Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN’s coverage of the Niners’ 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team’s relocation and stadium saga.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After making it through training camp and the preseason with no apparent health issues and not even appearing on Wednesday’s injury report, running back Christian McCaffrey was added to the list Thursday night.
According to the 49ers, McCaffrey is dealing with a calf issue and was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice. McCaffrey was on the field and doing his usual warmup and individual drills during the roughly 20 minutes open to reporters at the start of the practice.
But McCaffrey was not in the locker room after it was over and did not do his usual Thursday media session. The addition of McCaffrey to the injury report because of a calf issue is particularly notable given what happened leading up to Week 1 of last season.
McCaffrey sat out most of 2024 training camp while dealing with what the team initially termed a calf injury but later clarified to be bilateral Achilles tendinitis. Heading into last year’s season opener against the New York Jets, McCaffrey was listed a limited participant in practice during the week and then listed as questionable for the game.
Not only did McCaffrey not play against the Jets, but he then sat out the team’s next seven games after landing on injured reserve before a Week 2 meeting with the Minnesota Vikings. After a lengthy recovery that included a trip to Germany to see a specialist, McCaffrey finally returned on Nov. 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and appeared in four games before suffering a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13.
After sitting out the rest of the season because of that knee injury, McCaffrey was back on the field for all of the team’s offseason program and then throughout this year’s training camp.
Similar to what they did in 2023, the Niners limited McCaffrey’s workload during training camp, giving him an extra day off to begin each stretch of three practices.
“Just trust the plan,” McCaffrey said July 27. “They’ve written up a really good plan. Just trust it and do everything I can every day to get better.”
On Wednesday, coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if there was a moment in the offseason when he realized McCaffrey was “all the way back.”
“I knew Christian was back just once he told me he was healthy,” Shanahan said. “It’s not like we were thinking he wouldn’t come back from it. You know, you hope that stuff, the arthritis and everything, goes away. Which it usually does. He was telling us that early in the offseason, so I felt pretty good about it. Christian’s not a liar. So, I didn’t think he was. Then we saw him early in OTAs, he looked like the guy we’ve always known and he’s continued that.”
Niners tight end George Kittle, who has a locker next to McCaffrey, was asked Thursday if he could sense how eager McCaffrey was to get back in the mix after playing only four games in 2024.
“He seems very excited,” Kittle said. “He’s been excited since OTAs. He’s been excited since the season ended. So yes, I’m very, very much looking forward to being able to block for him and run routes next to him again.”
And even he — the man with the most major titles in history and someone who spent 428 weeks atop the rankings — believes them to be the best two players in the world. He has spoken openly about how important the duo is for the sport and its future.
But despite all that, the 38-year-old Djokovic isn’t quite ready to pass the baton yet.
“Everybody is probably expecting and anticipating the finals between two of them,” Djokovic said following his quarterfinal victory over Taylor Fritz on Tuesday. “I’m going to try to, you know, mess up the plans of most of the people.”
Djokovic will have his chance to do just that Friday as he takes on 22-year-old Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, in an eagerly anticipated semifinal match. The winner will face either the top-ranked Sinner or No. 25 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who also play Friday, in Sunday’s final. Alcaraz and Sinner have played against each other in the previous two Slam finals, at Wimbledon and the French Open, and have combined to win the last seven major titles.
Friday will mark the ninth career meeting between Djokovic and Alcaraz, with Djokovic holding a 5-3 edge, and with the two most recent victories. But, even with that history, Alcaraz is still favored to win the match.
For both players, there’s a lot on the line. Djokovic is hoping to keep his dream alive of winning his 25th major Slam title, which would break a tie for the most all time with Margaret Court, and Alcaraz would like to reach his third consecutive major final and potentially win the sixth of his career.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Friday’s semifinal.
Can Djokovic do it?
Djokovic has a few things going for him. First, he’s never lost to Alcaraz on hard court. Their last meeting, in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open to start the year, saw Djokovic force a comeback — after sustaining a leg injury early and dropping the opening set — behind powerful groundstrokes, strong defense and vintage movement that seemed to get better and better as the match progressed.
Alcaraz later admitted that Djokovic’s injury caused him to lose his focus slightly, and Djokovic credited his vast career experience in helping him overcome the hindrance and any distraction.
Throughout the US Open, Djokovic has been pushed to four sets in three of his five matches, including during his 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Fritz on Tuesday. He’s had some injury scares, of varying degrees of severity, throughout the tournament and the season, and he was grateful to have the extra off day ahead of the semifinal showdown. He’s likely going to need it. Through the semifinals, Djokovic has spent almost 3½ more hours on court than his younger opponent.
“I’m going to try to take one day at a time, really take care of my body, try to relax and recover,” Djokovic said in the early morning hours on Wednesday. “The next couple of days is really key for me to really get my body in shape and ready to battle five sets if it’s needed.
“I just would really love that, would love to be fit enough to play — and to play potentially five sets with Carlos. I know that my best tennis is going to be required, but I’d rise to the occasion.”
He admitted he wasn’t feeling “very fresh at the moment” in his news conference after the quarterfinals but was hopeful. He also was confident in his ability to “grind,” as he had done against Fritz, and find an extra gear at the most crucial moments. “You just have to play with your heart and fight,” he said. “That’s what really gave me the win in the end.”
Although not quite in his prime form, Djokovic has shown himself to be a formidable foe for Father Time throughout his run in New York. He has moved around the court with ease and has been buoyed by his strong serving throughout. He’s been victorious in 92% of his service games and had 57 aces. Not to mention, he’s also won an impressive 33% of his return games.
“I think he always serves well, like, on his first serves,” Fritz said on Tuesday night. “He hits his spots well. He gets a good amount of free points and aces … I think what’s made it tough in the past is how much variance there is in his second serve.”
Djokovic’s third-round opponent, Cameron Norrie, who he had played six times previously, was equally effusive in his praise.
“He served incredibly well, maybe the best he’s ever served against me,” Norrie said. “I was really impressed with that.”
OK, but Alcaraz is still the favorite to win the match, right?
Yes. There has been no one more dominant throughout the fortnight than Alcaraz. Arriving in New York having just won the title in Cincinnati, he was the only man to reach the quarterfinals without dropping a set and he’s faced just one tiebreak in his five matches. He’s been virtually unstoppable, even against high quality opponents.
Jiri Lehecka, the tournament’s No. 20 seed who Alcaraz defeated in the quarterfinals in under two hours, said Alcaraz — or the “Grand Slam version of Carlos” — simply did everything better when it mattered most.
“If you want to beat him, you need to win at least a few of the big points, and he won all of them,” Lehecka said on Tuesday. “Even when I played a really good rally, even when I tried to put him under pressure, go to the net, change the rhythm, do something, he was there, and he had an answer for everything I tried.”
And if all that weren’t enough, Alcaraz has won an astounding 99% of his service games — all but one — in New York. He told reporters his serve had been his primary focus for improvement in the past year and credited that, and his consistency with it, for his recent results.
“Tennis, it’s really hard sometimes, because one day you can serve really, really well, and the next match you can feel completely different and really bad,” he said after defeating Lehecka. “So I’m trying to maintain the focus on the serve, just trying to do everything the same and getting the good feeling.”
Alcaraz said he knew Djokovic was “hungry” and had an “ambition for more” when thinking ahead to their (then potential) clash, but said he had his own motivation: revenge. “Obviously,” he said Tuesday, while alluding to their previous matches.
So, who will win this match?
One thing is for certain: Both players will be bringing their best level and an unwavering desire to advance to Sunday’s final.
Djokovic has beaten Alcaraz on this surface at a Grand Slam this season, so he knows exactly what he needs to do in order to get it done again. Most importantly, he believes he can do it. He also is acutely aware of the ticking clock on his career, and that he only has limited chances remaining to achieve his dream for 25.
But whether or not that will be motivating or debilitating in a high-pressure situation remains to be seen after a string of semifinal exits. Djokovic also knows that the longer the match goes, the more it favors the younger, and fresher, Alcaraz, so he will need to come out strong from the first point.
Alcaraz doesn’t have any of that same weight on his shoulders. But what he does have is confidence, and a game that is clicking on all cylinders. He hasn’t faced much adversity throughout his run, but if he can handle those moments, if and when they arise, and remain locked in, it certainly feels like this is his match to win.
The Week 1 NFL schedule for the 2025 season brings some exciting matchups. The Chiefs will face the Chargers in Brazil, the Lions take a trip to Lambeau Field and a must-see QB duel between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen will be held in Buffalo.
We have you covered with everything you need to know. Our NFL Nation reporters take you inside the locker room with the best thing they heard this week, and ESPN Research provides a key stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest. Plus, analytics writer Seth Walder makes a bold prediction for each matchup, and fantasy analyst Eric Moody shares fantasy football intel. We also have Football Power Index (FPI) matchup quality ratings (out of 100) and game projections, and three analysts — Pamela Maldonado, Moody and Walder — give us final score picks for every game.
