MVP,” Allen said. “I think that’s the better of the two awards, and make no mistake, it’s a very cool honor. I really do appreciate it, but it doesn’t change my life. It doesn’t change who I am, and to that point, it probably … winning a Super Bowl doesn’t change who I am or change my life either. But it’s something that the city’s wanted for a very long time and to feel like I can help be a piece that brings it here, that’s more important to me than a singular trophy.”

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YOU’VE UNDOUBTEDLY SEEN Allen’s face on TV and mobile screens in 2025, and if you live near a Wegmans supermarket, plastered on the outside of freezers. He is promoting all sorts of brands from Therabody to Natrol, a sleep aid, to New Balance, and has expanded his relationship with New Era and Snickers.

Some of that larger public profile stems from how his offseason began, when Allen beat out Lamar Jackson in MVP voting.

While accepting his award, Allen gave a speech with a catchphrase that has found its way across Western New York.

“Be good, do good, God bless and go Bills.”

In March, Allen was rewarded for his seasons of work with a restructuring of his contract that included $250 million guaranteed and tied him to the team through the 2030 season.

On May 31, he got married in California to actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld. Allen described this as by far the most significant event. “They’ve all been big, none other than marrying my best friend,” Allen said. “And she makes everything easier, so I don’t really focus on the other stuff. That was the most important decision I’ll make in my life, and I made the right one.”

Allen has demonstrated a desire to be present in whatever part of life he is in, whether it includes work or family or spending time on the golf course.

“When football is on, he’s locked in and … there’s no quarterback out there that knows his offense better, is better at understanding the defense teams are playing,” friend and Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen said. “…And then when it’s over, he loves to have a good time. So, I mean, all his teammates can attest to that. He loves to have a good time, and in the offseason, I don’t know if we talk about football ever.”

The Bills QB’s new perspective from the offseason stems from the time spent with loved ones this offseason and “knowing what’s truly important.

“Obviously, I love my job. I think it’s extremely important,” Allen said. “I do everything that I can to win games and help our team win, but the family aspect in being a good person and all that other stuff, I think that’s, if not just as important, if not more, than playing our game and what we do.

“It’s weird for me to say that because football is the only thing I’ve ever truly like, wanted to do. … It’s the only thing that like I care about in my life more than anything. And knowing that there’s more in life, it’s … I don’t know, I think as you get older you start to realize that, but don’t get it twisted, I still care, probably an obnoxious amount about this game and trying to bring a Lombardi here to Western New York, and it’s the only goal that I have in my work career.”

That career took Allen from a no-star recruit to the seventh overall pick in the draft to a top quarterback. He’s come to epitomize Western New York, an area on the opposite side of the country from his hometown of Firebaugh, CA where he has become beloved.

His commitment to wanting to win is visible, not missing a game since his rookie season despite a variety of injuries along the way, but also in his verbal commitment.

Teammates who have known him throughout the years bring up quickly how he’s stayed himself and not changed.

“He’s pretty much always the same. He’s a very consistent person on a daily basis. He gives a lot of himself,” Bills backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky said, “Especially, I would say, wherever he’s at, the main thing is going to be the main thing.”

Allen has always liked to keep many aspects of his private life just that — private. As far as what he’s putting into his offseason, there is an emphasis on the things outside of the game.

“He’s playing a little bit more golf nowadays,” Seattle Seahawks quarterback and friend Sam Darnold joked on Allen’s recent approach to his offseason. “No, he’s always trying to get better in the offseason. He’s working out, he’s doing his thing. He is playing a lot of golf, got married. So, his life is pretty hectic at times. And so, I think the most important thing for him is just to relax and be with his family and friends as much as he can be.”

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ALLEN, AN AVID golf fan, took note of golfer Scottie Scheffler’s remarks during a press conference ahead of the Open Championship in July. Scheffler, currently the No. 1-ranked player in the world, gained attention for comments that asked, “Why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly?” The golfer made it abundantly clear the important role the sport plays in his life, but that his family is his top priority.

“That’s why I wrestle with why is this so important to me, because I’d much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer,” Scheffler said. “At the end of the day, that’s what’s more important to me,”

Allen noted those words, specifically picking up Scheffler’s letting go of expectations, and asking, “Why do I care so much?”

Allen found that within himself as well.

“If we don’t win, we’re going to next year and we have a chance to win it next year,” Allen said. “And I think every year that I’ve had in this league, it’s like, ‘It’s gotta be Super Bowl, it’s gotta be Super Bowl,’ and I think this year, I just want to be like, you know what? I just want to play football and whatever happens, happens, and focusing more on the process than the results and letting go of that expectation and going out there and just playing to the best of my abilities no matter what and just being where my feet are.”

Bills quarterback Shane Buechele noted that Allen sets goals and that there is a positive in him doing that, but there’s also something to take from just focusing on what is in front of you.

“Just going 1-0 every week, just trying to handle or control what you can control, and I think he’s taken that maybe to the next level of man, just worrying about what he can do today or this week to make himself and the team better,” Buechele said.

Allen and others have expressed over the years how hard he can be on himself. Something former Bills offensive coordinator and current New York Giants coach Brian Daboll would preach is that, “‘It’s never as good as you think. It’s never as bad as you think.’”

Does that change with his new mindset?

“Maybe. Maybe. I mean, I still want to be my own harshest critic but maybe giving myself a little more grace,” Allen said.

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DOWN 40-25 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, Allen’s demeanor did not reflect whether the team was up or down by two scores. Lingering on the past is not something his brain is wired to do, and there’s a focus on continuing to do whatever it takes to win even when it takes a toll on his body.

“[His demeanor not reflecting the scoreboard is] one of his great powers,” Bills quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry said. “I think the greats have that. … Everybody talks about the shots that he makes, and nobody talks about the shots that he doesn’t. I think he goes out there, he lays on the line, he cares and he understands this is not the end of the world. So, he can go out there and he can be free.”

