Turron Davenport covers the Tennessee Titans for ESPN since 2018. Turron is a former collegiate football player at Cheyney University and is a native of Philadelphia, and he has authored/co-authored four books. You can catch Turron on ESPN Radio on his show “Talking with TD.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley heads into Year 2 with the franchise, he said he’s in a better headspace in his life after injuries and a mental health journey, which included a gambling suspension, derailed his career.
In a detailed interview with ESPN, he discussed what losing football meant to him, as well as playing through a broken foot in 2020, what he has learned along the way and a detailed look at the gambling situation that led to him missing the 2022 season.
Ridley is entering his second season with the Titans and is the team’s No. 1 receiver. He is one of five captains voted upon by his teammates. Ridley has come full circle since hitting what some would consider to be rock bottom.
“The suspension gave me time to rest, get physically better, and mentally stronger,” Ridley told ESPN. “After that year, I was ready to come back.”
At Ridley’s request, the Falcons gave him time away from football. He was able to rehab his foot and take care of his mental health. It also gave him time to connect with family.
But on this one particular trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, things took a turn. Ridley spent time with his younger brothers, Riley and Clayton, and that’s when his gambling incident took place. He watched basketball on a Friday night with his brother and some friends who were placing bets on games via an app.
Ridley joined them and made wagers, and it rolled over to college football games the next day. Then Sunday rolled around, and Ridley placed wagers on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Falcons.
“I downloaded the app sitting there not knowing that I was breaking a rule or anything,” Ridley said. “Those were the only two NFL games I bet.”
He would go on to miss the rest of the season, and in March 2022, the suspension for gambling would come down.
Ahead of the trade deadline in the 2022 season, Atlanta would trade the suspended Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars for conditional 2023 sixth-round and 2024 fourth-round picks.
“Football has been my job since I was a kid,” Ridley said. “That’s all I ever did, man. I never worked a job.”
Time away allowed Ridley to learn how to cope with his emotions, and when he finally got back to the playing field, he caught eight passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in his first game. He finished the season with 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Jaguars tried to bring him back, offering him a contract that averaged around $20 million annually. But Ridley decided to test the free agent market — signing a four-year, $92 million deal with the Titans. A grueling 3-14 season yielded some frustrating moments for Tennessee, but Ridley finished the season with 1,017 yards and four touchdowns on 64 receptions.
“I learned a lot of tools during that process,” Ridley said of those years of tumult. “I still use those things today when it gets hard. I don’t let myself go too far down. I’ll flush out the bad thoughts, refresh my mind every time I go home.”
Ridley returned to Atlanta earlier this month when the Titans had joint practices with the Falcons. Returning to the Falcons’ facility in Flowery Branch evoked a lot of emotions for Ridley, heightened by returning to the place where it started.
“It was like, ‘Dang, how could I be working so hard for [Falcons] and they just flicked me without even trying to protect me or anything?’” Ridley said.
Atlanta selected Ridley after a stellar career at Alabama with the 26th pick in the 2018 draft. After two solid seasons, he exploded for a career-high 1,374 yards in 2020. It was the ninth-highest single-season total in Falcons franchise history. And Ridley did it while playing with what would later be diagnosed as a broken left foot.
The Falcons’ training staff initially diagnosed the injury as a bone bruise during the season, so Ridley resorted to painkillers to remain on the football field. It’s what he had done the previous two seasons when he was dealing with bone spurs on the same foot. Ridley ended up playing 15 games that season.
Heading into OTAs in 2021, Ridley knew something wasn’t right because he couldn’t run, and it felt like something was stabbing his foot.
“My foot was messed up,” Ridley said. “But, I’ve always been that guy — ‘Nah, I’m all right, I’m going to play. I’m going to keep playing on it.’”
After the previous staff was fired after a 4-12 record, the new head trainer sent Ridley to a specialist in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where it was immediately determined that he had a broken foot. Ridley had surgery that June and rushed back, eager to take on his new role as the No. 1 receiver after the new regime had traded Jones to the Titans.
Ridley has excelled at the sport since he was 8, but for the first time, he began to have second thoughts about being able to “kick DBs’ asses” because of the injured foot.
“If your mental ain’t good, your confidence isn’t there anymore,” Ridley said. “That’s what I was trying to tell them.”
To make things worse, Ridley’s home was burglarized during the Falcons’ season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. The game was in Atlanta, so Ridley’s wife, Dominique, and their then-1-year-old daughter weren’t at the house. Security footage revealed several armed intruders ransacking the home.
Dominique struggled to sleep at night and couldn’t stand it when Ridley wasn’t with her in the house. Ridley started to feel the “weight of the world on his chest.”
After two away games and a home game, the foot clearly wasn’t getting any better. Ridley asked for time to heal both mentally and physically. His “mind was messed up” from wanting to be home to protect his family and not being the same caliber of player.
The team allowed him to miss the Week 5 game, a 27-20 win over the New York Jets in London. That game was followed by the bye week, giving Ridley two weeks to stay off the foot. Ridley returned in Week 7 only to catch four passes for 26 yards. After five games, Ridley stepped away from football to focus on his mental health.
“I never felt like that before,” Ridley said. “Mental health is real.”
The version of Ridley that takes the field now for the Titans is in a different place — football is fun for him again. A big part of his excitement stems from rookie quarterback Cam Ward‘s arrival after being the No. 1 pick in the draft.
“I could feel something in me,” Ridley said. “It was like, this kid’s good and I got to be good. I can’t fall behind. I got to be a help. I got to be a big help cause it’s time to dominate.”
The duo shined in OTAs, minicamp and then training camp. Fittingly, Ward’s first completion of the preseason was a 27-yard strike to Ridley on a dig route against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“That boy right there is different,” Ward said. “I ain’t never thrown to no receiver that moves and cuts like him. He’s one of the top-five receivers in the NFL. I’m blessed to play with him because he’s going to make me look good.”