Let’s get into the full Week 1 slate, which culminates with the “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Vikings and Bears on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
What we’re hearing on the Chiefs: The defense is eager to showcase its skills against its AFC West rival. Steve Spagnuolo, the longtime coordinator, never played his starting lineup in the preseason. “Finally, to just go out there and play a full game with each other and go hit somebody other than who we always hit is going to be really nice,” CB Trent McDuffie said. “As you know with Spags, I’m kind of doing a bunch of things.” Much of McDuffie’s responsibilities will likely be following and covering Ladd McConkey, the Chargers’ top receiver. “I really like how he plays, his space separation out of the breaks and really good routes. You can tell his timing with Justin Herbert over the course of [last] year really got better. He’s going to be a really good challenge for us on the back end to see what we’re about.” — Nate Taylor
What we’re hearing on the Chargers: With a rushing offense that was below league average, receivers who struggled to get open (outside of McConkey) and production that frequently sputtered in second halves, L.A.’s offense was its Achilles’ heel in 2024. The Chargers spent the offseason retooling their offense, adding running backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton, right guard Mekhi Becton and wide receiver Keenan Allen. With the new additions, the biggest storyline heading into this season will be how offensive coordinator Greg Roman increases productivity in 2025. “On paper, I think we’re ahead of where we were last year this time,” Roman said. “But we’ve got to go out there and do it.” — Kris Rhim
Stat to know:Patrick Mahomes has an 82.6% win percentage in September, the second best among starting QBs since 1950 behind Roger Staubach’s 84.6%. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Chiefs rookie LT Josh Simmons will record a 92% pass block win rate in his NFL debut, solidly above the 89% average for a tackle. I’m not that worried about the Chargers’ pass rush, and as good as Khalil Mack has been over his career, his PRWR has fallen off as he has aged. — Walder
Fantasy nugget:Xavier Worthy steps in as Mahomes’ No. 1 receiver with Rashee Ricesuspended for six games. Worthy scored 19-plus fantasy points in three of his final four regular-season games last season and delivered an exceptional Super Bowl performance. He should thrive against a Chargers secondary that finished in the bottom 10 in touchdowns allowed to wide receivers in 2024. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Chargers had the best record against the spread (ATS) in the 2024 season, 13-4. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Chiefs 27, Chargers 24 Moody’s pick: Chiefs 38, Chargers 23 Walder’s pick: Chiefs 23, Chargers 20 FPI prediction: KC, 57% (by an average of 2.9 points)
1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 43.9/100 ESPN BET: WSH -6.5 (45.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Giants: The Giants lost a lot last season, including both matchups with the Commanders by a total of eight points. That gave Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels bragging rights over his former college teammate and best friend, Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers. It didn’t sit well with Nabers, who is tired of all the losing. “I was like, ‘Enough is enough,’” Nabers said. “‘I’m coming to get you.’” He and the Giants have a chance at redemption in Week 1. — Jordan Raanan
What we’re hearing on the Commanders: The Commanders know they’re facing a front seven that, as offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said, is “as challenging as we’ll face.” The Giants sacked Daniels five times in their first meeting but none in the second, while allowing a combined 364 rushing yards in the two games. “A lot of guys want to get their hands on them fast and that’s where they take advantage of you. They want to rush the passer,” said TE John Bates, one of the league’s best blockers, about the Giants’ defensive line. “I won’t say they’re the most want-to-be-physical type guys, so you have to have a base and have your feet underneath you and be poised.” — John Keim
Stat to know:Russell Wilson will make his 200th NFL start in Week 1, becoming the 16th quarterback in NFL history to do so. Only one other QB has made his 200th start in Week 1 of a season, and that player also made his 200th start in a Giants uniform: Eli Manning in 2017. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Giants WR Darius Slayton will record a 40-plus-yard reception, albeit in a losing effort. Even in his later years, Wilson breaks out the occasional vintage moon ball, and Slayton could well be the beneficiary of such a pass. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: The Commanders gave up 4.8 yards per carry on 490 attempts last season, the fourth-worst mark in the league, so Washington will likely load the box to slow Tyrone Tracy Jr. and the Giants’ running game. That could open up vertical shots for Nabers, even if CB Marshon Lattimore shadows him. Lattimore hasn’t been as consistent or healthy in recent years, so Nabers’ big-play ability and the Giants’ pass-first lean should position him for ample targets and a monster game. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: When the Commanders won both matchups against the Giants in 2024 (going 2-0 ATS), it was their first time covering in both meetings since 2012. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Commanders 23, Giants 17 Moody’s pick: Commanders 21, Giants 20 Walder’s pick: Commanders 24, Giants 17 FPI prediction: WSH, 68% (by an average of 7 points)
1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 43.8/100 ESPN BET: CIN -5.5 (48.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Bengals: Nobody needs to tell Bengals QB Joe Burrow that Browns DE Myles Garrett can be a game wrecker. Garrett has sacked Burrow more than any other player in the NFL — 10 sacks in eight games and a whopping 20 hits, per ESPN Research. Burrow said it’s imperative to know where Garrett is on every snap and where the hot read is in case Garrett blows up a play. “Sometimes he’s back there before you can catch the ball, basically, and you have to get it out,” Burrow said. — Ben Baby
What we’re hearing on the Browns: The Browns are facing a familiar divisional opponent, but coach Kevin Stefanski said there’s a bit of mystery with new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden. “You have to be aware for the unknown,” Stefanski said. “He can do anything from a front standpoint, from a cover standpoint.” Cleveland, though, will debut the newest iteration of its offense with a renewed focus on running the ball. The Browns ranked 29th in rushing yards per game last season (94.6) but are facing a Bengals defense that ranked 25th in run stop win rate (28.9%). — Daniel Oyefusi
Stat to know: The Bengals have a 1-11 record in Weeks 1-2 since 2019 (when Zac Taylor became coach), the worst in the league over that span. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Bengals RB Chase Brown will record multiple touchdowns. The Bengals should lean on Brown to get up big against the Joe Flacco-led Browns. And with 54 receptions last season, Brown showed he can make an impact in the passing game, too. — Walder
Fantasy nugget:David Njoku is set up for a huge Week 1. The Bengals allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends last season, and Njoku torched them in both matchups. Njoku is a strong TE1 start in what should be a high-scoring game. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Browns have six straight ATS losses as an underdog, the longest active streak in the NFL. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Bengals 27, Browns 13 Moody’s pick: Bengals 28, Browns 13 Walder’s pick: Bengals 33, Browns 13 FPI prediction: CIN, 64.1%% (by an average of 6 points)
1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 43.6/100 ESPN BET: TB -1.5 (47.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Buccaneers: QB Baker Mayfield will face a big test without All-Pro LT Tristan Wirfs and two of his top receivers in Chris Godwin Jr. (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck). TE Cade Otton‘s game status is also in jeopardy with a groin injury. But Mayfield has been here before, having been without, at one point, his top three receivers last season. “If you’re trying to take a silver lining out of the injuries we had last year, those guys had to step up and play in a big way,” Mayfield said, referring to Ryan Miller and Sterling Shepard. “Obviously, Tez [Johnson] and Mek [Emeka Egbuka] are new, but we trust them and we’re looking forward to them making plays for us.” Specifically with McMillan’s injury, which happened in the Bucs’ second preseason game — this is where Egbuka’s ability to learn all the receivers’ roles in this offense is going to help the most. — Jenna Laine
What we’re hearing on the Falcons: When QB Michael Penix Jr. got into a scuffle during a joint practice with the Titans last month, he noted in his news conference that he wasn’t going to shy away from a fight because “I’m from Tampa.” In his first full season as starter, Penix will go up first against his hometown team in Week 1, the division rival Buccaneers. The second-year quarterback said he has managed to steal some fans away now that he’s playing for Atlanta: “They’re like, ‘Oh you’re there now, so we got to transfer over.’” — Marc Raimondi
Stat to know: The Falcons have won two straight and four of their past five meetings against the Bucs. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Egbuka will record at least six receptions in his NFL debut. The buzz around Egbuka this preseason has been too strong to ignore, and he’ll come out of the gates making plays right away for a Buccaneers offense that needs him. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Bucs WR Mike Evans should see plenty of targets against a Falcons defense that allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to WRs in 2024. Atlanta remains vulnerable to outside receivers, and although it made personnel changes this offseason, the Falcons still struggle to pressure the quarterback, which puts added stress on the secondary. Evans faces A.J. Terrell Jr., and in their Week 5 matchup last season he produced 23.2 fantasy points. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Mayfield is at minus-140 to throw over 1.5 touchdown passes; he had multiple passing touchdowns in 12 out of 17 starts in 2024. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Falcons 26, Buccaneers 24 Moody’s pick: Buccaneers 33, Falcons 20 Walder’s pick: Buccaneers 22, Falcons 20 FPI prediction: TB, 54.2% (by an average of 2 points)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 36.9/100 ESPN BET: IND -1.5 (46.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Dolphins: After missing nearly the past month with oblique and calf injuries, respectively, WR Tyreek Hill and RB De’Von Achane have returned to practice for the Dolphins and are expected to play. In regard to Miami’s offensive cohesiveness having gone three weeks without its two leaders in total yards last season, coach Mike McDaniel said that not only were Hill and Achane “on point” prior to their injuries, but he also “watched them in the classroom be live action participants in a way that I think may have been more of a struggle in years past.” Translated: There’s no concern that the Dolphins’ stars will be acclimated come game day. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
What we’re hearing on the Colts: The Colts have overhauled their defense with a new scheme featuring man-to-man coverage, but the key player, coaches and teammates say, is Laiatu Latu. The second-year edge rusher finished last season with just two sacks, but the Colts are featuring him in 2025 in an effort to unlock his potential. “I think he’s going to have a helluva season based on what I’ve witnessed so far,” coordinator Lou Anarumo said. — Stephen Holder
Stat to know: This is Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa‘s first career start versus the Colts, the only AFC team (other than the Dolphins) he has never faced. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Colts QB Daniel Jones will rush for 40-plus yards. When Jones has been successful, he has leaned on his legs, and I’d expect coach Shane Steichen to try to maximize that part of his game right away. — Walder
play
1:30
Why Schrager is optimistic for both Dolphins and Bengals
Peter Schrager joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to share his optimism for the Dolphins and Bengals this season.