Allen led the Bills on a historic comeback, scoring 16 points in the final four minutes of the game to win 41-40. Those on the sideline with him noted the calm he maintained.

“To say, I expect [performances like the game-winning drive], I mean, we do. That’s such a hard job to have that pressure, but I’ve seen him do everything,” Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White, who was drafted the year before Allen said “…I feel like his situational awareness … in the middle of the game, the heat of battle, I feel like that’s next to none. … I think that he’s the guy that through whatever, he remain calm, keep his pulse, keep his poise. Guy’s just a great f—ing quarterback, great football player.”

Allen will continue to lead the Bills on the quest to get over the hump this year, or whenever it may occur.

“I’m gonna do everything that I can to make it happen, but don’t worry about it. Let’s go out there and if I’m doing everything that I can and putting my best foot forward, sometimes the ball’s gonna bounce the other way, and that’s just the unfortunate part about what we play, but that’s why we play, because the outcome is unknown and just going out there and enjoying the game that I love.”

ESPN’s Brady Henderson contributed to this story.

EA Sports has revealed the stars getting special items in Madden NFL 26 Ultimate Team as part of Team of the Week 2. As with previous iterations of the franchise, TOTW is a program that runs alongside the NFL season and delivers weekly content releases featuring athletes who’ve had standout performances in the previous week’s games.

TOTW 2’s Limited Editions (LTDs) sporting 89 OVR are Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft and Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch. Kraft earned his LTD with six receptions, 124 receiving yards, and one touchdown. Branch had six tackles, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble to win the LTD honors.

In the Champions and Heroes category, which are rated at 88 and 85 OVR, respectively, Buffalo Bills RB James Cook, Atlanta Falcons DT Zach Harrison, and New York Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson are featured.

Here’s the full Madden NFL 26 TOTW 2:

• Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers: 89 OVR

• Brian Branch, Detroit Lions: 89 OVR

• James Cook, Buffalo Bills: 88 OVR

• Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants: 88 OVR

• Zach Harrison, Atlanta Falcons: 88 OVR

• Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears: 85 OVR

• Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers: 85 OVR

• Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals: 85 OVR

• Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots: 83 OVR

• Dax Hill, Cincinnati Bengals: 83 OVR

• Hunter Renfrow, Carolina Panthers: 83 OVR

• Tavius Robinson, Baltimore Ravens: 83 OVR

England head coach John Mitchell has made four changes to his Red Roses side to play France in the Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

Full-back Ellie Kildunne and prop Hannah Botterman return to the starting XV after missing the quarter-final victory over Scotland, while fly-half Zoe Harrison and lock Abbie Ward are promoted from the replacements.

With six tries in the tournament to date, Jess Breach remains an ever present on the wing with Megan Jones, the only other England player to start every game to date, named at outside centre.

Abby Dow hit 50 England tries on the weekend and continues on the wing. Scrum-half Natasha Hunt and inside centre Tatyana Heard complete the backline.

Botterman’s inclusion in the front row sees her link up with hooker Amy Cokayne and tighthead prop Maud Muir for the third time in the tournament.

Player-of-the-match against Scotland, Morwenna Talling packs down in the second row alongside Ward. Captain Zoe Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya and Alex Matthews make up a familiar back row partnership.

Mitchell said: “Ashton Gate set the stage for a strong performance in tough conditions last weekend, and the girls are eager to get back out there for the semi-final.

“We’ve earned this stage, and now we’ve got another chance to earn the right. Our game is working and is the right way; by working together we’ll keep getting better.

“France have faced challenges, and that will drive them – we expect it. We don’t need to be perfect, just effective, focused, and ready for the fight. We’re excited and ready to hunt them.”

Red Roses team to play France

15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 55 caps)

14 Abby Dow (Unattached, 57 caps)

13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 31 caps)

12 Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 34 caps)

11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 51 caps)

10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 63 caps)

9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 85 caps)

1 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 60 caps)

2 Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 87 caps)

3 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 46 caps)

4 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)

5 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 79 caps)

6 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps) – captain

7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 26 caps)

8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 79 caps)

Replacements

16 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 72 caps)

17 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 19 caps)

18 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 77 caps)

19 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 29 caps)

20 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps)

21 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 37 caps)

22 Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 42 caps)

23 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 44 caps)

MUNICH — There was a horrible sense of familiarity about Chelsea‘s defeat to Bayern Munich.

By the 70th minute, the Bayern fans were greeting each pass with “Olé”; the victory celebrations had started. For all their efforts, endeavor and eagerness in Munich, Chelsea’s defense crumbled when it needed to be at its resolute best, and Harry Kane and his Bayern teammates profited to win 3-1.

For so much of this, it felt like the game was being played at its stretched limit. The match was taut; both teams were playing with incredibly high lines, parking risk and reward right on the precipice of the contest. With co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly both in the stadium tonight, Chelsea started so well. They pressed Bayern with a relentlessness similar to what we saw in the FIFA Club World Cup win over Paris Saint-Germain, with Malo Gusto enjoying freedom on the right wing.

– Champions League recap: Liverpool late show, Kane haunts Chelsea
– Bellingham, Bernal, Adzic lead U21 Champions League breakout stars
– Arsenal now possess the depth to win the Champions League

Everything was going well until it stopped going to plan. And Kane and the outstanding Michael Olise were there to profit and unpick Chelsea’s optimism to give them a nasty welcome back to the UEFA Champions League after a two-season hiatus.

Chelsea’s defensive errors let them down. While they pressed with great urgency up front, each of Bayern’s three goals can be blamed on the Chelsea defense. For Bayern’s first, they switched off from a drop ball in the middle of the park as Joshua Kimmich found Olise. Olise twisted and turned and fired a ball across the box. Three Chelsea defenders missed and it deflected off the unfortunate Trevoh Chalobah for an own goal.