It wasn’t easy for Ridley, 30, to turn things around the way he did, but Titans coach Brian Callahan chimed in about where he’s at today.
“There’s probably not a guy that practices as hard as [Ridley] on a snap-to-snap basis,” Callahan said Thursday on why Ridley was chosen to be one of the team captains. “He’s really grown in his leadership. I’m actually really proud of Rid and the things that he’s accomplished in that realm over the course of the offseason. He’s deserving of it, he has earned it, and I’m glad his teammates see it the same way.”
DALLAS — Lee Roy Jordan, a linebacker on the first Super Bowl-winning team for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s, has died. He was 84.
The Cowboys announced Jordan’s death Saturday without saying when he died or giving a cause of death.
Jordan was a first-round draft pick by Dallas in 1963 after a standout career at Alabama, where he played for the late Paul “Bear” Bryant.
Jordan was a big part of the “Doomsday” defense that carried the Cowboys to a Super Bowl title in a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins during the 1971 season. He retired in 1976, the year before Dallas won its second championship.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Jordan was the first player inducted into the Cowboys’ ring of honor after owner Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989.
Jordan is still second on the team’s career tackles list with 1,236. Darren Woodson, a safety on the Dallas teams that won three Super Bowls in the 1990s, has 1,350.
“With fearless instincts, leadership and relentless work ethic, Jordan was the embodiment of the Cowboys’ spirit,” the team said. “Off the field, his commitment to his community was the centerpiece of his life after retiring in 1976.”
The Cowboys were known as “next year’s champions” after the famous “Ice Bowl” loss to Green Bay in 1967, when the Packers went on to win their second consecutive title in Super Bowl 2. Three years later, Dallas lost to the Baltimore Colts on a last-season field goal in the Super Bowl.
The breakthrough finally came a year later with a linebacking crew led by Jordan and Chuck Howley, along with defensive tackle Bob Lilly, whose 29-yard sack of Bob Griese was the signature play in the Super Bowl win.
Jordan was the defensive leader on Alabama’s 1961 national championship team and was an Associated Press All-American a year later. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
The Tide called Jordan a “legend” in a social media post Saturday, saying he would “forever part of Alabama Football history.”
Liverpool and Newcastle have agreed a British-record transfer for Alexander Isak.
Sky Sports News understands Liverpool will pay a fixed fee of £125m for the striker, who is now expected to complete his move to Anfield on Deadline Day.
Isak is expected to sign a six-year deal with Liverpool and begin his medical on Monday morning.
The deal eclipses the £115m Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo in the summer of 2023.
Liverpool had a bid of £110m plus add-ons rejected for Isak at the start of August as Newcastle were unwilling to sell their star man without certain conditions being met.
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With Alexander Isak set for a move to Anfield, take a look at all of the forward’s goals for Newcastle United against Liverpool.
Their stance was that they were holding out for £150m, however that softened in recent weeks as Isak refused to train or play with his Newcastle team-mates in an attempt to force a move.
Finding a successor to Isak was another key in Newcastle accepting Liverpool’s offer for Isak.
The club-record signing of Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart for up to £69m opened the door for Liverpool to make their move for Isak.
Newcastle are also trying to sign a striker to replace Callum Wilson, who left on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract at the end of last season.
They have seen multiple bids rejected for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Wolves’ Jorgen Strand-Larsen this summer.
Newcastle target Wissa sensationally demanded to be sold by Brentford on Deadline Day eve.
Newcastle have had multiple offers rejected for Wissa this summer, and the striker has taken to Instagram to reveal his frustrations at a move not materialising as he pushes for a switch to the Magpies before Monday’s 7pm deadline.
Brentford are not commenting on Wissa’s bombshell statement.
Sky Sports News has also not seen evidence of the written assurances Wissa speaks of in his statement.
Luke Littler closed the gap on Luke Humphries at the top of the PDC Order of Merit after a dramatic final-leg victory over Josh Rock in the final of the Flanders Darts Trophy in Belgium.
Littler had seen off Damon Heta in a final-leg decider and brushed aside Daryl Gurney 7-1 to book a showdown against Rock, who beat Stephen Bunting and James Wade on his way to the final at the Antwerp Xpob.
The showdown was a repeat of the Betfred World Matchplay semi-final in Blackpool last month, where Littler produced a comeback victory, with ‘The Nuke’ having to come from behind again to claim an 8-7 victory and register a fourth PDC European Tour title.
Image: Littler’s Flanders Darts Trophy victory is his third career title in Belgium
Littler recovered from being 5-2 down to rattle off five of the next six legs to move 7-6 up against Rock, only for the Northern Irishman to respond by nailing a 161 checkout on the bullseye to take an absorbing final to a decider.
Rock had the throw in the final-leg shootout but quickly fell behind to Littler, who posted his ninth maximum of the match before taking out a 96 finish on double 18 to snatch victory with an 11-darter.
Sunday’s results
Quarter-Finals: Josh Rock 6-4 Luke Woodhouse, James Wade 6-4 Gian van Veen, Daryl Gurney 6-0 Danny Noppert, Luke Littler 6-5 Damon Heta
Semi-Finals: Josh Rock 7-5 James Wade, Luke Littler 7-1 Daryl Gurney
Final: Luke Littler 8-7 Josh Rock
“I think I started off okay, but obviously I wasn’t the quickest there,” Littler said. “The timing of the treble 20s, the cover shots, the doubles all went well.
“When Josh hit the 161, it wasn’t a good feeling. Then I just knew that I had to break and win the game. It might sound crazy but I love a last-leg decider! I back myself near enough every time, whether it’s with or against the darts, but I had to go out in 11 there.”