Fantasy nugget:Tyler Warren faces a Dolphins defense that allowed over 13 fantasy points per game to tight ends last season and lost multiple key defensive contributors in the offseason. The rookie was selected No. 14 after recording 1,233 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns in his final college season. Jones thrived targeting the middle of the field in 2024 and should leverage Warren’s size and yards-after-catch ability. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Colts are 2-12-1 ATS in Week 1 over the past 15 seasons, the worst in the NFL over the span. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Dolphins 24, Colts 20 Moody’s pick: Dolphins 31, Colts 21 Walder’s pick: Colts 23, Dolphins 17 FPI prediction: IND, 50.5% (by an average of 0.6 points)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 37.8/100 ESPN BET: PIT -2.5 (37.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Steelers: Yes, the headline of this matchup is Aaron Rodgers‘ return to MetLife against the Jets, but it’s also a crucial measuring stick for a Steelers run defense that wilted down the stretch last season. The Steelers will face a stout RB tandem in Breece Hall and Braelon Allen (whom coach Mike Tomlin compared to Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery) along with a familiar face in mobile QB Justin Fields — and they’ll do so without first-round rookie DT Derrick Harmon (MCL sprain). But third-year lineman Keeanu Benton expressed confidence in his unit’s improvement from a season ago. “We are not all looking just for pass rush and those big stats or sack stats,” he said. “We’re down to get grimy.” — Brooke Pryor
What we’re hearing on the Jets: Eight of the 11 starters on the Jets’ defense faced Rodgers last summer in training camp. A small benefit, perhaps? Coach Aaron Glenn acknowledged their familiarity with Rodgers, who was cut in the offseason, has “some value.” It could help them anticipate Rodgers’ cadence/hard count, which he uses as a weapon. Both Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks praised Rodgers’ intelligence and experience. But said Glenn: “Physically, we all start to wane at some point as we get older.” — Rich Cimini
Stat to know: This is the first season opener in NFL history between starting quarterbacks who played for the opposing team the previous year — in 2024, Fields was with the Steelers, and Rodgers was with the Jets. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: These two teams will combine for 44 or fewer combined pass attempts. Only five games last season had that few pass attempts between both teams, but I expect both of these squads to be particularly run heavy. If neither team pulls away, they each could stick with that game plan all the way through. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: The Steelers recently gave RB Jaylen Warren an extension, and Tomlin made it clear he’ll be No. 1 on the depth chart. Warren is also a strong pass catcher and excels in pass protection, an important skill with 41-year-old Rodgers under center since the veteran isn’t shy about using his backs as receivers out of the backfield. That said, Warren has never surpassed 15 rushing attempts in a game in his career, so keep that in mind when setting lineups. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The under has hit in each of the past six Steelers Week 1 games, the longest active streak in the NFL. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Jets 19, Steelers 17 Moody’s pick: Jets 20, Steelers 17 Walder’s pick: Steelers 19, Jets 16 FPI prediction: PIT, 58.8% (by an average of 3.5 points)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 30.8/100 ESPN BET: NE -2.5 (44.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Raiders: Raiders rookie RB Ashton Jeanty understands he is more than just a player who runs defenders over. His shiftiness and ability to be elusive are other reasons he is expected to have a significant role against the Patriots on Sunday. “I learned I probably need to make more guys miss,” Jeanty said. “…I’ve been a pretty physical player, and the scenarios I was put in, I kind of had to. But yeah, obviously, you want to pick and choose your battles. The season is long, and I want to be available throughout the whole season.” — Ryan McFadden
What we’re hearing on the Patriots: First-year coach Mike Vrabel structured the practice script to include a break followed by two team periods because he wanted to stress the importance of winning the second half. Vrabel noted that 12 of the 16 Week 1 winners from 2024 outscored their opponents in the second half and that ties, in part, to conditioning built up over the course of training camp. “Conditioning makes cowards of us all,” veteran WR Mack Hollins said. “When you’re tired, you can make an excuse for why you didn’t get a block, hold on to the ball, pass protect, make a tackle. But when you’re in shape, and you can see your opponent out of shape, it’s a much better feeling.” — Mike Reiss
Stat to know: The Raiders are seeking their third straight win over New England, after having lost the previous six meetings from 2005 to 2020. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Raiders edge rusher Malcolm Koonce will record a sack. Is Patriots rookie LT Will Campbell — whom Koonce appears set to mostly face — ready for the pros right away? We’re about to find out. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: In 11 starts from Week 6 to 17 last season, Patriots QB Drake Maye posted 2,254 passing yards, 15 TDs, 10 INTs, plus 409 rushing yards and two scores. He averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game. With an improved coaching staff, added playmakers and an upgraded offensive line, Maye is positioned to take a step forward in 2025. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: This is the first time in 17 games that the Patriots (minus-2.5) are not underdogs, breaking the longest active streak in the NFL. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Raiders 23, Patriots 20 Moody’s pick: Patriots 17, Raiders 13 Walder’s pick: Raiders 26, Patriots 24 FPI prediction: NE, 53.1% (by an average of 0.9 points)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 30.1/100 ESPN BET: ARI -6.5 (43.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Cardinals: So many questions are surrounding WR Marvin Harrison Jr. as he prepares for his second season. Namely: Will he make the Year 2 jump? One thing he gained from his first season that could contribute to his growth in 2025 is his experience. “I knew it was a long season, but you don’t know until you play it,” he said. Harrison has been getting more work done on his body to make sure he’s as ready as possible late in the season. — Josh Weinfuss
What we’re hearing on the Saints: Saints nickel CB Alontae Taylor returned to practice Wednesday after missing several weeks with a groin injury. Taylor said he was ahead of schedule in his rehab for a “frustrating” injury, and he had to shake the rust off in his first practice back. But overall, he’s feeling enthused about the season. “I got a pretty good chip on my shoulder going into this year. A lot to prove, but I’m ready for it and excited,” he said. — Katherine Terrell
Stat to know: The Saints have won a franchise-record six straight season openers (longest active streak in NFL). No NFC team has had a longer such streak since the 1984-92 Bears (nine). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Saints QB Spencer Rattler will throw multiple interceptions. I expect the Saints to fall behind, and when they do, Rattler will take some risks. Add in a 20% off-target rate and minus-10% completion percentage over expectation last season, and I expect a couple of those balls could land in the hands of Cardinals defenders. — Walder
Fantasy nugget:James Conner finished last season with a career-high 1,094 rushing yards and finished as the RB11 in fantasy. The Saints’ defense allowed the third-most rushing yards per game in 2024, while Arizona ranked 11th in rushing attempts. Conner is in line for a big game. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Harrison went under receiving yards props in 12 of 17 games last season (O/U 59.5 receiving yards for Week 1). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Cardinals 27, Saints 13 Moody’s pick: Cardinals 27, Saints 16 Walder’s pick: Cardinals 30, Saints 14 FPI prediction: ARI, 59% (by an average of 3.8 points)
1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 29.9/100 ESPN BET: JAX -3.5 (46.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Panthers: The Panthers were the worst in the NFL at pressuring the passer last season, and disrupting Jags QB Trevor Lawrence will be key. Keep an eye on a player you may never have heard of in Carolina edge rusher Thomas Incoom. Fellow edge rusher D.J. Wonnum referred to him as a “lightning bolt.” Special teams coach Tracy Smith says he “leads the nation in want-to.” Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero called him a “Tasmanian devil.” Stay tuned. — David Newton
What we’re hearing on the Jaguars: The Jaguars want new coach Liam Coen to have the same kind of impact on their run game this season that he did in Tampa Bay in 2024, when the Bucs finished fourth in yards per game a season after finishing last. The Panthers are a good opponent to start against because they finished last in run defense in 2024 (179.8 yards per game). With two new starters in the middle of the OL (C Robert Hainsey and G Patrick Mekari) and experienced RBs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby, Coen is confident the run game will be better, but there’s still some uncertainty. “You have a confidence and belief, but you’re not sure what that would truly look like,” he said. — Michael DiRocco
Stat to know: The Jaguars have suffered six straight losses in September (the longest active streak in the NFL and one shy of tying their second-longest streak in franchise history). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter will not allow a reception as the nearest defender to WR Tetairoa McMillan. It remains to be seen how often the two will be matched up (and, I suppose, how much Hunter plays on defense), but I’ll back the No. 2 pick over the No. 8 pick when they do square off. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: McMillan enters Week 1 as the Panthers’ No. 1 receiver with Adam Thielentraded and Jalen Coker (quad) sidelined. The rookie draws a favorable matchup against a Jaguars defense that allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to receivers in 2024. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Panthers have ATS losses in each of their past three Week 1 games, tied for the longest active streak in the NFL (Bengals). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Jaguars 24, Panthers 20 Moody’s pick: Jaguars 26, Panthers 23 Walder’s pick: Jaguars 20, Panthers 13 FPI prediction: JAX, 59.4% (by an average of 3.9 points)
4:05 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 51.5/100 ESPN BET: SF -2.5 (43.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the 49ers: For the first time since the 2020 season, the 49ers did not play a single postseason game, which means a longer-than-usual amount of time before getting to play another game that counts. “When you’re used to making those deep runs and then getting off in [early] January, it seems like eternity,” LT Trent Williams said. G Dominick Puni said the Niners had a “rough” taste in their mouths that lasted all offseason. The sense from the Niners’ locker room is that they’re eager to get back on the field and erase the hard feelings of last year’s 6-11 finish. That they get to do it against a division rival on the road with a nearly fully healthy roster only adds to it. — Nick Wagoner
What we’re hearing on the Seahawks: QB Sam Darnold‘s debut is the big story of this game from Seattle’s perspective, but there’s a juicy matchup on the other side of the ball, where playcalling head coaches Kyle Shanahan and Mike Macdonald will square off once again. Shanahan’s offense got the better of Macdonald’s defense in the first meeting last season, a 36-24 49ers win in October. The Seahawks’ 20-17 win five weeks later kicked off their defensive turnaround, with Seattle finishing the season ninth in points allowed. There’s plenty of optimism about that unit’s ability to take the next step in 2025 with so many key players back in the fold, and the opener against Shanahan will be an early measuring stick. “He does a great job of keeping you off-balance,” Macdonald said of his 49ers counterpart. “They deploy their people different than any other team. That’s something that’s a focal point of how you focus on them.” — Brady Henderson
Stat to know: Although the Seahawks won five of their past six season openers, they were 3-6 at home in 2024. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Seahawks RBs Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III will combine for 150-plus rushing yards. Seattle is hoping it has a new and improved ground game under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and we could see it as early as Week 1. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Receiver Ricky Pearsall is set to be a key contributor in Week 1. The 49ers are without Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings is still returning from a calf injury. In his 2024 debut stretch (Weeks 7-10), Pearsall averaged 17.4 fantasy points per game and finished the season with back-to-back 15-plus-point games. He should see heavy targets alongside TE George Kittle. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The 49ers have ATS losses in each of their past five road games, tied for the longest active streak in the NFL (Browns and Giants). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: 49ers 27, Seahawks 17 Moody’s pick: 49ers 27, Seahawks 23 Walder’s pick: Seahawks 24, 49ers 23 FPI prediction: SF, 54.1% (by an average of 1.7 points)
4:05 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 40.2/100 ESPN BET: DEN -8.5 (42.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Titans: All eyes will be on QB Cam Ward making his debut, and rightfully so. But don’t underestimate the rushing attack with Tony Pollard, who’s coming off career highs in attempts (260) and yards (1,079), going against a Broncos run defense that allowed 94 rushing yards per game last season, ranking third in the NFL. Coach Brian Callahan said the Titans will lean on the run game, but they also “just need [Ward] to play good football and need the guys around him to play well for him.” — Turron Davenport
What we’re hearing on the Broncos: As expectations and optimism swirled around the Broncos’ defense throughout the offseason — “we want to be the best defense in the league,” is how tackle D.J. Jones has put it — coordinator Vance Joseph has said it can be considered among the league’s best if it finds consistency and avoids “awkward plays” on Sunday. Ward will be the first rookie QB the Broncos have faced in the season opener since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, and his improvisational skills — even in his first NFL start — will be the first test for that defense. Look for the Broncos to try to keep Ward hemmed in as they try to squeeze the rookie off his first reads. — Jeff Legwold
Stat to know: Quarterbacks drafted No. 1 in the common draft era (since 1967) have a 4-15-1 record in their season opener as a rookie; Ward will be hoping to add to that win column. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Broncos CB Pat Surtain II will record an interception. Ward is truly being thrown into the deep end here, facing the ferocious Broncos defense in his first NFL game — so we can’t blame him too much when he throws a pick to the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. — Walder
play
2:32
Sean Payton shares expectations for Broncos 2025 season
Sean Payton joins “The Rich Eisen Show” and shares the Broncos’ expectations for the 2025 NFL season.