For the second, Olise found Kane in acres of space, and he turned Moisés Caicedo, who promptly floored him in the box. Kane vs. Robert Sánchez from the spot? 2-0 Bayern. Chelsea pulled one back from a wonderful end-to-end move, which started and finished with Cole Palmer after a one-two with Gusto.

But Chelsea failed to build on this. They grew frustrated, as manager Enzo Maresca became ever more exasperated on the sideline and posed little threat in the second half. Instead, it was Bayern who pulled the strings as Maresca’s changes were ineffective. Moments after Sánchez pulled off a stunning save from Olise, Kane doubled his tally with Bayern’s third in the 63rd minute after Gusto gave the ball away near his own box, Kane ran on to the loose ball and slid it home.

With 10 goals in six games this season, his scoring record is easy to take for granted. But whenever you watch him live, or see the great statistics, it hammers home how he is a true phenomenon.

Each of the goals was preventable, as Bayern kept finding space between stand-in defensive midfielder Reece James and the defensive line, just waiting patiently to hammer home the three match-ending blows.

Chelsea came into this with such optimism. They are reigning world champions after all. But there were similar errors to the ones we saw Brentford trigger in Saturday’s draw, where Chelsea were hit on the counterattack for Brentford’s first, and then missed a ball at the far post for Brentford’s late equalizer.

It was all too easy, and again, Chelsea’s underbelly was far too weak. But there is hope. Wesley Fofana‘s path back to full fitness will help, as will the return of Benoît Badiashile, and Jorrel Hato is an incredibly promising talent who will be a wonderful asset once he finds his feet. James needs to be back at home at right back rather than this defensive midfield experiment.

And there were some positives to look at, too. For the most part, Gusto was outstanding in attack on the right wing, while Palmer looked back to his best. Palmer’s goal was outstanding, a wonderful first-time finish into the top left corner, while he had a glorious second ruled out for offside. But still, you feel this is a team adjusting to the new faces and finding its feet. It doesn’t have long to do that, and this was a chastening lesson from Bayern.

For Bayern, this felt like business as usual. A rare spell of calm amid a bizarrely turbulent start to the season. On one hand, everything is as it usually is: Bayern have four wins in four matches and walloped Hamburg 5-0 at the weekend. But this is all against a backdrop of a tricky summer where they missed out on transfer targets and have long-term injuries to Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and Hiroki Itō.

Over the summer, Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, Kingsley Coman, João Palhinha and Mathys Tel all left the Allianz Arena. Bayern signed Luis Díaz, Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof but missed out on targets Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade.

They needed the last-gasp loan signing of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea to bolster their attack on transfer deadline day. But all was not well, as there was public sniping behind the scenes from some of the grand old Bayern sages to the crew currently running the club, and it was all a little tense. Meanwhile, the players ploughed on, though Kane admitted it was a small squad, and Kimmich described the depth as “thin.”

We saw some of that tested in Munich on Wednesday with Josip Stanisic deployed at left back again after Raphaël Guerreiro joined the injury list at the weekend. The squad was further stretched with Tah off at halftime, before Stanisic got injured in the early part of the second half. But still, they barely broke stride.

If you listened to Bayern legend and supervisory board member Uli Hoeneß’s comments at the DFL’s general assembly in Berlin a couple of weeks ago, you would have pictured this iteration of Bayern Munich as Champions League underdogs. “Nobody is betting on us,” he said, comparing Bayern’s chances to Hoffenheim’s in the Bundesliga. But back in reality, we saw enough about Bayern tonight to double down on their Champions League credentials.

They must be a nightmare to play against. They switch the ball diagonally through the metronomic Kimmich with ease, and then they have Díaz and Olise running at opposition defenders with deadly enthusiasm.

Olise is the darling of the Allianz Arena. The crowd here loves him, chanting “OL-I-SE” whenever he starts his mazy runs, and then up front is the ageless Kane. His engine is unrelenting, and his finishing is as ruthless as ever. The question is, having seen Bayern slip out of the Champions League this past season to Internazionale when they suffered an injury crisis, can they cope with something similar this year while contesting on three fronts? It’ll be down to Vincent Kompany’s managerial juggling skills to determine that.

But tonight, such thoughts of the future can wait. For Chelsea, they simply have to iron out these defensive issues. And for Bayern, well, it’s a case of keeping on doing what they do best: winning. But amid the smiles, you can imagine they’ll be keeping one hand behind their back with their fingers crossed that everyone stays fit.

We’re on to Week 3 of the NFL season, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are breaking down the latest news and notable buzz.

There’s a lot to talk about following Week 2. What should the Bengals do in the aftermath of Joe Burrow‘s turf toe injury, and what will they do? How are things going with the Aaron Rodgers-Steelers partnership through two weeks? Which quarterbacks in the league are most in danger of being benched?

Jeremy and Dan made some calls around the league to get the latest on those situations. They also identified preseason notions that they’re already adjusting after two weeks of play. It’s all here, as Dan and Jeremy answer big questions and empty their reporting notebooks heading into Week 3.

Jump to:
Bengals’ QB plans | Early Rodgers returns
Early-season surprises | QBs on the hot seat
More notes on Week 3

What’s next for the Bengals with Joe Burrow out? What are you hearing out of Cincinnati?

Graziano: The Bengals believe in Jake Browning‘s ability to operate their offense and win games. They cite the work he did over the second half of the 2023 season when Burrow went down because of a wrist injury. They went 4-3 in games Browning started, and he’s now in his fifth season in their system, knows the offense well and has more experience than he had then.

If it goes badly for Browning and the Bengals are losing, then could I see them considering outside options. (They signed Mike White and Sean Clifford to their practice squad this week.) But they believe they have one of the best, if not the best, backup quarterback situations in the league. Nobody wants to have to test that out, but that’s where Cincinnati is right now. If it can win even just one of its next four games — at Minnesota, at Denver, home vs. Detroit, at Green Bay — it will come out of its toughest stretch of the season 3-3 and in position to contend for a division title and playoff spot with the strong group the Bengals have around Browning. If they can go 2-2 or better, they’ll feel fantastic.