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Victory is Littler’s second PDC European Tour victory of the year and fourth of his career, three coming in Belgium, with the £30,000 first prize moving him less than £250,000 behind Humphries on the PDC Order of Merit.
Littler has already won the World Championship, UK Open, World Matchplay and two PDC World Series titles in 2025, with opportunities to come over the coming months to replace Humphries as No 1 before his title defence at the Alexandra Palace.
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Highlights from January’s World Darts Championship final, where Luke Littler thrashed Michael van Gerwen to win the event for the first time
“He’s not officially world No 1 yet but he will be soon and that’s why he is the world champion,” Rock said after his narrow loss. “He knows how to win games.
“I’m always a bit too hard on myself but I maybe should have done better. If you go to a final-leg decider with the world champion you have to give it all, but fortunately I didn’t do that.”
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The PDC European Tour heads to Prague for the Czech Darts Open, beginning on Friday, before the Jack’s Casino World Series of Darts Finals take place the following week in Amsterdam.
Live darts is back on Sky Sports from October 6-12, when the BoyleSports World Grand Prix is held in Leicester. Not got Sky? Stream darts and more with no contract.
CLEVELAND — Julio Rodríguez drove in two runs with an infield hit and the Seattle Mariners snapped a seven-game road losing streak with a 4-2 victory Sunday over the Cleveland Guardians to salvage the three-game series finale.
With a combined two-hitter, the Mariners extended their lead to three games over the Guardians for the third AL wild-card spot. Seattle entered play two games up on Kansas City.
Randy Arozarena hit a two-run homer for the Mariners, who got six strong innings from Bryce Miller (4-5). The right-hander gave up just two hits — on consecutive pitches in the third.
Gabe Speier and Matt Brash each pitched a perfect inning and Andrés Muñoz worked the ninth for his 32nd save.
Daniel Schneemann hit a two-run homer for Cleveland.
Rodríguez’s speed helped the Mariners snap a 2-2 tie in the seventh.
After two runners reached, Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (9-11) was lifted with one out for reliever Matt Festa, who got a groundout before intentionally walking slugger Cal Raleigh. Rodríguez followed with a ball up the middle and beat second baseman Schneemann’s throw to first as J.P. Crawford and Cole Young scored.
The Guardians challenged, but the call was upheld by replay review.
Arozarena’s 26th homer tied it 2-2 in the fifth.
Crawford singled, and one out later, Arozarena pulled Bibee’s 2-1 pitch into the left-field bleachers for his first career homer in 96 at-bats against Cleveland.
Schneemann connected for his 11th homer in the third.
Schneemann was behind the bag at second and didn’t have an angle to charge Rodríguez’s fairly routine bouncer.
Miller improved to 7-1 in 13 career starts against AL Central teams.
Mariners: Luis Castillo (8-7, 3.75 ERA) starts a series opener at Tampa Bay on Monday against Shane Baz (8-11, 5.19).
Guardians: Open a three-game series Monday in Boston with rookie Parker Messick (1-0, 0.66 ERA) facing Brayan Bello (10-6, 2.99),
WASHINGTON — Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam in Tampa Bay’s six-run second inning, Everson Pereira drove in two runs and the Rays beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 to sweep the three-game series on Sunday.
Tampa Bay starter Ian Seymour (3-0) gave up four runs — one earned — and four hits with eight strikeouts.
Pete Fairbanks pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save this season. Dylan Crews singled to lead off the ninth and moved to third on a single by Daylen Lile, who tried to stretch it into a double but was thrown out by Pereira at second before Brady House struck out swinging to end the game.
Josh Lowe tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pereira to make 7-0 in the third.
Jacob Young doubled to drive in House in the third. Riley Adams walked to lead off the fourth and scored when Crews reached on a fielding error by third baseman Junior Caminero. House singled to drive in two runs that made it 7-4.
Nationals starter Brad Lord (4-8) allowed seven runs and five hits in three innings.
Josh Lowe doubled to lead off the second, went to third on Bob Seymour’s single and scored on Pereira’s single to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. Tristan Gray walked to load the bases, Carson Williams walked on four pitches to drive in Seymour and set up Brandon Lowe’s homer that gave Tampa Bay a 6-0 lead.
The Rays swept their sixth series of the season, their first since June 24-26 at Kansas City, their fourth on the road.
Washington’s Andrew Alvarez (0-0, 0.00 ERA), the organization’s 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, is set to make his MLB debut Monday to kick off a three-game series against Miami. The Marlins have not announced their starter.
Tampa Bay’s Shane Baz (8-11, 5.19 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Monday against Seattle’s Luis Castillo (8-7, 3.75) in the opener of a three-game set.
CHICAGO — New York Yankees star Aaron Judge hit his 358th career homer in the first inning of Sunday’s game against the White Sox, moving into a tie with Yogi Berra for fifth in franchise history.
Judge drove an 0-2 cutter from Martín Pérez deep to center for a one-out solo drive. Judge’s 43rd homer of the season had a 112.6 mph exit velocity and traveled 426 feet.
He batted again in the third and doubled off the wall in center. He scampered home on Cody Bellinger’s double to right.
The 33-year-old Judge also connected for a solo homer in New York’s 11-inning victory at Chicago on Saturday night. The two-time AL MVP and seven-time All-Star was batting .218 (17 for 78) with five homers and 11 RBIs in August coming into the day.
Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (659 homers), Mickey Mantle (536), Lou Gehrig (493) and Joe DiMaggio (361) are on top of the Yankees’ career homers list. Judge’s drive produced the first change in the franchise’s top five since Aug. 7, 1957.
Judge was activated from the 10-day injured list on Aug. 5 after being sidelined by a flexor strain in his right elbow. He has been serving as the team’s designated hitter, but he could return to the outfield at some point this season.
Marcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow was arrested early Friday morning on a domestic battery charge, according to Broward County jail records.