Fantasy nugget:Bo Nix finished 2024 as QB7, emerging as a top fantasy option thanks to his dual-threat ability and improved accuracy late in the season. He opens 2025 against a Titans defense that allowed the sixth-most rushing yards and third-most rushing TDs to QBs. With his rushing upside and top receiver Courtland Sutton, Nix has a strong Week 1 outlook. Offseason additions make him even more lethal, even against a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards last season. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Nix went over completions props in 12 of 17 games last season. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Broncos 23, Titans 16 Moody’s pick: Broncos 35, Titans 13 Walder’s pick: Broncos 23, Titans 10 FPI prediction: DEN, 69.8% (by an average of 7.9 points)
4:25 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 76/100 ESPN BET: GB -1.5 (47.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Lions: Kelvin Sheppard is “absolutely” excited. The Lions’ new defensive coordinator will be making his debut alongside new offensive coordinator John Morton. But the focus in Detroit is very much the Lions versus the Packers — neither Sheppard nor Morton is making this game about himself and both are keeping the team at the forefront. When asked about his mindset entering the game, “I’m very anxious, but not nervous. It’s a big difference,” Sheppard said on Thursday. Sheppard and Morton feel prepared as the Lions will try to set the tone for their season in Week 1 at Lambeau Field. — Eric Woodyard
What we’re hearing on the Packers:Micah Parsons‘ impact on the field might not show up immediately. After all, he missed the entire preseason in Dallas and now has to learn a new defense in Green Bay. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t already made an impact in the locker room. “Personally it makes me want to do my part, do my job even better,” LT Rasheed Walker said. “I’m really looking forward to competing in practice knowing that I’m going to get better going against more competition and, shoot, I feel like it makes me and the team more hungry for that Super Bowl.” — Rob Demovsky
Stat to know:Jordan Love has seven consecutive games without an interception, which is the third-longest streak by a Packers QB behind eight- and nine-game stretches from Aaron Rodgers. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Lions CB D.J. Reed will allow 30 or fewer yards as the nearest defender, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Reed, who signed as a free agent this offseason, has been one of the most consistently solid cornerbacks in the league recently. He has recorded better-than-average yards per coverage snap allowed in four consecutive seasons, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Walder
Fantasy nugget:Jared Goff opens Week 1 in Green Bay without former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, facing a strong defense that allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to QBs last season. Lambeau has been rough for him recently, as Goff has averaged just 206 passing yards per game in his past four outings there, with multiple games with less than 14 fantasy points. With a new OC and Parsons joining the Packers’ pass rush, it’s wise to look into other quarterback options. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Lions are 12-4 ATS against the Packers since 2017, which is their second-best record against any opponent over that span, minimum four meetings (5-1 versus Arizona). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Lions 27, Packers 23 Moody’s pick: Packers 28, Lions 24 Walder’s pick: Packers 24, Lions 17 FPI prediction: DET, 50.9% (by an average of 0.4 points)
4:25 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 58.7/100 ESPN BET: LAR -3.5 (43.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Texans: Coach DeMeco Ryans said the quiet part out loud involving his offensive line, which is completely revamped and will include rookie LT Aireontae Ersery. “Both offensive lines are going to have to play well and whoever wins that battle, I think, will ultimately decide the game,” Ryans said. — DJ Bien-Aime
What we’re hearing on the Rams: Despite dealing with an aggravated disk in his back, QB Matthew Stafford said he won’t be thinking about that when he’s on the field. “Obviously, would love to stay as clean as possible, but I’m not thinking twice about that at all,” Stafford said. “I’m out there ready to go play.” Stafford and the Rams are facing a Texans defense that had success while pressuring quarterbacks last season, ranking first in completion percentage allowed and tied for fourth in sacks. According to ESPN Research, Stafford ranked 17th in completion percentage under pressure in 2024. — Sarah Barshop
Stat to know: Stafford has started his team’s season opener in all 16 seasons he has played. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Rams WR Puka Nacua will record 100-plus receiving yards. Nacua had an absurd 3.7 yards per route run last season, and I expect him to hit the ground running in 2025. — Walder
Fantasy nugget:Nick Chubb will be the Texans’ starting RB to begin the season with Joe Mixon (ankle) on injured reserve. However, he’ll share carries with Dameon Pierce and Woody Marks. Chubb averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in eight games with the Browns last season after returning from a devastating knee injury that limited him to two appearances in 2023. The bigger concern for the running game is Houston’s offensive line, which ranked 31st in run block win rate last season and could struggle again despite offseason changes. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Texans are 11-6-1 ATS as road underdogs since 2022, tied for fifth-best cover percentage in the NFL. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Rams 24, Texans 20 Moody’s pick: Rams 34, Texans 26 Walder’s pick: Rams 27, Texans 20 FPI prediction: LAR, 53.7% (by an average of 1.8 points)
8:20 p.m. ET | NBC | Matchup rating: 81.9/100 ESPN BET: BAL -1.5 (50.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Ravens: When QB Lamar Jackson was asked about the biggest key to beating the Bills, he quickly said: “Don’t turn the ball over.” The Ravens have talked all offseason about their three turnovers — the “self-inflicted” mistakes — that led to a 27-25 divisional round loss to Buffalo last season. Since 2022, the Ravens are 1-6 when Jackson turns the ball over multiple times, including that postseason loss in Buffalo. — Jamison Hensley
What we’re hearing on the Bills: A banged-up Bills secondary is about to face quite the challenge to start the season in Jackson, with both starting CBs Christian Benford and Tre’Davious White dealing with groin injuries. White did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, while Benford is moving in a positive direction, fully participating in Thursday’s practice. White’s availability is a serious question mark, and if he can’t go, the role will go to Ja’Marcus Ingram — who has played a backup role for the Bills before — or sixth-round pick rookie Dorian Strong. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said that Strong’s “improvement over the past two weeks has been unbelievable.” — Alaina Getzenberg
Stat to know: This is the first time the top two players in MVP voting from the prior season meet in a season opener (since at least 1970), and the fifth time the MVP winners from the prior two seasons face each other in a season opener (also since 1970). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Ravens TE Mark Andrews catches a touchdown. Given how much lower the stakes are, it won’t quite erase his dropped 2-point conversion in the divisional round against Buffalo — but it’s something. With Isaiah Likely‘s status in question due to the fractured foot injury he suffered, Andrews should be in line for plenty of snaps, too. — Walder
play
1:16
Can Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson finally win it all?
Louis Riddick weighs in on whether the Bills or Ravens will have what it takes to knock off the Chiefs in the AFC.
Fantasy nugget:Khalil Shakir had a career season in 2024, leading the Bills in targets, receptions and receiving yards. He also ranked inside the top eight in yards from the slot, which is notable since the Ravens’ secondary allowed the sixth-most yards and ninth-most to slot receivers. Shakir should continue to serve as a safety valve for Allen. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Jackson has the best win percentage and cover percentage as an underdog in the Super Bowl era. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Bills 27, Ravens 24 Moody’s pick: Ravens 23, Bills 20 Walder’s pick: Ravens 31, Bills 27 FPI prediction: BUF, 51.1% (by an average of 0 points)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN | Matchup rating: 55.3/100 ESPN BET: MIN -1.5 (43.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Vikings: With national attention understandably focused on the debut of QB J.J. McCarthy, it has been easy to miss the Vikings’ growing emphasis on a running game that will pair Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason with a rebuilt offensive line. In the three previous seasons under coach Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings have had only two games of 30 or more carries by running backs. That figure is now a baseline expectation against the Bears and other early-season opponents as McCarthy grows into the job. In planning for the run game this summer, O’Connell said he asked himself one question above all else: “What allows us to play the most multiple way? Because that all circles back to the No. 1 question of: What makes the quarterback’s job easier?” — Kevin Seifert
What we’re hearing on the Bears: CB Jaylon Johnson returned to practice for the first time since sustaining what he classified as a “pretty bad” groin injury while working on his releases during offseason training. Although his availability for the Vikings game is in question because he has been sidelined since July, Johnson is eager to be back on the field in a role that will allow him to showcase his best against Minnesota’s best. “I’m more enticed to go against [WR Justin Jefferson] than the quarterback, per se,” Johnson said. “But hopefully there are some passes that are left inside for me to be able to intercept on certain coverages or whatever the case may be. We’re looking forward to disrupting him a lot.” — Courtney Cronin
Stat to know: The Bears begin their season by facing the Vikings in Week 1, then the Lions in Week 2. Based on last season’s win-loss records, that is the toughest two-game stretch by any team to begin this season. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Vikings LB Blake Cashman will lead the NFL in tackles in Week 1. Cashman ranked fourth among linebackers in run stop win rate (44.3%) last season, and the Bears figure to deploy a run-heavy offense under new coach Ben Johnson. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are set up for strong fantasy outings against the Vikings. Minnesota’s defense allowed the second-most receiving yards and the most fantasy points to outside receivers last season. Moore alone posted 42 fantasy points against them in 2024. With an improved offensive line and Johnson calling plays, both Moore and Odunze should be locked into lineups. See Week 1 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Jefferson went over receiving yards props in 11 of 17 games last season (O/U 78.5 yards in Week 1). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Bears 23, Vikings 20 Moody’s pick: Bears 26, Vikings 20 Walder’s pick: Bears 24, Vikings 21 FPI prediction: CHI, 51.5% (by an average of 0.6 points)
Chelsea completed the signing of Alyssa Thompson from Angel City on Friday in the latest big money move in women’s soccer.
The U.S. international signed for a reported fee of around 1 million pounds ($1.35 million) on a five-year contract.
“Chelsea is such an amazing club, one of the best in the world. Being able to play with players that are the best in the world is an amazing opportunity at such a young age and I want to learn, grow and develop a lot,” said the 20-year-old forward.
Thompson was the first pick in the 2023 NWSL draft, becoming the league’s first high schooler to be be drafted.
This season she scored six goals in 16 appearances for Angel City.
“She’s a dynamic winger with electric pace, who can play on either wing and is very good in one-on-one situations,” said head of women’s football at Chelsea Paul Green. “Alyssa is one of the best and most exciting young players in the world, and we’re looking forward to seeing how she develops further during her time with Chelsea.”
Confirmation of Thompson’s move comes on the same day that London City Lionesses completed the signing of France midfielder Grace Geyoro from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported world-record fee of 1.4 million pounds ($1.88 million).
Thompson is a U.S. national team regular and was on the squad that went to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Overall, she’s made 22 appearances with the national team since 2022, scoring three goals.