Fowler: Browning has earned a lot of credibility inside the Bengals’ organization for his confidence, his ability to operate the offense and the relationships he has developed with Cincinnati’s offensive players. He’s known to prepare incredibly hard and completely understands the game plan and opposing defensive schemes.

Is that enough to offset the loss of Burrow? Of course not. But there is a feeling that if Browning and the Bengals can hold it down for a few months, maybe they can get Burrow back for a late-season push. Cincinnati sources reiterate hope of Burrow being back by mid-December. They know that isn’t a slam dunk, but it’s possible.

Also, the Bengals feel as if luck might be on their side more this season than last, when they lost games every way imaginable. The 31-27 win over Jacksonville on Sunday was a perfect example — getting a red zone stop and then driving 92 yards for a win wasn’t in the 2024 playbook very often. How are we feeling about the Bengals overall as a team, Dan?

Graziano: Yeah, they’re 2-0 and lucky to be there. But that’s a heck of a lot better than their usual September start, which is an unlucky 0-2. It gives them a chance. Let’s say Burrow sits out 12 games (this is an optimistic scenario, as I understand it) and Cincinnati goes 6-6 in those matchups. It’d be 8-6 and getting Burrow back for a playoff push. Then the Bengals win their last three, get to 11-6 and qualify for the postseason? Who’s going to want to play them?

This could all be fantasy, of course. Burrow might not be able to make it back before the end of the regular season, and even if he does, he’d probably be limited. This scenario also requires Browning to play well for almost twice as long as he did in 2023, and for Cincinnati’s defense to outplay expectations by a significant margin. If it doesn’t come to pass, or if Burrow is out for the rest of the season, then I think the conversation becomes one about a quarterback who has sustained a season-ending injury in three of his six seasons, and what — if anything — can be done about that pattern moving forward.

Fowler: How the Bengals have protected Burrow — or failed to do so — is a valid discussion point. That many in the media are comparing Burrow’s tenure to Andrew Luck’s in Indianapolis should alarm Cincinnati, which probably hasn’t invested enough in the offensive line. While quarterback injuries are a way of life in the NFL, teams that use free agent money and multiple high picks on the O-line typically don’t regret it. The Bengals’ two examples of that are left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (a marquee free agency signing in 2023) and right tackle Amarius Mims (a first-round pick in 2024). Both of those moves have worked. On the interior, Cincinnati relies on middle-rounds rookie Dylan Fairchild, 32-year-old center Ted Karras and journeyman free agent Dalton Risner. That’s not enough.

It’s worth noting that team’s contract structure — not guaranteeing money beyond the first season of a deal unless your name is Burrow or Ja’Marr Chase — might take it out of the running for top free agent linemen who want two- or three-year guarantees. And yes, part of this being a recurring issue is Burrow’s willingness to hang in the pocket and wait for routes to develop. He takes the hits — and the physical costs associated with them. But spending more resources on the blockers in front of him will never be a bad idea.

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What are people around the league saying about Aaron Rodgers‘ first two games in Pittsburgh?

Fowler: The early returns are pretty good. His arm strength — which has never been an issue — has held up well. He’s also moving around slightly better than he did a year ago with the Jets. He’s no longer a premier athlete, but he’s enough of one to escape the pocket and manage the game. But as many have pointed out, whether Rodgers’ body holds up over 17 games is the bigger question.

“It was the Minnesota game in London [in Week 5] that marked about six to eight weeks of almost zero mobility due to injury,” said an AFC scout of Rodgers’ final season with the Jets. “He was compromised, and it showed. But just being a year removed [from the Achilles tear], he seems a little bit more secure and a little less hesitant compared to a year ago.”

Rodgers will face some good pass rushers in the near future, namely from the Vikings (Sept. 28) and the Packers (Oct. 26). What is your expectation for a Rodgers-led Steelers offense?

Graziano: I personally think there’s a ceiling. People can feel as encouraged as they want, but through two weeks, he’s 23rd in QBR, which is pretty close to where he was last season (25th). I think he is what he is at 41 years old.

Sure, he can still throw, but I think he’s going to thrive only if circumstances around him are ideal, and right now they are not. Fundamentally, this offense can be good, but I have my doubts about whether it can be great, which leads to my greater concern about the Steelers: how lousy the defense has looked through two games.

The Rodgers experiment is going to work only if he’s supported by Pittsburgh’s traditionally strong defense and special teams, and it’s been extremely disappointing in those two areas thus far. We just accept that the Steelers will be great on defense, but what if this is the season they aren’t? It’s one of the oldest, if not the oldest, defenses in the league, and it’s possible what we’ve seen so far is more of a bad sign than just a bad start.

Fowler: The ages of several key defensive stars were hard to ignore when evaluating this group in the preseason and are even more glaring now. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is 36. Cornerback Darius Slay is 34. Edge rusher T.J. Watt and cornerback Jalen Ramsey turn 31 next month. While I’m not doubting whether these established stars can still produce, to rely heavily on four over-30 stars on one side of the ball is a challenge.

The schedule over the next month is manageable — Patriots on the road, Vikings and Browns at home, Bengals on the road. Those last three teams currently face quarterback issues. If Pittsburgh’s pass defense doesn’t find its footing against that foursome, it’ll have major problems against the Packers and Colts coming out of the Week 7 bye.

Graziano: Agreed. This whole thing has felt more fragile than usual since the offseason, which was an uncharacteristic one for the Steelers. They made a lot of changes to their roster in a lot of key places, and relying on a 41-year-old quarterback is obviously a significant risk. I’m a believer in Mike Tomlin’s ability to manage his team through a season and get the most out of it. How could you not be, given his track record? But we need to see some encouraging signs here soon. So far, the concerns I had about this team in the offseason feel legitimate. They’re a 60-yard Chris Boswell field goal away from being 0-2.