According to the probable cause statement by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Crow got into an argument with someone he lives with and shoved the person. The alleged victim declined to offer a formal statement to police after they responded shortly after midnight Friday, and the person said they were not injured.
Two witnesses, however, told police that Crow was the aggressor, with one saying the “victim looked terrified.”
The other witness said Crow stopped his actions once he noticed people were watching the confrontation and went back to his apartment.
As of Friday morning, Crow was being held in Broward County’s main jail without bond.
The Dolphins placed Crow on administrative leave following his arrest.
“We are aware of the serious matter involving Ryan Crow and currently gathering more information,” the Dolphins said in a statement. “Ryan has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately. We have been in communication with the NFL and will reserve further comment at this time.”
Crow, 37, joined the Dolphins in 2024 after three seasons in the same role with the Tennessee Titans. He has coached in the NFL since 2018, all with the Titans and Dolphins.
The 2025 NFL season starts in just a few days, and with it comes a slew of rookie debuts.
Quarterback Cam Ward is confirmed as the Week 1 starter in Tennessee, while Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough wait in the wings in New York and New Orleans, respectively. Star rookie running backs like Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton and TreVeyon Henderson are poised to make big splashes. And on the other side of the ball, defenders like Abdul Carter and Jahdae Barron will line up against veteran stars after much-hyped preseasons.
Here’s our guide to everything you need to know about the 2025 rookie class. NFL draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid start by naming early Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year contenders (including their ESPN BET odds to win). Then Miller picks five under-the-radar players to watch, and Reid sizes up the top QBs. NFL analyst Matt Bowen lists 10 players who are likely to dominate in fantasy, and fantasy analyst Mike Clay caps it off with his projected rookie stat leaders.
Reid’s top Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates
After a historic career at Boise State, Jeanty enters the season as the catalyst for the Raiders’ rushing attack. With a lack of pass-catching options for veteran quarterback Geno Smith outside of tight end Brock Bowers and receivers Amari Cooper and Jakobi Meyers (who just requested a trade), Jeanty could quickly become a top-ranked rusher and frequent option as a receiver out of the backfield. He finished his three-year career at Boise State with 80 catches for 862 yards and six touchdowns, so he should have an impact there.
Ward has an exciting playing style that includes a quick release and great accuracy to all three levels of the field. For a Titans team that has been searching for a franchise QB, he brings plenty of promise. In his final collegiate season, Ward helped lead Miami to its first 10-win season since 2017, throwing for 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. He is the clear starter for the Titans, with Will Levis out for the season with a shoulder injury. That means Ward should be able to roll through ups and downs on his way to OROY-level numbers.
We got a brief glimpse of Hunter’s two-way potential in his lone preseason appearance against the Steelers, as he played 10 snaps on offense and another eight on defense. It appears Jacksonville will feature him on both sides of the ball, though the awards odds seem to favor more of an offensive impact from him. Alongside Brian Thomas Jr., Hunter could be part of a formidable duo for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Hampton’s bruising running style fits perfectly in offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s scheme. With a combination of downhill running and the ability to consistently break tackles, Hampton could quickly become the top option in the Chargers’ rushing attack. He’ll likely split carries with Najee Harris early this season, but Harris’ Week 1 status is still unknown after he sustained an eye injury in a Fourth of July fireworks mishap.
The Panthers were aggressive in finding a true WR1 for quarterback Bryce Young. McMillan is a big-bodied wideout who brings plenty to the table, finishing fifth in the FBS with 109.9 receiving yards per game last season. His strong hands, wide catch radius and diverse route tree will allow him to quickly become a reliable target for Young.
Miller’s top Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates
This year’s draft was light on top-tier defensive prospects — especially those who will generate the kind of numbers needed to win postseason awards — but Carter has the talent and opportunity to impress. The No. 3 draft pick has a good defensive line around him, including Dexter Lawrence II and Brian Burns. Those two will draw attention from offenses, which will give the speedy Carter a lot of one-on-one looks in passing situations. With 12 sacks last year in his first full season as a pass rusher at Penn State, the arrow is pointing up on what Carter can become as he gets more reps and coaching as an edge defender.
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Last season’s Jim Thorpe Award winner (which goes to the best defensive back in college) joins arguably the best defense in the NFL. In Denver, Barron will have plenty of opportunities to pick off opposing quarterbacks as they try to avoid Pat Surtain II. Barron’s five interceptions in his final season at Texas point to an instinctive cover man, and he has the speed to create with the ball in his hands.
Part of the criteria for making this list is being at a position that can accumulate stats (like sacks or interceptions), while being on a defense that puts you in a position to make plays. Starks and the Ravens are a perfect match in that regard. A versatile safety, Starks will line up next to Kyle Hamilton to form a duo that can take the ball away and make big hits. Starks’ rookie stat line may not feature the most interceptions (he had six career picks in three collegiate seasons), but he could fill up the box score with tackles, TFLs, picks and passes defensed.
One of the biggest surprises in the draft was when Johnson fell to the 47th pick. Injuries during his final season at Michigan and throughout the predraft process affected his stock, but his talent and tools were enough to have him ranked as my No. 1 pure cornerback in the class (Travis Hunter not included). Johnson fills a need in Arizona as an outside corner who has the height (6-foot-2), speed and instincts to be a playmaker.
If you need evidence as to why Mukuba makes the list, look back to the Eagles’ second preseason game. He had a pick-six off fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel and later recovered a fumble. Mukuba lasted until pick No. 64 in the draft but was a playmaker in 2024 at Texas with five interceptions and a forced fumble. It seems he’s picking up right where he left off as a hard-hitting, field-flipping safety with positional versatility.