She scored 15 goals for Angel City over 69 appearances across all competitions.
Chelsea is the dominant force in women’s soccer in England, winning six straight Women’s Super League titles and nine of the last 11.
Jake Trotter is a senior writer at ESPN. Trotter covers college football. He also writes about other college sports, including men’s and women’s basketball. Trotter resides in the Cleveland area with his wife and three kids and is a fan of his hometown Oklahoma City Thunder. He covered the Cleveland Browns and NFL for ESPN for five years, moving back to college football in 2024. Previously, Trotter worked for the Middletown (Ohio) Journal, Austin American-Statesman and Oklahoman newspapers before joining ESPN in 2011. He’s a 2004 graduate of Washington and Lee University. You can reach out to Trotter at jake.trotter@espn.com and follow him on X at @Jake_Trotter.
BELLEVILLE, Mich. — Before flipping his commitment from LSU to Michigan, prized quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood had a question for Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore: How late could he stay in the football facility?
Moore told him 24/7 — then he had to take it back.
This spring, Moore got word that Underwood was still throwing passes at 2 a.m. on the indoor practice field. He had to toss him out.
“You gotta sleep,” Moore told him.
Underwood turned 18 only two weeks ago. Yet even as a teenager, he’s already giving the No. 15 Wolverines hope they can return to the College Football Playoff after a one-year hiatus.
This Saturday, Underwood leads Michigan into a top-20 clash at Oklahoma (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC). Sooners coach Brent Venables compared Underwood to former Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, who in 2018 became the first true freshman quarterback to win a national championship since Oklahoma’s Jamelle Holieway in 1985.
In 2021, Lawrence also became the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
“Quick, decisive, accurate, poised, tough, consistent — there’s a reason [Underwood] was the No. 1 [recruit] in America,” said Venables, Clemson’s defensive coordinator when Lawrence played there. “And he’s got a maturity and a work ethic and leadership ability to go along with that.”
During a scintillating debut — a 34-17 win over New Mexico — Underwood threw for 251 yards, more than any Michigan quarterback tallied in a game last season.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound true freshman, who added 15 pounds of muscle over the summer, even threw a key block for running back Justice Haynes on a 5-yard touchdown run.
Still, Underwood gave his performance a mere C+, noting he had “a lot of things” to work on.
“He’s always been a grinder,” said Donovan Dooley, who has coached Underwood since he was 8 years old. “He chases perfection.”
Even into the night.
Former Belleville High School football coach Jermain Crowell said Underwood used to stop by his house at night to borrow the stadium keys to throw. Underwood eventually got his own keys, and the school athletic director would turn the lights on until he was finished.
“If you drove by the school late and the lights were on, you’d be like, that’s probably Bryce,” said Mychal Darty, a security guard and assistant basketball coach at Belleville.
Underwood has had that same work ethic for as long as anyone can remember.
His dad, Jay, who played youth football for Dooley’s parents, introduced his son to the passing coach a decade ago. Dooley, founder of Quarterback University, asked Underwood what he planned to do if football didn’t pan out.
“What’s plan B?” Dooley quizzed him. “And he said, ‘Plan A.’”
By then, Underwood was already dominating little league football. Donald Tabron II, a blue-chip quarterback recruit for the class of 2028 from Detroit, recalled watching Underwood hurdling smaller defenders at 10 years old.
“He was a monster even back then,” Tabron said. “He was a man child.”
Tabron and Trae Taylor III, a 2027 ESPN 300 quarterback recruit committed to Nebraska, trained under Dooley with Underwood in recent years. Late-night workouts with Underwood weren’t uncommon.
“We’ve gone out and gotten work in at midnight until early in the morning,” Taylor said. “Bryce has always been like that.”
At Belleville, Underwood went 50-4 with two state championships, while winning 38 straight games.
After practices, Underwood regularly kept a rotation of receivers and running backs with him to continue running routes.
“He’s the hardest working kid I’ve ever seen,” said Calvin Norman, who took over for Crowell as Belleville’s head coach for Underwood’s junior season. “We’d have a three-hour practice, and he’d be out there running another practice. That’s part of the reason why the other players were getting so good.”
Underwood pushed his teammates as hard as he pushed himself. Over his four years, he never lost a single conditioning sprint. Belleville wide receiver Charles Britton III made it his mission last year to finally dethrone him.
“I tried to beat him every single day,” said Britton, now a junior. “And I failed every day.”
During last year’s playoffs, the Belleville coaches tried to end a practice early after a sluggish effort. But Underwood made everyone stay on the field for another 15 minutes so they could finish on a better note.
In the offseason, when the football team wasn’t working out, Underwood would ask Darty if he could lift weights with the basketball team. And when nobody was lifting weights that day, he would just ask if he could get into the weight room on his own.
“He definitely took his craft seriously,” Darty said.
Because of how much time he spent at the school, Underwood grew close with Darty, who was also the sideline get-back coach for the football team. Before leaving for Michigan, Underwood coordinated with a local dealership to surprise Darty with a new Chevy Equinox.
“Just knowing that I meant something like that to someone who’s going to affect more people than I ever could was very humbling,” Darty said. “I never expected anything like that.”
But Darty recalls a moment that touched him even more.
Underwood remained committed to LSU through his final season. But as speculation grew that he might flip to Michigan, Belleville’s playoff games became a spectacle, with Ann Arbor only a 20-minute drive down the road.
When Belleville was eliminated from the regional final before a crowd of almost 8,000, the school arranged for Underwood to have an escort to a police car. As police ushered him off the field, a boy with a homemade Underwood jersey missed his opportunity to get an autograph.
But while waiting in the police car, Underwood hailed one of the officers to go grab the shirt so he could sign it. Then he had the officer grab the phone of the boy’s mother so he could take a selfie for him.
“Just think, that is your toughest high school moment, your high school career is done,” Darty said. “But you take that time to show this kid some attention. The people who witnessed that were like, ‘I’m rooting for you forever.’”
Nobody around Belleville, including Darty, knew for sure if Underwood would actually flip his commitment and sign with the hometown Wolverines.
A few days later, after school, Darty saw Underwood in the hallway flash a sly smile to Belleville safety Elijah Dotson, who had just flipped from Pitt to the Wolverines. Darty turned to another security guard and said, “I think it’s happening.”
Not long after, Underwood switched his commitment to the Wolverines, giving them their coveted quarterback of the future. It was also one of the most seismic recruiting flips of college football’s NIL era.
Moore told Underwood he wouldn’t be given the starting job. He’d have to earn it. Underwood responded he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Michigan’s players realized Underwood was different long before his first snap. Linebacker Ernest Hausmann and defensive end Derrick Moore took notice of how Underwood would be the first on the field during spring ball, just going over the plays by himself.
“He’s not no average freshman,” Moore said. “He does everything like a pro.”
That won over the team long before he was named the starter.
“Bryce is as good as advertised,” Hausmann said. “Mature beyond his years. And he’s fit right in.”
Former world champions Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather intend to meet in the ring in 2026.
Boxing production company CSI Sports announced the bout between Tyson, who will turn 60 next year, and Mayweather, 48, but did not give a venue or any details of a date, beyond saying it would take place in the spring.
Former world heavyweight champion Tyson, who lost on points to Jake Paul in an eight-round bout in November 2024, said: “This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen.
“Boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable – and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets.
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YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has defeated one of the greatest-ever fighters, ex-heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson, who is more than twice his age.
“I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening.”
Mayweather won world titles across five different weights, going unbeaten during his 50-fight career which ended with a victory over MMA star Conor McGregor in 2017.
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DJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets for the New York Daily News. He’s a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show “Talkin’ Texans.”
HOUSTON — Texans wideout Christian Kirk has a strained hamstring that is expected to sideline him for at least Sunday’s opener against the Los Angeles Rams and could be longer, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
It could be a two-week injury for Kirk, one source said, but the Texans will be “cautious” with him. Wideout Nico Collins suffered a hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills last season and missed the next five games.
Kirk was expected to be the No. 2 wide receiver to Collins after Houston acquired Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars in March. He has struggled to stay healthy the past two seasons, missing 14 games because of season-ending injuries.
His absence could hurt the Texans’ offense, as Kirk emerged as a safety blanket for quarterback C.J. Stroud throughout training camp. Now, Houston will rely on rookie wideouts Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins.
Noel plays mainly in the slot — where Kirk was expected to start — and is expected to fill that void.
Other scenarios could include Collins taking reps in the slot, which opens opportunities for Higgins on the outside along with Xavier Hutchinson on the opposite side when they go to three-receiver sets.
After Week 1, the Texans host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football” then travel to face the Jaguars in Week 3.
Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.
Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine’s Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010.
The rivalry game remained every bit as intense from start to lightning-delayed finish, with the Eagles pulling out a 24-20 win on the night they unveiled their 2024 championship banner.
With Carter absent from the middle of the Eagles’ defense and Dallas getting used to life without Micah Parsons, both defenses took some time to stabilize before eventually finding their footing.
A coin-flip of a game went the way of the defending champs, thanks in part to dropped passes by receiver CeeDee Lamb and a critical turnover late in the third quarter by the Cowboys, who showed some encouraging signs in Game 1 under coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Carter and the Eagles, meanwhile, can breathe a sigh of relief after a rocky start.
Here are the most important things to know from Thursday night for both teams:
Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
What to make of the QB performance: Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts picked up where he left off, taking advantage of large lanes to score a pair of rushing touchdowns and propel the offense. He now has 16 games with multiple rushing touchdowns, extending his NFL record for a QB (Buffalo’s Josh Allen is second with 12).
Turning point: The Cowboys appeared to be heading in for the go-ahead score late in the third quarter when the Eagles came up with a key takeaway. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell scooped up a Miles Sanders fumble deep in Philadelphia territory to thwart the drive and keep the Eagles up four. He celebrated with his defensive teammates by simulating a tush push into the end zone.
Stat to know: Carter’s ejection earned the headlines, but lack of discipline was a theme for the Eagles, especially early. They had 93 penalty yards at the break — the most in a first half by any team since the Cowboys had 107 in Week 13 of 2023. The Eagles’ high for penalty yards in a game last season was 91 (Week 16 at the Commanders). — Tim McManus
The Cowboys didn’t have a large margin for error going into Thursday’s opener against the Eagles, especially without edge rusher Micah Parsons, who was traded a week ago to the Green Bay Packers.
For most of the game, the Cowboys were right there, but the margins came into play.
A 51-yard Jalen Hurts pass to receiver Jahan Dotson in the second quarter set up Philadelphia’s go-ahead score and a lead the Eagles would not relinquish. It was the longest play allowed by the Cowboys.