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What is one thing you have changed your mind about since the start of the season?

Graziano: I might have underestimated the Falcons’ defense. Atlanta is relying on rookies in four key spots, but all four are playing well and looked outstanding flustering J.J. McCarthy on Sunday night. When I visited the team’s training camp in late July, I talked to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who was fired up about the new scheme they were installing. He told me, “I wouldn’t want to play us the first couple of weeks of the season.”

They were right in the Week 1 game against Tampa Bay until the end and beat up Minnesota in Week 2. Maybe the rookie edge rusher combination of Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., helped by the veteran leadership of Leonard Floyd, is a lot better than the pass rushes of recent Falcons teams. And I know they’re excited about rookie defensive backs Billy Bowman Jr. and Xavier Watts. Can they sustain this all season and make a real run at the postseason?

Fowler I thought the Chiefs’ offense would be just fine, and part of me still believes that. But the concerns are only growing. The Chiefs believe the passing game will be markedly better when Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown are running their three-receiver sets. Still, we’re going on multiple years of just OK offensive output — Kansas City hasn’t been truly elite on that side of the ball since 2022.

The run game is not efficient. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have yet to find the chemistry that has carried them for most of the past decade. Mahomes clearly needs more help. He’s trying to make it happen, running more than he should this early in the season. He’s in his prime, was excellent in camp and might find a way to carry this offense through a full season. Perhaps the Chiefs are buying time and can turn it on late, but it’s just becoming increasingly more difficult to buy into that.

Graziano: I get the sense that the Chiefs are frustrated by the repetitive nature of this — their WR room being decimated every year by injuries and other issues. But they expect it to improve once Worthy is back and Rice comes off his suspension. I think that’ll help the run game, too. And they really should be able to get right Sunday against the Giants. It’s too early to give up on Andy Reid and Mahomes, but the concerns are legit.

I also didn’t think the Dolphins were going to be as terrible as most people thought, and my optimism has been difficult to defend. They’re 0-2 and have looked bad in both games, and it’s hard to imagine them turning it around at Buffalo on Thursday. The Dolphins did a lot of work in the offseason to try to transform their team culture, but the on-field product has been tough to watch. They need to make improvements fast.

Fowler: I entered the season with mild concerns about Miami, given its replacement of several key players with more cost-effective options. It feels like a mini-rebuild. But the offense had always been functional with a passing game featuring quarterback Tua Tagovailoa along with receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Some around the league wonder whether defenses have caught up with Mike McDaniel’s offense. Thursday will be another test of that.

I’ve also changed my tune on quarterback Spencer Rattler and the Saints’ offense. I thought the product would be worse than it has been, given the transitional state of New Orleans’ roster and Rattler’s background of being a fifth-round pick in 2024. But Rattler has been solid, and I heard consistently last season that the Saints’ previous staff was sold on him, blaming a severely depleted roster for many of his previous struggles. But New Orleans at least looks capable despite its 0-2 start. Kellen Moore is one of the brighter offensive coaches around, and that’s showing so far.

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Which quarterback is most in danger of being benched?

Fowler: Cleveland’s situation bears monitoring. Joe Flacco is safe for now, but, as with most bridge quarterbacks fending off a rookie backup, the only way to successfully keep the job is to win a few games. That was the case with Jacoby Brissett eventually losing the job to Drake Maye in New England last season, though that situation was different because of Maye’s status as the No. 3 pick. But that general theme applies.

Otherwise, teams pivot to the younger option, thinking the player can spark the offense or provide hope for the future. Flacco has maintained his arm strength and can still move a little. He was very crisp in Week 1. But Dillon Gabriel‘s mobility is an asset if or when the Browns turn to him.

Graziano: Flacco is probably the right answer here, for all the reasons you say. The Giants’ Russell Wilson probably held off the Jaxson Dart chatter for at least a week or two with his 450-yard performance in Dallas, but Wilson has a first-round pick waiting behind him who everyone knows will take over. It’s just a question of when. New York doesn’t want to rush Dart, but as you point out in the Cleveland example, it’s tough to keep the kid on the bench when you’re not winning.

Fowler: Yeah, we hit that Giants’ QB outlook hard last week; it’s worth watching. Otherwise, the NFL’s quarterback picture is pretty clear, so I’ll throw two NFC North wild cards out there.

What if the Bears’ Caleb Williams doesn’t find his footing in Ben Johnson’s timing-and-rhythm passing game by, say, Week 10? I think Williams showed positive signs in Sunday’s loss in Detroit. But the feeling coming out of camp was that, despite Williams’ otherworldly talent, the offense was a bit crisper with Tyson Bagent running the huddle. Is Johnson willing to be patient here? I think so. And Williams’ immense talent is a commodity worth betting on. But these coaches feel pressure to win — three-year grace periods no longer exist — and Johnson didn’t draft Williams. Just thinking out loud.

In Minnesota, what happens if Carson Wentz catches fire over these next few weeks and recharges Minnesota’s offense? Does that then become a temporary reset for J.J. McCarthy after he returns from his high ankle sprain, if only for a few games? Taking the Vikings’ word about their belief in McCarthy, such a move would be a surprise. But aside from the fourth quarter in Chicago, McCarthy’s play has been worrisome.

Graziano: Man, if the Vikings moved off McCarthy, they’d pretty much be acknowledging that everything they told us about their faith and belief in him this offseason was a ruse. I think the team really believes he’s at the stage of his development where he needs to play, and I would expect him to get the job back once he’s healthy.

But you make a good point. If Wentz has them humming, it’d be worth wondering whether they’d stick with him. This is a team that won 14 games last season and knows it has a roster capable of making the playoffs. Minnesota wants this to be a key development year for McCarthy, but it also wants to win games.

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What else are you hearing this week?