Miller’s under-the-radar rookies
Receiver was a huge area of need for the Chargers last offseason, and the team invested there early in the draft with Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Harris, the team’s second-rounder, has impressed with his route-running ability and how well he has picked up multiple alignments in the offense. His penchant for big plays on deep routes is exactly what the Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert need.
Were it not for a season-ending knee injury in his final year at Colorado State, Horton was a likely top-75 selection in the draft. He slid to pick No. 166, right into the hands of the receiver-needy Seahawks. Horton was a standout during training camp and the preseason, but he left Week 2’s game early with a minor ankle injury. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp as the featured receivers in Seattle, Horton has a great opportunity to make noise as the team’s third option.
The slot cornerback position in San Francisco was among the team’s top needs headed into the draft. Finding Stout in the third round allowed the 49ers to check off that box early. He is undersized (5-foot-9, 181 pounds) but also feisty and fast with excellent short-area quickness. Stout has been sidelined recently with a calf injury, but he should be the starting slot cornerback when healthy.
Jaylen Warren is listed as the starting running back in Pittsburgh, but how long does that last? Johnson, a third-round pick, is the type of downhill power runner the Steelers love. At 224 pounds, he packs a punch with runaway speed to boot. Warren’s experience gives him an edge — especially in pass protection — but Johnson is too talented to keep on the bench for long. He should be the team’s future at the position.
Every time I check in with coaches and scouts from the Titans, they rave about Helm’s toughness and hands. The fourth-round pick scored on a beautiful catch between two defenders in the Week 2 preseason game. As a seam-busting tight end, he might not bring a ton of juice post-catch, but Helm will make the tough grabs consistently and has been productive in the red zone. Don’t be surprised if he’s the Titans’ starting tight end this season.
Reid’s notes on rookie QBs
With the Titans already installing concepts that are similar to what Ward executed at Miami, he is expected to bring his electrifying playing style to coach Brian Callahan’s offense right off the bat. There isn’t a throw on the field that Ward feels like he can’t make, using a shortstop-like throwing motion to execute them. Because of his high confidence, he will need to learn how to straddle the line of smart decision-making and risky, highlight-reel throws.
After an impressive showing throughout the preseason, Dart could be in line to play quicker than expected. He has the arm strength and quick decision-making to present headaches for opponents, and he is also an underrated runner. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are veteran QBs on the roster, but Dart’s preseason performance showed that it might prove difficult for the Giants to keep him on the bench very long. That said, coach Brian Daboll might still remain patient with Dart since the Giants have a very tough early schedule.
Even though Spencer Rattler was named the Saints’ Week 1 starter, the window is not completely closed for Shough. He went through plenty of highs and lows during the preseason, but he has shown strong traits as a passer. There’s still a chance he gets some starts this season. The biggest battle for Shough in college was durability and consistency, but he has the passing ability to thrive in Kellen Moore’s offense.
Bowen’s top fantasy rookies
A difference-maker with home run ability and elite contact balance, Jeanty steps into the lead role in the Raiders’ backfield. His 2,601 rushing yards and 126 forced missed tackles led the country last season at Boise State, and he should see a bump in receiving targets as a pro. Given his anticipated weekly volume in Las Vegas, he could produce RB1 numbers as a rookie.
Hampton delivers body punches at 6-foot, 221 pounds, and he can get rolling with his pads square on a downhill track. Plus, he can cut to daylight when the walls start to close. A capable receiver who produced big plays on screens and swings at North Carolina, Hampton can post lower-end RB2 numbers this season.
Harvey is decisive with the ball, using his compact 5-foot-8, 205-pound frame to run through defenders. Plus, he has some juice; he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the combine. With coach Sean Payton’s ability to scheme for the running back in the pass game, Harvey has the makeup of an RB2 in fantasy as a rookie.
Hunter brings a true playmaking element to Jacksonville. He is a sudden mover after the catch with electric ability in the open field, and he also has elite ball skills. While his total snap count on offense is still to be determined, Hunter fits as a WR3 for fantasy purposes who could produce WR2 numbers some weeks with his ability to flip the field.
More smooth than fast, McMillan can play as a boundary X in Carolina or create inside matchups from the slot. With his 6-foot-4 frame, he can play above the rim on contested throws, and he has a good feel for finding open voids versus zone concepts. McMillan will play a volume role as a rookie, which creates a WR3 floor.
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Why Mike Clay has growing confidence in Tetairoa McMillan
Mike Clay and Field Yates share their growing confidence in Tetairoa McMillan as a high-ceiling fantasy WR option.
Henderson is a slasher with big-play juice and the pass-catching skills to produce on third downs, and he will share the backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson as a rookie. Henderson caught 46 passes over his final two seasons at Ohio State, and he can operate as a matchup target for quarterback Drake Maye. With the expected volume here, he has upside as an RB2/flex player this season.
At 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds with straight-line acceleration and vision, Johnson is an easy fit for the Steelers’ outside zone scheme. He had 21 rushes of 20 or more yards last season at Iowa, the second most in the country, and he can help out in the passing game via swings and checkdowns. Johnson will share the backfield with Jaylen Warren, but the early-down volume could push him up the ranks as an RB2 or flex player.
With his 4.29 speed and ball-tracking ability, Golden brings a playmaking skill set to Matt LaFleur’s offense. Last season at Texas, Golden led the country with 23 receptions of 20 or more yards, but he can still work the underneath levels from multiple alignments. He can emerge quickly as a target for quarterback Jordan Love, making him an upside WR3.
Skattebo makes up for his lack of top-end speed with excellent contact balance and foot quickness to extend plays on the ground. He ran for 1,711 yards and 21 TDs at Arizona State last season, but he also added 605 yards on 45 receptions; I see upside as a receiver on backfield releases. If he can work his way into the Giants’ running back rotation, he will add fantasy value this season.