As the Cowboys looked to answer in the next series, running back Miles Sanders fumbled at the Eagles’ 10 after his 49-yard run put Dallas in scoring position. It was the only turnover for the Cowboys.
CeeDee Lamb had a fourth quarter to forget. To start the quarter, the receiver dropped a sure first-down catch. On the potential go-ahead drive, he dropped a deep ball that would have put the Cowboys deep in scoring territory. Then, on fourth-and-3, he could not come down with a diving catch. Per ESPN Research, it was his second career game with three drops (Week 13 last season against the Giants).
Those five plays were huge — and led to the Cowboys’ fourth loss to the Eagles in their past five meetings. It meant Brian Schottenheimer lost his first game as Cowboys coach, just like Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy.
It’s a painful lesson of how close and how far away the Cowboys are.
What to make of the QB performance: Forget about Dak Prescott’s final numbers. It was his ability to use his legs that mattered a ton. He didn’t do it much last season, and when he did in Week 9, he tore a hamstring that ended his season. On the second drive Thursday, he was flushed to his left, evaded a defender and found Lamb for an 18-yard gain. On the third drive, he was able to wiggle free from a potential Jordan Davis sack and scramble for 3 yards. Prescott is 32 and has had two major surgeries on his legs since 2020. He showed Thursday he can still move around.
Trend to watch: Do the Cowboys have to fear running quarterbacks? Hurts had two rushing touchdowns and 48 yards on the ground in the first half, most of them on scrambles. The Cowboys have games against Russell Wilson (twice, if he remains the Giants’ starter), Caleb Williams, Jordan Love, Justin Fields, Jayden Daniels (twice) and Kyler Murray, plus the rematch with Hurts. The Cowboys’ rush-lane discipline will have to improve greatly from Week 1, as will running to the football.
Stat to know:Javonte Williams had a favorable debut. In fact, it was the first time a running back had multiple rushing touchdowns in his first game for the Cowboys since before Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989. Herschel Walker did it in his NFL debut in 1986 with Landry as coach. The Cowboys had only six rushing touchdowns last season. They had two on their first two possessions Thursday. According to ESPN Research, the last running back with multiple rushing touchdowns against the Eagles was Saquon Barkley in his final game with the New York Giants in 2023, before joining Philadelphia as a free agent. —Todd Archer
Next game: vs. New York Giants (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 14.)
NEW YORK — Amanda Anisimova eliminated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 in a U.S. Open semifinal that ended at nearly 1 a.m. Friday and featured two of the most powerful first-strike hitters in women’s tennis.
The No. 8-seeded Anisimova, a 24-year-old who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Florida, reached her second straight major final by coming through after 2 hours, 56 minutes.
“I wasn’t sure I would make it past the finish line and I tried to dig deep,” said Anisimova, who needed three match points to get the job done. “It was a huge fight out there today.”
When it was over, Anisimova yelled, “Let’s go!” and enjoyed the moment by kneeling on the court and leaning forward.
She will face defending champion and current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday for the title. Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula in three sets on Thursday. Sabalenka owns three major trophies, all on hard courts.
This is the fifth consecutive women’s final at a Slam involving an American woman.
At Wimbledon in July, Anisimova had a Grand Slam breakthrough, upsetting Sabalenka in the semifinals — a result that increased the American’s edge in their head-to-head series to 6-3 — and making it all the way to the title match before losing 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek. But Anisimova recovered from that quickly enough and well enough to get past Swiatek in two sets in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
Now Anisimova is the first opponent to beat Osaka — a former No. 1 player who was seeded No. 23 in New York — this late in a Grand Slam tournament. Before this loss, Osaka had been a combined 14-0 over her career in major quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, with two trophies apiece from the U.S. Open and Australian Open.
“I mean, honestly I don’t feel sad. It’s really weird. Well, it’s not weird, because I just feel like I did the best that I could,” said Osaka, who took a series of mental-health breaks starting in 2021, then was away from the tour while having a daughter. “Honestly, it’s kind of inspiring for me, because it makes me just want to train and try to get better, and hopefully, just give it my very best shot again and see what happens. But I think I can’t be mad or upset at myself.”
Anisimova first got to the final four at a major tournament at the 2019 French Open at age 17. In 2023, she took a break from the tour, saying she had been “ struggling with my mental health and burnout ” for nearly a year.
At this time last season, Anisimova was ranked 50th and still working her way back. She’s most certainly back — and better than ever.
Asked what allowed her to win against Osaka, Anisimova replied: “Oh, my God. I don’t know. I mean, Naomi is playing amazing tennis. She’s back where she belongs.”
Well, Anisimova did it by forgetting about the opening set, and forgetting about a 6-5 deficit in the second.
She also did it by not holding anything back down the stretch, going for — and delivering — big groundstrokes that usually landed deep in the court and right where she wanted them. That tends to be Osaka’s style, too, but she was not quite able to keep up in the late going and took some pills a trainer gave her after examining her left foot in the third set.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a bigger challenge than I expected, because I kind of knew that she’s that type of player. It was just kind of funny at times, because there is no pattern to what she’s doing. It’s kind of like she just hits at the empty court or whatever, and it usually goes in,” Osaka said about taking on Anisimova. “Obviously she went to the finals of Wimbledon, and now she’s in the finals here, so it just shows that she’s a really good player.”
Both players frequently went over to the corners of the court to look up at their coaches and trade words.
Osaka showed frustration after getting broken in the second set by smacking a ball in anger off the blue court and then tossing her racket toward the sideline.
Osaka pounded serves at up to 119 mph and produced 15 aces. Anisimova’s purest-in-the-sport backhand and almost-as-good forehand helped her compile 50 winners, 18 more than Osaka.
“Sometimes, I was like, ‘How are we making these shots?’” Anisimova said. “But we were.”
Kyle Teel hit a three-run home run, Colson Montgomery homered and drove in three, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 11-8
MINNEAPOLIS — Kyle Teel hit a three-run home run, Colson Montgomery homered and drove in three, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 11-8 on Thursday night.
Chase Meidroth had four hits, as the White Sox came back from three runs down for the second consecutive night against Minnesota to win their season-high fifth straight game.
Teel and Edgar Quero each had three hits.
Wikelman González (1-0) struck out two and allowed no hits in 1 1/3 innings to earn his first career win in relief. Fraser Ellard was the opener for Chicago, throwing 1 1/3 innings with two hits and two strikeouts.
Luke Keaschall had four hits and two runs scored for the Twins. Mickey Gasper had three RBIs, and Matt Wallner and Kody Clemens homered. Travis Adams (1-3) allowed three hits and four runs in one inning of relief for Minnesota, which is 3-7 in its last 10 games.
Teel got all of an Adams cutter, sending it 413 feet to right and tying the game at 7-all in the seventh inning. Two batters later, Andrew Benintendi hit a sacrifice fly that scored Lenyn Sosa for the go-ahead run.
The White Sox improve to 5-62 when trailing after six innings, and pick up their 23rd comeback win of the season. They trailed in every game of the series, but still emerged with the four-game sweep.
Minnesota starts a six-game road trip in Kansas City, and they have not announced who will face Royals RHP Michael Wacha (8-11, 3.52 ERA).
Chicago continues a seven-game road trip in Detroit, as RHP Shane Smith (4-7, 3.81) starts opposite Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (7-13, 4.74).
Aryna Sabalenka is excited for a proposed Battle of the Sexes contest against Nick Kyrgios and says it will be a “good thing for women’s tennis” if she is able to beat him.
The potential clash has been a hot topic of conversation at the US Open after Kyrgios discussed it earlier this week on the Tea with Bublik podcast with fellow player Alexander Bublik.
“Sabalenka is awesome, she’s such a character,” said Kyrgios. “I think she’s the type of player who genuinely believes she’s going to win.”
Image: Kyrgios has been sidelined for most of the last three years with injury
If it happens, the contest will mimic one of the most famous tennis matches in history when Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome in 1973.
It has been reported it will take place in Hong Kong in January, although Sabalenka insisted the date and venue has not yet been decided.
Asked if the match represents a good move for women’s tennis, Sabalenka said: “It’s going to be a good thing if I’ll be able to win but, for now, we are not sure about the place.
“But definitely, if we’re going to bring it, we’re going to bring it to somewhere where it’s going to be a lot of people watching, and we’re going to put a lot of pressure on Nick.
“I think it’s a cool idea. I think it’s going to be spectacular to watch. It’s going to be fun, especially against someone like Nick.
“Like he said in another interview, that I genuinely think that I’m going to win, and I’ll definitely go out there and I’ll try my best to kick his a**.”
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Take a look at some of Nick Kyrgios’ best points of his ATP career…
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Do you remember when Kyrgios reacted to a fan’s comment by bringing actor Ben Stiller into the argument during Indian Wells in 2022?
There is no doubt, if they do manage to stage the match, it will generate a huge deal of interest.
Sabalenka is the world No 1 and about to contest another Grand Slam final at the US Open while Kyrgios has been sidelined for most of the last three years with injury but was a Wimbledon finalist in 2022.
Watch the climax to the US Open in New York, 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.
Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine’s Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010.
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles standout defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected from Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys before the first play from scrimmage.
There was an injury delay following the opening kickoff for Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren, who remained on the ground for several minutes. During that time, Carter and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott got face-to-face. Cameras showed Carter spit on Prescott as the two began to separate.
Prescott quickly motioned to a nearby official, who threw the flag and sent Carter packing for unsportsmanlike conduct six seconds into the NFL season opener. Fans booed as Carter walked off slowly, holding his helmet in his hands behind his back.
The Eagles were hit with a 15-yard penalty, and the Cowboys proceeded to go down the field and score a touchdown on their six-play opening drive, capped by a 1-yard rush by Javonte Williams.
Carter, 24, is considered one of the best defensive tackles in the game. He had 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss to help lead the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL last season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.
The Indiana Fever said Thursday that guard Caitlin Clark is out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season, missing the team’s final three regular-season games and any potential postseason play. The announcement ended weeks of speculation about when Clark, who hasn’t played since July 15 due to a right groin injury, would return — a frustrating chapter for Clark and the Fever, who currently are the No. 8 seed for the WNBA playoffs.
Clark didn’t miss a game during her four seasons at Iowa or her first season in the WNBA, when she won Rookie of the Year and led the league in assists and 3-pointers. But she has struggled to stay healthy throughout 2025, appearing in just 13 of Indiana’s 41 games so far. Three different injuries forced her to miss the Commissioner’s Cup final on July 1, won by the Fever over Minnesota; the All-Star Game, for which she was a captain for the contest in her home arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse; and the final seven weeks of the season.