Graziano’s notes:

• The Cowboys’ defense post-Micah Parsons is a work in progress, but the team has some hope that reinforcements are on the way. The signing of veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney should help bolster the front while Dallas awaits health improvements on the back end. DaRon Bland‘s absence isn’t expected to be long-term, and Trevon Diggs should continue to settle in and play more snaps as he works his way back from injury. Dallas also believes third-round rookie Shavon Revel Jr. — who opened the season on the non-football injury list while working his way back from a knee injury he suffered in college last year — will be a big help once he’s able to return to the lineup in Week 5. The Cowboys also expect to get linebacker DeMarvion Overshown back from his knee injury at some point in October or November.

The Cowboys are learning a new defensive scheme under coordinator Matt Eberflus, and it has come under fire from some after Russell Wilson and Malik Nabers ate their zone defense alive in Sunday’s thriller. But they point to Week 1, when they held Saquon Barkley to 60 rushing yards and the Eagles’ top two receivers to 24 yards combined, as an encouraging sign that Sunday wasn’t who they’re always going to be this season.

• The Buccaneers are off to a 2-0 start in spite of a patchwork offensive line that hasn’t had left tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) and lost right tackle Luke Goedeke (foot) in Monday night’s game. They’ve played last season’s starting center, Graham Barton, at left tackle the first two games and were planning to do that until Wirfs comes back, but another shuffle is possible if Goedeke has to miss time (as Jeremy reported he will). Tampa Bay is getting low on bodies on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (torn pec) is a major loss for the run defense. Don’t be surprised if the Bucs are calling around about defensive linemen ahead of the trade deadline.

• The Chiefs’ offense feels as if it’s going to continue to struggle until Xavier Worthy is back from his injury (likely within the next couple of weeks) and Rashee Rice returns from his suspension in Week 6. Patrick Mahomes worked with both of those receivers throughout camp, and, as we discussed here last week, he doesn’t have his timing down yet with the likes of Tyquan Thornton and Hollywood Brown.

But in the meantime, Kansas City remains puzzled by its struggles in the run game. The team believed that Isiah Pacheco was running like his old self in camp and that he would be productive right out of the gate; he has not been. The Chiefs need to find ways to generate more productive offense with him and Kareem Hunt, or else don’t be surprised if at some point soon rookie Brashard Smith gets a shot. They view him as a different kind of back from those two — more of a receiver type who can make explosive plays in space. Once they trust the rookie to handle all of the running back responsibilities, he could be a factor in their offense. Kansas City was very impressed with him in camp.

• The Titans have been pleased with what they’ve seen from rookie quarterback Cam Ward, particularly his connection with wide receiver Elic Ayomanor, a fellow rookie. But they do know they need to open things up a bit and generate more variety and explosiveness on offense. Part of the issue they’re dealing with is that their offensive line — in which they’ve invested a ton of resources — hasn’t played the way they hoped it would. The absence of tackle JC Latham from Sunday’s game with a hip injury is part of why. The Titans need Latham back.

They also believe their running game will be more dynamic when running back Tyjae Spears can return from his ankle injury. Unfortunately, that won’t be until Week 5 at the earliest. Tennessee opened with matchups against two particularly tough defensive fronts in the Broncos and Rams, and it is hoping it can get things going in the coming weeks against some more vulnerable run defenses.

• A name to file away and remember as a potential second-half breakout candidate: Cleveland rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond. He signed late after going undrafted because of sexual assault charges that were eventually dropped, so he’s getting up to speed in the offense. But the Browns have plans for him, and don’t be surprised to see him work his way into a larger role as the season goes along.

Fowler’s notes:

• The starting quarterbacks turnstile is a trend to watch yet again this season. Last year, 59 quarterbacks started at least one game, nine shy of the league-record 68 from 2022. Just two weeks into this season, the number is already on the climb. Up to five starters could be out in Week 3: Burrow (toe), McCarthy (ankle), likely San Francisco’s Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder) and possibly Washington’s Jayden Daniels (knee) and/or New York’s Justin Fields (concussion). More injuries will come, and in the season’s second half, struggling teams will inevitably shuffle through QBs while looking for a spark or evaluating the future. Given the supply and demand at the game’s most important position, don’t be surprised if this year’s final tally is high.

• While the coaching carousel won’t spin for another three-plus months, some are making early cases to get on the ride. A group of up-and-coming defensive coordinators could get harder looks from teams filling head coaching roles. Jeff Hafley (Packers), Chris Shula (Rams) and Jesse Minter (Chargers) were not heavily featured in this past cycle, but don’t be shocked if that changes. All three coaches have their defenses in the top five in total scoring through two weeks. Packers coach Matt LaFleur firmly believes Hafley has what it takes to be a head coach as early as 2026. Shula is on the NFL league offices’ radar as a prime candidate. And Minter has done an impressive job for Jim Harbaugh dating back to 2024.

• Sources classify Worthy as “50-50” to return for Week 3 against the Giants, noting optimism but also the need to see him handle a fuller practice workload. “Have to see how he looks with real practice reps,” the source said. Worthy practiced in a limited capacity Thursday and Friday of last week, and the Chiefs will ramp up his workload coming off the shoulder injury.

• Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. (knee) is progressing well in practices, but people I’ve talked to believe a Week 3 return might be ambitious. Week 4 against Philadelphia, however, feels like a real possibility.

• In other injury news, Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) is considered a long shot to play Sunday against the Cowboys. Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke (foot) avoided major injury Monday night against Houston but could miss multiple weeks after he aggravated a preexisting injury.

• Mike McDaniel’s messaging to the Dolphins amid the 0-2 skid, according to a player I spoke to this week: Be present and control what you can, knowing it doesn’t matter whether we’re 0-2 or 2-0. The only thing that matters this week is beating Buffalo. Dolphins players still believe Miami’s locker room is strong enough to reverse course. They believe the culture is better after the franchise moved on from several key players, many of whom did not appear happy there.