At 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds, Loveland uses his foot quickness and route-running skills to work every part of the field, and he presents issues for opposing defenses out of a slot alignment. Look for coach Ben Johnson to scheme matchups for Loveland, who fits as a fringe fantasy TE1 in Chicago’s upgraded offense.
Northern Superchargers snapped Southern Brave’s eight-match winning streak to clinch their first Hundred title and deny their opponents a second as well as the first unbeaten season in the tournament’s five-year history.
Brave had been impeccable throughout the group stage, including beating Superchargers by eight wickets at home but they came unstuck in Sunday’s Lord’s final, losing by seven wickets.
Georgia Adams’ side were restricted to an under-par 115-6 before Superchargers reached their target with 12 balls to spare after a six from Annabel Sutherland (28no off 25) to exact revenge for their 34-run defeat to Brave in the 2023 final.
Brave would have taken two wickets in as many balls – and reduced Superchargers to 60-4 after 45 – had they reviewed for Nicola Carey (35no off 25) lbw to Chloe Tryon, moments after Phoebe Litchfield (26 off 13) was out to a limp sweep following a four-laden cameo.
Australian duo Carey and Annabel Sutherland guided Superchargers home with an unbroken stand of 60 from 44, although Carey had another scare when a delivery from Lauren Bell – the tournament’s leading wicket-taker – hit the bail but it stayed in its groove.
Sutherland (2-23) and Kate Cross (2-23) had earlier starred with the ball – Cross’ wickets of Maia Bouchier (13) and Laura Wolvaardt (0) coming from successive deliveries.
ESPN’s weekly PPR and IDP fantasy football rankings are an aggregate of our rankers (eight PPR, three IDP). They are Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates. Karabell also provides his superflex rankings all season long.
Rankings will be published every Tuesday and are updated throughout the week for news and emerging analysis.
PASADENA, Calif. — By the time Nico Iamaleava stepped onto the field for his final drive of the night late in the fourth quarter of his much-anticipated debut as UCLA‘s quarterback, the Bruins were down 43-10 and the majority of the fans still left at the Rose Bowl were wearing red, chanting “Let’s go Utah!” as if the game were being held in Salt Lake City.
It was that kind of night for UCLA. The Bruins had come into the season with the promise of a new start, a new quarterback, a new offense and a reenergized culture in coach Deshaun Foster’s second season. Instead, they left their Week 1 matchup searching for answers, unable to avoid the reality of what had transpired.
“We got punched in the mouth,” Iamaleava said postgame.
After he transferred from Tennessee in the offseason in a surprising and controversial move, Iamaleava’s first snaps in blue and gold were not exactly what he or UCLA had in mind.
The 20-year-old quarterback struggled to engineer much success. Though he showed flashes of potential in a handful of pinpoint throws or scrambling runs, Iamaleava was pressured by Utah’s defense all night long and never found a rhythm. He finished with 11 completions on 22 pass attempts, 136 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception while adding a team-high 47 rushing yards.
“Nico is a competitor. He’s not going to quit. He kept playing hard,” Foster said. “We just gotta do a better job protecting him, keeping him upright.”
Iamaleava was sacked four times and pressured 10 times while the Bruins’ defense was far from helpful, allowing 493 total yards, a 14-of-16 conversion rate on third downs and four touchdown drives of nine plays or more. The Long Beach native, however, did not deflect the blame.
“I didn’t execute at a high level,” Iamaleava said. “I gotta be better. We all gotta be better.”
Earlier in the week, Iamaleava had said that up to 30 family members would be in attendance Saturday. While there may have been excitement about Iamaleava sparking a UCLA program in need of some buzz before the game began, it was quickly stifled by a Utah team that looked every bit the part of a Big 12 contender.
“We take this as a learning experience,” Iamaleava said. “We’re going to face many more tough opponents, and we gotta be ready.”
Foster said that even though little went right on the field Saturday, he was encouraged by the players’ attitude in the postgame locker room and their resolve to use the loss as a rock bottom they could rebound from. So did Iamaleava, who attempted to put his and UCLA’s sobering opener in perspective.
“Everything we want is still ahead of us. It’s Week 1,” he said. “Only way is up from here.”
NEW YORK — Former champions Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka will go head-to-head in a blockbuster fourth-round matchup at the US Open on Monday night, after booking their places in the last 16 in contrasting styles.
Gauff cruised past Magdalena Frech of Poland 6-3, 6-1, while Osaka battled past Australia’s Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 to make the fourth round of a major for the first time since she won the Australian Open in 2021.
This will be their sixth match in all, and first at the US Open since 2019 — their first meeting — when Osaka beat the then-15-year-old Gauff 6-3, 6-0. Gauff got her revenge at the Australian Open in 2020 in their next match, then they traded off the next two. Most recently, Gauff advanced in Beijing in 2024, when Osaka retired through injury at one set all, making the overall record 3-2.
It’s a pivotal match for both players. For Gauff, it’s the chance to reach the quarters for the third time in four years. For Osaka, it’s an opportunity to reestablish herself at the business end of a major for the first time since she became a mother.
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Coco Gauff cruises in straight-sets win at US Open
Magdalena Frech vs. Coco Gauff: Match Highlights
What Gauff has to do to win
One part is simple: If she serves well, she will have a great chance to win.
No one has served more double faults than her in the past three years — she is closing in on 1,000 since the start of 2023. And her serve remains a work in progress under the guidance of Gavin MacMillan, the man who cured Aryna Sabalenka‘s serving woes a few years ago.
Gauff has been cutting down on her pace in an effort to get more first serves in and take the pressure off her second serve, which is still shaky at times. Osaka is an aggressive returner, so anything short will be punished, which in itself will be a pressure. But no one battles harder than Gauff, and she will fight like her life depends on it.
But even when she doesn’t serve well, Gauff has shown remarkable resilience, and as she proved at the French Open, she can even win slams when not at her best.