What does it mean for the Fever and WNBA that Clark won’t be in the playoffs? And what’s next for the 23-year-old, who is one of the biggest stars in professional sports?
How does Thursday’s news impact the rest of the Fever’s season and playoff hopes going forward?
The Fever have been through so many injuries and new players added and subtracted this season that they’ve proved they just roll with the punches. And they won’t be surprised by this news — they’re around Clark all the time and know how her recovery has been going. Despite all the difficulties, four Fever players have appeared in all 41 games: guards Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, and posts Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard.
That’s still a very good and experienced quartet of players to take into the postseason if the Fever can lock up their playoff berth. Mitchell and Boston are both averaging career highs in points, and Hull has career-high averages in points (7.2), rebounds (4.4) and assists (1.8). Howard is a three-time WNBA champion with Seattle (twice) and Minnesota.
In August, after season-ending injuries to guards Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson, the Fever added veteran guard Odyssey Sims. They also added Aerial Powers later in the month after Sophie Cunningham was lost for the season. Sims and Powers combined have played in 55 WNBA postseason games. Powers won a WNBA title with Washington.
Obviously, this team doesn’t look like what was expected back in May, but its resilience has never gone away. Clark being officially shut down is a blow, but the Fever have played more than twice as many games without Clark this season as they have with her. — Voepel
How has Indiana played without Clark?
The good news for the Fever is they still have two healthy All-Stars in Boston and Mitchell, the latter of whom has stepped up as Indiana’s primary perimeter creator in Clark’s absence. Mitchell has averaged 21.2 PPG and 3.9 APG in 28 games without Clark, compared with 19.2 PPG and 2.2 APG as part of an All-Star backcourt duo.
However, recent injuries to guards beyond Clark have tested Indiana’s depth. The Fever won five consecutive games from July 24 to Aug. 3, but just after the win streak was snapped in Los Angeles, they lost McDonald and Colson in a loss to Phoenix. Including that game, which neither player finished, Indiana has gone 4-7 in its past 11 games. Then Cunningham, who averaged 11.2 PPG in 13 starts, was also lost for the season.
Intriguingly, Indiana still has a better net rating (minus-2.5 points per 100 possessions) in that span than Los Angeles (minus-3.5), according to WNBA Advanced Stats. The Sparks are 1.5 games back of the Fever for the eighth and final playoff spot, which is why the Fever make the playoffs in 93% of simulations using ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI). But Indiana’s net rating is last among the eight teams currently in playoff position, which doesn’t bode well for a first-round upset. — Pelton
Why did the Fever make the decision now?
The Fever might have been ready to pull the plug on Clark’s season even before Thursday. But Clark is a fierce competitor, and Fever management probably wanted to give her every opportunity to return if she could. All along, it has seemed like the Fever have tried to balance encouraging Clark with attempting to stay pragmatic.
But with the end of the regular season next week, the clock had realistically run out on her coming back. There was no reason to keep dangling that hope to Fever fans, many of whom likely anticipated this announcement, or for Clark to keep pushing toward an impossible goal. — Voepel
What does Clark being shut down for the season mean for her immediate future?
She ends her second season having averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 13 games. Even in her time off the court, she was never disengaged from the Fever. She was a vocal and energetic presence on the bench, and we can expect that will remain the same for all of Indiana’s remaining games. But there is now no pressure to push herself physically, which is for the best. She can focus on getting healthy, setting up workout routines that will carry over into the offseason and supporting the team for however long the 2025 season lasts.
As for what it means for the WNBA, clearly Clark is the league’s biggest draw: Her presence on the court draws interest even from people who aren’t big sports fans. She definitely will be missed in the postseason. But if the standings hold, Indiana still will host its first playoff game since 2016, and across the league there remains anticipation for the playoffs and several intriguing storylines. — Voepel
What should we expect from Clark next May in her third WNBA season?
For this injury-plagued season to be a memory. We’re still at least eight months away from the start of the 2026 regular season, more than enough time for Clark’s groin to heal completely.
Perhaps the most compelling parallel to Clark’s lost 2025 is Michael Jordan’s second NBA season. After winning Rookie of the Year, like Clark did last year, Jordan was limited to 18 games and seven starts in 1985-86 by a navicular fracture. (One key difference: Jordan returned for the playoffs, dropping 63 points on the eventual champion Celtics at the Boston Garden in a first-round loss.) The following season, Jordan averaged a career-high 37.1 PPG and finished second in MVP voting.
There’s WNBA precedent, too. Three-time MVP A’ja Wilson went from averaging 20.7 PPG as a rookie to 16.5 in Year 2, in part because of an ankle sprain that cost her a couple of weeks. The next year, in 2020, Wilson won the first of those MVP trophies. Sue Bird managed to play all 34 games during her second season despite a knee injury that required microfracture surgery the following offseason. In Year 3, Bird helped lead the Seattle Storm to the first of her four championships.
That’s not to say that Clark will win a scoring title, MVP or a championship in 2026, but her potential shouldn’t be limited by what happened this year.
One interesting question is whether missing so much time might alter Clark’s offseason plans. She opted against any organized competition after her rookie campaign, but going so long without competitive games might not be ideal for Clark this time around. That could make participating in Unrivaled’s 3-on-3 play or going overseas more appealing. — Pelton
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter walks off the field after being disqualified for unsportsman like conduct before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Mike Clay is a senior writer for fantasy football and the NFL at ESPN. Mike is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. His projections power the ESPN Fantasy Football game, and he also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.
Welcome to the Fantasy Football Playbook for Week 1, which kicks off Thursday with the Cowboys at the Eagles.
This column features score projections, over/unders, win probabilities, and, of course, easily digestible fantasy advice for seasonlong leagues and DFS. This guide should help you with all sorts of decision-making, including sit/start decisions, last-minute waiver adds and lineup choices.
Additionally, we have folded the Shadow Report, previously a separate column, into the game-by-game breakdowns below. Using our play-by-play data, we’re able to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, we can offer the best projections, rankings, sit/start advice and waiver wire suggestions each week.
All of this advice is centered on 12-team PPR leagues with relatively standard scoring and lineup settings (1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 flex, 1 K, 1 D/ST), although I’ll often mention “shallow” or “deep” leagues for some starters. The charts show all players who have been projected for at least 6.0 fantasy points this week, as well as all D/STs. “Matchup” is automatically determined using a proprietary metric that factors in raw and volume-adjusted fantasy points allowed to each position by the opposing defense this season.
(Editor’s note: Projections and rankings will align almost perfectly, but sometimes when a projection is close, a player might be ranked slightly higher or lower because of other factors, including upside or risk. This column is subject to updates during the weekend, although at the very minimum, rankings will be updated on the site and projections will always be updated inside the game leading up to kickoff.)
Fantasy scoop: The Dallas backfield is one the biggest head-scratchers in fantasy. Javonte Williams is fully expected to operate as the lead back in the opener, but he has struggled with efficiency in recent seasons and has yet to deliver a top-25 fantasy campaign on a per-game basis. Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue also figure to see some run and either could quickly emerge as the “hot hand.” Especially in what projects as a tough matchup against an Eagles defense that allowed the second-lowest EPA against the run last season, this is a situation best avoided.
Shadow Report: Dallas will be without four depth corners this week and, more importantly, could be missing Trevon Diggs (knee). If Diggs is out, it’s possible Dallas chooses to shadow Brown with DaRon Bland, but it likely won’t be full time, as Bland might be needed in the slot. Regardless, the likes of Brown and DeVonta Smith would be working plenty against Kaiir Elam, seventh-round rookie Trikweze Bridges and 2024 UDFA Reddy Steward (zero career snaps). Upgrade the Philly pass attack.
Fantasy scoop: With Rashee Rice suspended for the Chiefs’ first six games, Worthy is on the WR1 radar and Hollywood Brown makes for a fine flex option. In a similar role late last season, Worthy handled a hefty 26% target share (8.7 per game) over his final six games (including the playoffs) and scored at least 19 fantasy points in five of those games. Brown lost most of 2024 due to injury, but was a top-30 fantasy receiver during the 2021-22 seasons and has a path to an every-down role this week.
Shadow Report: Expect A.J. Terrell Jr. to shadow Evans in Week 1. Atlanta’s top corner shadowed most weeks last season, including a Week 5 showdown with Evans. Evans posted a strong 5-62-2 receiving line on seven targets in the game. Evans was out for the Week 8 meeting between the teams, but Terrell also shadowed him in Week 5 back in 2022 (where Evans posted an 8-4-81-0 receiving line), as well as in Week 7 (8-6-82-1) and Week 14 (1-1-5-0) of 2023.
Some quick math shows that Evans has produced 14.3 fantasy PPG in the four meetings with Terrell, having reached 20 points twice. With Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan both out, Evans will be Mayfield’s top target and Terrell hasn’t been much of a detriment to his success. Evans should be locked in as a fringe WR1 and rookie running mate Egbuka should also be in lineups.
Fantasy scoop: Second-round rookie Quinshon Judkins has yet to sign with the Browns, which positions Jerome Ford and fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson as Cleveland’s Week 1 lead backs. Ford played six full games as the team’s lead back last season and was productive, averaging 14.0 touches, 78.0 yards and 14.0 fantasy points. He was also the team’s lead back for most of 2023 and finished 16th in RB fantasy points (25th in PPG) while piling up 1,132 yards and nine TDs. It’s yet to be seen how much Sampson will contribute, but Ford is safe to view as a RB2/flex option this week against a suspect Bengals defense.
Shadow Report: Free agency and injuries have devastated Miami’s cornerbacks room, leaving the likes of Storm Duck, recently signed Rasul Douglas and Day 3 rookie Jason Marshall Jr. as the probable Week 1 starters. This opens the door for Colts receivers to get off to a fast start with Daniel Jones under center. Upgrade the likes of Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren also makes for a fine starting option in his NFL debut.
Shadow Report: Stefon Diggs is a bit risky as he makes his New England debut while returning from last season’s torn ACL. The good news is that he has an appealing Week 1 matchup at home against a suspect Raiders cornerbacks room. Ex-Packer Eric Stokes will be joined on the perimeter by third-round rookie Darien Porter and slot man Darnay Holmes. Diggs and fellow starting WRs DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte can be upgraded.
Fantasy scoop: Week 1 will give us our first look at Spencer Rattler in Kellen Moore’s offense. Rattler — a 2024 fifth-round pick — appeared in seven games as a rookie and did not show particularly well. He completed 57% of his passes, averaged 5.8 yards per attempt and managed four TDs and five INTs. Especially against an improved Arizona defense, Rattler’s presence makes the Saints’ pass catchers very risky fantasy plays. Chris Olave (a 4-54-0 receiving line on five career targets from Rattler) and Rashid Shaheed (1-11-0 on seven targets) are no better than flex options in deeper leagues.