But all of that doesn’t matter much if Miami doesn’t show what one player called a “better brand of football,” particularly with run defense and third-down defense, which will attempt to keep Josh Allen in the pocket and limit his rushing ability.

The WNBA playoffs are underway, but no team is going quietly.

On Tuesday, both the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever won to force their series to a decisive Game 3. And the longest winning streak in the WNBA came to an end.

Facing elimination, Seattle rallied at home from a 14-point deficit to upset the Las Vegas Aces and end their 17-game winning streak. Earlier Tuesday, the Fever held court to knock off the Atlanta Dream.

The first round continues Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) on the other side of the bracket.

The best-of-three first round is a 1-1-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3. The semifinals is a best-of-five 2-2-1 setup, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2 and 5.

For the first time, the WNBA Finals — which are scheduled to open Oct. 3 — will expand to a best-of-seven series (2-2-1-1-1) in which the higher seed would host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.

We’ll update each series as games are played and each round as matchups are decided.

Jump to round:
First Round | Semifinals | WNBA Finals

MORE: Strengths, flaws for every team | Top 25 players in the postseason

FIRST ROUND

Game 1: Lynx 101, Valkyries 72
Game 2: Lynx at Valkyries, Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Valkyries at Lynx, Friday, TBD, ESPN2

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Game 1: Aces 102, Storm 77
Game 2: Storm 86, Aces 83
Game 3: Storm at Aces, Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

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Game 1: Dream 80, Fever 68
Game 2: Fever 77, Dream 60
Game 3: Fever at Dream, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

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Game 1: Liberty 76, Mercury 69
Game 2: Mercury at Liberty, Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3*: Liberty at Mercury, Friday, TBD, ESPN2

* If necessary

SEMIFINALS

Sunday, Sept. 21

Game 1: 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 1: 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, Sept. 23

Game 2: 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Sept. 26

Game 3: 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Game 3: 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Sunday, Sept. 28

Game 4*: 1 or 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4*: 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Tuesday, Sept. 30

Game 5*: TBD (TBD)
Game 5*: TBD (TBD)

* If necessary

WNBA FINALS

Friday, Oct. 3

Game 1: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, Oct. 5

Game 2: 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Wednesday, Oct. 8

Game 3: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 10

Game 4: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, Oct. 12

Game 5*: 3 p.m. ET (ABC)

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Game 6*: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 17

Game 7*: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

* If necessary

LOS ANGELES — Outside linebacker Khalil Mack‘s left elbow injury, which left him sidelined and in a sling for much of the Los Angeles Chargers‘ Week 2 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, isn’t season-ending, a source confirmed to ESPN.

NFL Network was the first to report the news.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that Mack will be placed on injured reserve. Mack will miss at least the next four games. Harbaugh declined to specify the details of Mack’s elbow injury.

“He’s like the Wolverine,” Harbaugh said. “One of the toughest things I’ve ever seen.”

Mack attempted a tackle in the first quarter, but his left hand got caught between Chargers linebacker Troy Dye and Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker, turning the elbow to an awkward position.

Mack jogged off the field holding his left hand, stopped on the sideline and bent over in agony before heading to the locker room.

He returned to the Chargers’ sideline in the second quarter with his elbow in medical wrapping and in a sling.

He finished the game with one sack and one tackle in the quarter. Mack has 12.5 career sacks against Las Vegas — where he played during his first four seasons — the most by any player against a single opponent since 2021.

Mack, 34, signed a one-year, $18 million deal in March, choosing to return to L.A. after contemplating retirement following the 2024 season.

With Mack out, outside linebacker Caleb Murphy saw an increased workload, playing 31 defensive snaps. Murphy finished with one quarterback pressure.

Arne Slot lauded Liverpool’s mentality after they scored yet another late winner to claim a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield.

The Premier League champions let slip a two-goal lead after efforts from Andy Robertson and Mo Salah were cancelled out by Marcos Llorente’s double before Virgil van Dijk headed home in the second minute of added time.

Liverpool have already made a habit of scoring late winners this season, most recently beating Burnley 1-0 in the Premier League thanks to Salah’s 95th-minute penalty.

“If you want to beat a team like Atletico, which is known and has an unbelievable mentality, you have to beat them with their own weapon as well and that is mentality,” Slot told TNT Sports.

“I think that’s what we showed again today, that we can beat them also by mentality. But I think we should have made it easier for ourselves.”

Slot: Positively surprised by Isak

Slot handed British record £125m signing Alexander Isak his first Liverpool appearance by including him in his starting line-up and was delighted with the Swede’s contribution.

The Dutchman, who celebrated victory on his 47th birthday, said: “Particularly because I think in the 60 minutes he played, he seemed to be quite fit to me so it wasn’t as if, after 10 minutes, he was already very tired.

“He could just play at this level quite well so that was the most positive thing and that he can play football and that he’s a joy to watch.

“That is not a surprise to me but he was maybe fitter than I expected.

“I was positively surprised by how fit he was. I was not surprised by the quality but it is always nice to see when a player starts how he started. It was a good start but only 60 minutes.

Slot was unsure whether Isak will start again on Saturday at Anfield against Merseyside rivals Everton.

He added: “You can tell David [Moyes] he is not going to play 90 minutes [against Everton].”

“I’m really happy he could start today. That’s why we didn’t play him against Burnley. He was good today and when Hugo (Ekitike) came in, he was a big factor also.

“We have two great number nines and we’re going to use them, both of them, throughout the whole period they’re here.

Robertson: We need to make it easier

Meanwhile, Robertson, credited with the opener after Salah’s fourth-minute free-kick deflected in off the defender, also felt his side’s win should have been more comfortable.

He told TNT Sports: “I think we need to maybe get back to winning a bit simpler and a bit easier.

“Obviously it’s a great thing to have been able to keep going right to the end but when you’re 2-0 up and you’re playing so well in the first half, it should have been a more comfortable night.”