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Naomi Osaka prevails in 3 sets at US Open
Daria Kasatkina vs. Naomi Osaka: Match Highlights
What Osaka has to do to win
Osaka has been returning even better than Gauff so far in this tournament, making 83% of balls back, on average, and winning an average of 38% when returning first serve and a massive 73% when returning the second serve.
That spells trouble for Gauff if she misses first serves too often, because Osaka will pounce on anything short. Her movement is vastly improved over recent months and her confidence is up. When she is in position to crack a forehand or backhand, she’s mighty dangerous, dominating the 0-4 shots category.
When Osaka is at her best, she excels in first-strike tennis, and if she continues to hit the ball the way she has been, she should get plenty of opportunities to dominate rallies against Gauff, whose counterpunching skills will be tested.
What they’re saying about each other
Gauff on their 2019 US Open match: “I remember it was a tough moment for me because it was a hyped-up match. I guess I put way too much pressure on myself thinking I maybe had a chance in that moment to actually do something, which I definitely did, but I think it was just I felt more expectation that I should than maybe belief. Then when I played her in Australia, that was more belief than expectation. It would be a cool kind of déjà vu type of situation, but hopefully it will be a different result.”
Osaka on Gauff: “Can somebody come to the match and cheer for me because it’s kind of tough playing an American here? I kind of see her as a little sister so it’s kind of cool to be playing her here again. To be playing her again after six years, I don’t know if that makes me old, but just to be at this point of my life and to be playing her again is honestly, for me, feels kind of special. I’m honestly excited to play her now, because I feel healthy, and I just want to see what happens.”
Who will win?
Considering that Osaka has not reached the quarters of a Slam since 2021, it’s strange that this match feels like a bit of a toss-up. But she has confidence from reaching the final in Canada and is beginning to look like the woman who has four Grand Slams to her name, while Gauff is still fighting herself as she tries to fix her service action.
With the exception of their last meeting, when Osaka retired injured after the second set, the player who wins the first set has won in all the other four clashes, so a fast start is imperative. Gauff will have the crowd on her side but that brings its own pressure, while Osaka is playing great tennis again, so this threatens to be the kind of match that could spark a real rivalry for the next few years.
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele debuted at quarterback for California and threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-15 victory over Oregon State on Saturday night.
Sagapolutele, who originally enrolled at Oregon but transferred to Cal, completed 20 of 30 passes. The only other freshman to start in an opener for the Golden Bears was Jared Goff.
Oregon State quarterback Maalik Murphy, a Duke transfer, threw for 244 yards with an interception. Trent Walker had nine catches for 136 yards.
Mason Mini caught a 19-yard scoring pass from Sagapolutele on Cal’s first possession. Sagapolutele found Trond Grizzell — who had a 35-yard reception on the opening drive — with a 32-yard touchdown pass.
The teams used to be foes in the Pac-12, but Cal bolted for the ACC. The Beavers are playing as an independent this season before the revival of a new-look Pac-12 next season.
The new conference will launch with Washington State and Oregon State, the two teams that remained after league imploded in the summer of 2023. Joining them will be Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State and non-football member Gonzaga.
Caleb Ojeda kicked a 53-yeard field goal to close the gap to 14-3 for the Beavers but Cal capped the first half with Abram Murray’s 49-yard field goal.
Sagapolutele opened the second half with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Landon Morris. Oregon State closed to within 24-9 on Anthony Hankerson’s 2-yard run.
After Hezekiah Masses intercepted Murphy in the fourth quarter, Brandon High Jr. ran for a 2-yard TD for Cal.
Murphy scored on a 3-yard keeper but came up limping after the play. He returned on the Beavers’ next drive.
Chase Meyer kicked a 23-yard field goal for the Golden Bears to cap the scoring.
California: There were questions about how Cal would replace quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who left the Golden Bears for Indiana. They seem to have found the answer in Sagapolutele.
Oregon State: Murphy and Walker showed a connection, but it didn’t result in points.
California hosts Texas Southern at Memorial Stadium next Saturday.
Oregon State hosts future Pac-12 foe Fresno State next Saturday.
HOUSTON — Cameron Peters threw a game-winning touchdown to Rodny Ojo from 21-yards away with no time remaining to secure a 22-21 win for Prairie View over Texas Southern in a Southwestern Athletic Conference season opener on Saturday night.
Prairie View moved the ball into the red zone on two chunk passes from Peters to Ojo and Chase Bingmon inside the final minute after Texas Southern scored a touchdown with 1:16 remaining.
The win was the first for Prairie View head coach Tremaine Jackson. He spent the last three years as the head coach at Valdosta State University, where he was named the AFCA Division II coach of the year in 2024.
Peters threw a 57-yard touchdown to Kheagian Heckaman and then rushed for a touchdown to give Prairie View a 14-7 lead.
Athean Renfro tied the game for Texas Southern with a 5-yard touchdown run.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, despite two failed trick plays — a flea flicker, and a throw from a wide receiver — from Prairie View.
At the start of the fourth, Renfro was tackled for a safety by Molik Mason to give Prairie View a 16-14 lead.
The game was delayed an hour and 25 minutes due to inclement weather.
DALLAS — Ahmaad Moses returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown and middle linebacker Alexander Kilgore had a much shorter and stranger pick-6 as 16th-ranked SMU opened the season with a 42-13 win over East Texas A&M on Saturday night.
The Mustangs led for good after Kevin Jennings’ 63-yard TD pass to Romello Brinson on the third play less than a minute into the game. Jennings completed 22 of 30 passes for 260 yards and two TDs, and ran 7 yards for a score. Brinson had seven catches for 121 yards.
Moses’ big play made it 28-3 after Football Championship Subdivision team East Texas A&M got to the SMU 8 on the first drive after halftime. He stepped in front of a pass by Eric Rodriguez and sprinted the length of the field untouched.