Fantasy scoop: The lowest projected game total of the week features two good (perhaps great) defenses and not many palatable fantasy starters. That includes the running backs on both teams. You’d be hard pressed to bench Hall after selecting him in the fourth-ish round (which is why he’s listed as a lineup lock despite the tough matchup), but a Week 1 dud shouldn’t be a surprise — especially with Braelon Allen expected to be involved. Jaylen Warren will work as the lead back in Pittsburgh, but he’s never previously operated as a feature back and figures to defer some work to Kenneth Gainwell and rookie Kaleb Johnson. Warren is best valued as a flex.
Fantasy scoop: If you drafted well, you shouldn’t need to rely on any of the running backs in this game … and that’s a good thing. Tracy is the best and safest option of the bunch, but he didn’t sport much upside last season and it’s yet to be seen how much work he’ll defer to fourth-round rookie Cam Skattebo. Washington traded away Brian Robinson Jr. last month and we could be looking at a three-headed committee with Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. Ekeler’s receiving chops make him the safest option of the three, whereas Croskey-Merritt is most the explosive and Rodriguez the best bet to steal a touchdown.
Shadow Report: Marshon Lattimore might travel with Nabers in the opener. The two didn’t meet last season, but Lattimore has a history of shadowing top receivers and did so against both A.J. Brown and Mike Evans after joining Washington late last season. Despite Lattimore’s impressive career résumé, he hasn’t been quite as effective (or consistently healthy) in recent years and his presence isn’t enough to affect Nabers’ fantasy appeal.
Fantasy scoop: Choosing between the Jaguars’ running backs for your Week 1 RB2/flex slot? Good luck. The Jacksonville backfield is one of the most uncertain situations in the game, with veterans Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby battling with rookies Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. for work. The most likely Week 1 scenario is that Bigsby will pace the unit in carries and goal line work, with Etienne a hair behind in carries and the most involved back in passing situations. Tuten might not see much work in his pro debut, but it might not take him long to emerge if either or both of the veterans struggle. This is an appealing matchup, so if you’re really digging deep, Etienne would be your best option from this quartet.
Shadow Report: A slow start to the season could be in order for both No. 1 receivers, as shadow coverage from L’Jarius Sneed (on Sutton) and Pat Surtain II (on Ridley) is probable. Sneed missed most of 2024 due to injury, but he shadowed often prior to getting hurt, including matchups with Garrett Wilson and Tyreek Hill. Sneed was elite as a full-time shadow corner with the Chiefs in 2023 (including holding Sutton to a single catch on 18 routes in two meetings). Perhaps the league’s top corner, Surtain shadowed in eight games last season and held six of those opposing receivers to single-digit fantasy points. Both Sutton and Ridley can remain in lineups, but there’s added “bust risk” in this matchup.
Fantasy scoop: The 49ers’ WR room is in a state of chaos, with Brandon Aiyuk (PUP), Demarcus Robinson (suspension) and Jacob Cowing (IR) all out, and Jauan Jennings and Jordan Watkins both uncertain for the opener. Assuming Jennings is able to play, he and Ricky Pearsall should be heavily utilized, and both make for viable WR3/flex options. Jennings carries some risk after missing substantial offseason work, but last season’s 25% target share suggests he’ll remain a big part of the offense. Pearsall came on strong at the end of 2024 and has operated as the 49ers’ No. 1 receiver throughout the offseason. The 2024 first-round pick is well-positioned for a breakout campaign.
Fantasy scoop: With Christian Watson (PUP) sidelined and Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Savion Williams all battling injuries of their own, the Packers’ WR room is a bit of a mystery here in Week 1. One thing we should be able to count on, however, is a big role for rookie Matthew Golden. The speedy first-round pick is expected to immediately slide in as Jordan Love‘s top perimeter target, with Romeo Doubs on the opposite boundary and, if healthy, Reed in the slot. Facing off with Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed won’t be an easy task, but Green Bay figures to be throwing the ball plenty in what should be a competitive game against Detroit. Golden is your best fantasy option from this Green Bay WR room and can be valued as a WR3/flex.
Fantasy scoop: Joe Mixon (PUP, foot) is out for at least the first four games of the season, which opens the door for some combination of Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and rookie Woody Marks to handle Houston’s backfield workload. Chubb is the safest bet to handle the bulk of the carries against the Rams, but won’t get much work as a receiver. It’s unclear if the 29-year-old can be effective after struggling on 107 touches in Cleveland last season. You can likely do better in your flex slot. Pierce and pass-catching specialist Marks are intriguing wild cards and, while neither should be in fantasy lineups this week, they make for find end-of-bench stashes.
Fantasy scoop: This game is fairly straightforward from a fantasy standpoint, leaving Buffalo’s wide receivers as the only conundrum when evaluating your WR3/flex options. Khalil Shakir is the safest of the bunch, but he lacks upside, primarily due to a very limited role near the goal line (only seven career TDs and five career end zone targets). Coleman had an uneven rookie season, but the 2024 second-round pick is a breakout candidate and could quickly emerge as Allen’s top target. Both receivers are in the flex discussion, but will have their hands full against a terrific Baltimore defense that includes cornerbacks Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey and, if he’s able to play, Jaire Alexander.
Shadow Report: Jaylon Johnson is a strong bet to shadow Jefferson this week. When these teams met in Week 12 last season, Johnson shadowed Jefferson on 19 of his 37 routes, including 17 of 23 on the perimeter and two of 14 in the slot. Jefferson was held in check, posting a 2-27-0 receiving line on five targets. Johnson shadowed only part of the time in the Week 15 showdown and Jefferson was better (7-73-1 on 13 targets), though most of that game was spent away from Johnson’s coverage. Johnson is a good corner, so perhaps the “bust” potential is higher than usual for Jefferson, but you’re obviously starting the best player on your fantasy team.
Fantasy scoop: Speaking of Minnesota receivers, Jordan Addison is suspended for three games to open the 2025 season, which positions veteran Adam Thielen for a sizable role in his return to the team. Jalen Nailor and rookie Tai Felton very well could factor in, but Thielen showed he still had life late last season when he averaged 7.7 targets per game while posting 15-plus fantasy points in four of his final six outings with Carolina. We don’t want to get too carried away here, as Thielen will be no higher than third in line for targets (behind Jefferson and Hockenson) and is facing a good Chicago defense. Still, if you’re eyeing a WR3/flex lottery ticket, Thielen is a viable option.
HENDERSON, Nev. — Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper retired Thursday, a little more than a week after signing a one-year contract to return to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said Cooper called coach Pete Carroll on Thursday morning and gave him the news.
“It’s unfortunate because I think the world of him,” Kelly said. “I think he’s a heck of a football player. He’s had a heck of an NFL career, but he knows in his heart what he wants to do, so I wish him the best. I’ve always been a big fan of his.”
Cooper, 31, played 10 seasons for four teams and finished with 711 catches for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns.
He was drafted fourth in the 2015 draft by the then-Oakland Raiders.
Cooper played for the Raiders until being traded to Dallas in October 2018 for a first-round pick. He exceeded 1,000 receiving yards seven times, most recently two years ago for Cleveland, when Cooper had 72 receptions for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns.
He had 44 catches for 547 yards and four TDs last season for the Browns and Buffalo Bills.
When he met with reporters last week, Cooper said he wanted to prove he remained one of the league’s top receivers.
“Trust me, I still have some juice left,” Cooper said at the time. “I felt like this was the opportunity for me to show it.”
How much Cooper would have been part of the offense remained to be seen.
“Amari’s done well so far,” Carroll said Wednesday. “We just want to get through some more practices. We just haven’t had that much time yet.”
Kelly said the coaches still were finalizing their plan for how they will use their receivers in Sunday’s season opener at New England.
“We hadn’t made any final decisions on whether (Cooper) was going to play in the first game,” Kelly said. “He was training with us and got reps. You’re not making your usual 48-man roster until Saturday anyway, so we hadn’t had any discussions.”
The 2025 NFL season begins Thursday with the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles taking on the Cowboys. Will Philadelphia repeat, or is another team destined to win Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium?
We asked ESPN’s NFL analysts, writers, commentators, columnists and pundits to make their picks for the NFL season. More than 60 experts weighed in with their predicted winners for AFC conference champion, NFC conference champion, Super Bowl LX champion and regular-season MVP.
Here’s a breakdown of their picks. And check out all of our NFL season preview content for more news and analysis ahead of Week 1.
Archer: Josh Allen Baby: Lamar Jackson Barshop: Joe Burrow Beisner-Buck: Josh Allen Bruschi: Joe Burrow Buck: Joe Burrow Chase: Joe Burrow Cimini: Jayden Daniels Kevin Clark: Patrick Mahomes Ryan Clark: Joe Burrow Coughlin: Jahmyr Gibbs Cronin: Jordan Love Darlington: Patrick Mahomes Davenport: Lamar Jackson Demovsky: Jayden Daniels DiRocco: Joe Burrow Edwards: Josh Allen Fowler: Joe Burrow George: Lamar Jackson Getzenberg: Patrick Mahomes Graziano: Patrick Mahomes Greenberg: Joe Burrow Hasselback: Lamar Jackson Hawkins: Jalen Hurts Henderson: Joe Burrow Hensley: Lamar Jackson Holder: Lamar Jackson Kahler: Joe Burrow Keim: Jayden Daniels Kimes: Lamar Jackson Kiper: Lamar Jackson Laine: Jayden Daniels Louis-Jacques: Lamar Jackson Martin: Joe Burrow McCourty: Jalen Hurts McFadden: Joe Burrow McFarland: Jayden Daniels McManus: Lamar Jackson Miller: Lamar Jackson Newton: Josh Allen Orlovsky: Jordan Love Oyefusi: Josh Allen Paolantonio: Joe Burrow Pryor: Lamar Jackson Raanan: Justin Jefferson Raimondi: Lamar Jackson Reid: Lamar Jackson Reiss: Joe Burrow Rhim: Joe Burrow Riddick: Patrick Mahomes Rutledge: Lamar Jackson Ryan: Joe Burrow Saturday: Joe Burrow Schefter: Lamar Jackson Schrager: Joe Burrow Seifert: Josh Allen Solak: Joe Burrow Spears: Lamar Jackson Tannenbaum: Joe Burrow Taylor: Patrick Mahomes Terrell: Lamar Jackson Thiry: Josh Allen Van Pelt: Lamar Jackson Wagoner: Joe Burrow Weinfuss: Jalen Hurts Woodyard: Lamar Jackson Yates: Lamar Jackson Yurk: Josh Allen