On Isak’s long-awaited debut, Robertson added: “I thought he was excellent. He’s not really had a pre season, not had a lot of games since last season, but I thought, especially the first half, he was excellent.

“Naturally he got tired and then it’s amazing to have a player like Hugo to come on and both of them have got such quality.”

Carragher: Van Dijk to go down as Liverpool great

Jamie Carragher says Van Dijk should be remembered as one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players – not just one of their greatest centre-backs after he scored the Reds’ stoppage-time winner against Atletico.

“I don’t like describing Van Dijk as the best centre back. At Liverpool, a lot of people get called legends because they’ve won the league or the Champions League,” Carragher told CBS.

“There are lots of them. But if you want to differentiate, and I call them giants of the club like Gerrard, Dalglish, Hansen, Barnes, Souness and Salah, the top seven or eight players at Liverpool, he is right in the middle of that.

“He’s not at the bottom of the list I can assure you. He will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play for Liverpool. Not one of the greatest centre backs, one of the greatest players.”

What’s coming up next?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Speedy Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy, recovering from a dislocated right shoulder, took another positive step Wednesday toward returning for Sunday night’s game against the New York Giants.

Worthy, who suffered the injury in the season opener, practiced without restrictions Wednesday but was listed as a limited participant as a precaution. Unlike last week, Worthy was seen running routes during the open portion of practice without extra padding on his right arm.

The Chiefs are optimistic that Worthy will return for Sunday’s game and is expected to wear a harness.

“More than anything, having him out there is a threat in general,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said prior to Wednesday’s on-field work. “At any moment, he can take a pass — short or long — and take it to the house. Having him on the practice field was very encouraging last week. Seeing him out there, he wanted to stay out there. It was kind of like holding him back.”

Worthy sustained the injury after colliding with tight end Travis Kelce, who was running a crossing route in the opposite direction, on the third play of the Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 0-2 Chiefs have struggled in part because Mahomes is playing alongside a short-handed group of receivers. Rookie Jalen Royals missed the first two games because of a right knee injury, while Rashee Rice, Mahomes’ top receiver, is serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Royals also participated in Wednesday’s practice — the first time he has done so since the regular season began.

“He’s doing pretty good,” Reid said of Royals. “We’ll just see how he does. He’s been out for a while, so I’d like to see how he moves around.”

Mahomes celebrated his 30th birthday Wednesday without much fanfare inside the Chiefs’ training facility. Instead, the quarterback is eager to see how the offense can improve if Worthy and Royals are positive contributors.

“You get the spotlight on you, the lights get brighter, and you get to showcase who you are,” Mahomes said. “It’s a great opportunity for us. With the start we’ve had, we want to prove we’re a better team than we’ve shown these first two weeks. ‘Sunday Night Football’ would be the perfect time to do it.”

Jamie Carragher has classed Harry Kane as one of the greatest goalscorers in football history following his double in Bayern Munich’s 3-1 Champions League win over Chelsea

Kane tucked his first effort of the evening into the bottom corner from the penalty spot, before then capitalising on Malo Gusto’s error just after the hour mark to claim his second at the Allianz Arena.

The 32-year-old striker has now scored 10 goals in just six appearances for Bayern so far this season, taking his tally to 95 goals in 102 appearances for the German side since joining in the summer of 2023.

Kane has scored 391 goals in 602 senior appearances across his time at Bayern, Tottenham, Millwall, Leyton Orient, Norwich City and Leicester City.

“He is one of the greatest goal scorers the game has ever seen,” Carragher said on CBS Sports.

“I think he is England’s greatest ever goal scorer.

“He’s done it in the Premier League with a team that aren’t one of the top teams. He’s gone abroad now with Bayern Munich. All eyes are on him and there’s huge pressure.

“You think of strikers England have had in the past and there have been some great ones, but he’s scored more goals for England than Alan Shearer. If he’d have stayed in the Premier League, he’d have got that record too.

“His numbers are off the scale. He can come deep, he can get on the ball and he can play people in. He’s the best striker England have ever had.”

Kane: We’re in it to win CL

Harry Kane speaking to Sky Sports:

“That’s the aim [to win the Champions League]. I said yesterday we have a mountain to climb. There’s a long way from now until hopefully that moment.

“Our focus is on trying to qualify as high up in the league as we can. But being at a club like this, I think that’s always the expectation. People will put us as maybe top five favourites to win it. And we have to deal with that. I feel like we’re building something even better and we’ve started the season that way.

“It was a top performance from the whole team, from start to finish. The intensity we played there both with the ball, without the ball. Everything was at a high, high level today. We’re playing against a really good side. I think we deserved to win. The perfect way to start the campaign.”

Kane: I’ve never felt this good

Speaking after the game, Kane reflected on his performance while also admitting he is in the best shape, both physically and mentally, that he has ever felt throughout his career.

“It was a nice couple of goals,” Kane told TNT Sports. “The second goal was a good finish. Physically and mentally, I’m in as good a shape as I’ve ever felt and it showed tonight.

“Absolutely [a good night]. I thought from start to finish we were at a high level. We moved the ball quickly, with high-intensity pressing. It was a pleasing night. They had some great players but we deserved the win.

“I think [our experience showed]. We moved it and created chances – we could have done better with a couple. This team is brilliant.”

Kompany: Kane is a product of hard work

Despite his two goals on the evening at the Allianz Arena grabbing the headlines, Kane’s head coach, Vincent Kompany, was quick to point out that the chances arrive for the striker as a result of his work off the ball for the team.

Speaking in his press conference after the game, the Bayern boss said: “Every single time the question comes about Harry, I don’t have much to say about all the things everyone can see. Just watch him off the ball – watch him work, watch him recover, watch him press.

“The chances we create – so the goal plus the penalty – he first has to press and from there he starts his moment.

“The main thing for him is that he gets the chances off the back of it. That’s maybe the side I keep highlighting.

“Because we can talk about qualities and talent, but at the end of the day it takes a lot of hard work for him to be where he is.”