“Good to be 1-0, definitely would have like to have played a little better,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “There was a combination of Game 1, combination of playing a lot of new guys, and a combination of us not playing well. First half, particularly, offensively.”
SMU, which had the ball for only about 21 minutes for the entire game, led 21-3 at halftime. The Mustangs had eight penalties for 84 yards.
Kilgore, one of the team’s captains, got hurt on his 10-yard TD return in the first quarter. He was limping when he got up and was on the sideline after halftime on crutches and with a protective boot on his left foot.
Will Madonna threw that interception, which first went off 6-foot-4 defensive end Cameron Robertson while he reached over an offensive lineman. The ball then ricocheted off of Kilgore’s foot without hitting the ground. He grabbed it and was tripped up by Madonna as he crossed the goal line.
Lashlee said X-rays were negative for both Kilgore and Hudson, though he wasn’t sure yet of their availability for the next game.
East Texas A&M: The team formerly known as A&M-Commerce, with its campus only about 70 miles from SMU, played its first game as a full-fledged Division I FCS member. The Lions were the NCAA Division II national champion in 2017.
SMU: Along with two pick-6s in a game for the first time since 2016, SMU’s defense forced a fumble after the Lions drove to the 4. … The Mustangs made their ACC debut last year going undefeated in conference play, but finished the season with back-to-back losses, to Clemson in the conference championship game and Penn State in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game.
SMU stays home next Saturday to play former SWC rival Baylor (0-1) for the first time since 2016. East Texas A&M plays at Florida State (1-0), which is coming off a 31-17 upset of No. 9 Alabama.
Brighton’s Sprint Series Final Handicap is the pick of the domestic action on Sunday afternoon – live on Sky Sports Racing.
3.22 Brighton – 13 go to post in a wide open Sprint Series Final
Pietro tops the weights in the Class 2 Brighton Sprint Series Final Handicap. James Fanshawe’s gelding has been progressive this year and drops back to six furlongs for the first time since July 2024.
Michael Attwater saddles Twirler who was denied a hat-trick last time out at Lingfield when finishing sixth of eight. The filly had recorded successive wins at Windsor and Epsom prior and returns to the turf after her 6th place finish on the all-weather.
Brighton regular Time Patrol will aim to record a fourth win at the track having run at the Sussex course in each of his last 6 runs. He is 2-2 over course and distance and drops back to the six furlongs today having ran over seven and a mile in his previous four outings.
Graduated is another one to note for Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole and they will be hoping their filly can record a first win for over a year having not finished better than third in her last 10 runs.
Roman Spring and Port Hedland are others that can make their presence felt in this field of 13.
4.00 ParisLongchamp – Afjan seeks first Group win in Prix d’Arenberg
Eleven are set to go to post in this year’s renewal of the Prix d’Arenberg and Afjan will be hoping to go one better than his run four weeks ago when he chased home Tadej in the six-furlong Prix de Cabourg. Henri-Francois Devin’s colt drops back in trip today, where he finished a creditable sixth to Charles Darwin in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Amo Racing and Kevin Philippart De Foy combine to field the unbeaten Hollywood Treasure who steps up into Group company for the first time, having won the St Hugh’s Stakes by a neck 16 days ago.
The progressive Havana Anna is Gavin Ryan’s mount and will look to continue her upward trajectory here for Donnacha O’Brien. Having been beaten by Gstaad and True Love on debut she has entered the winners’ enclosure the last twice, most recently in a Listed event at Naas.
Wathnan Racing’s Shine On Me will attempt to record a first career success at the fifth attempt here for Archie Watson having been behind True Love and Venetian Sun so far this season, both of whom have since progressed to increased heights.
The Karl Burke-trained Stargazed and Cristian Demuro’s mount Graft are others to note.
6.45 Saratoga – Mindframe and Sierra Leone clash again in Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes
Mindframe and Sierra Leone clash again in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes. With only a length separating the pair in June in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner will be looking to reverse the placings with Todd Pletcher’s colt Mindframe who is unbeaten in three runs this year.
2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio will be hoping to find his form of old and close the gap to Sierra Leone having finished 4 lengths behind him in 4th last time out in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes.
Last year’s winner of this race Highland Falls represents Brad Cox and Godolphin and the five-year-old has finished behind Sierra Leone twice in his last 3 runs.
David Jacobson saddles Banishing who is seeking to complete a hat-trick having triumphed in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic Stakes last time out.
Contrary Thinking, Antiquarian, Disarm and the consistent Phileas Fogg complete the field of nine.
Best of the rest
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, Emit is chasing his first Group win after getting the job done in Listed company at Gowran Park recently. His opposition in ParisLongchamp’s Prix Gerald de Geoffre (1.33pm) includes the Godolphin-owned Hotheaded – who has made a promising start to his career for Andre Fabre.
Back on home soil, Sea Of Charm goes for his hat-trick in Brighton’s Make A Difference Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap (1.52pm). Still fairly handicapped off a mark of 61, he should run well under 7lb claimer William Dunlop.
At Worcester, King Of The Story will be eyeing a course and distance treble in the 2.10pm Neu-Servo Bet On Great Repairs Handicap Chase, but will have to see off Ben Pauling’s Just Chasing May – who arrives off the back of a victory.
Kahleah Copper hit five 3-pointers and finished with 22 points, Alyssa Thomas had 14 points and nine assists, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty 80-63
PHOENIX — Kahleah Copper hit five 3-pointers and finished with 22 points, Alyssa Thomas had 14 points and nine assists, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty 80-63 on Saturday night.
Phoenix (25-14) has won four in a row and six of seven to move into a tie with Atlanta for third in the WNBA standings, one-half game behind second-place Las Vegas and 1 1/2 games ahead of the Liberty.
Satou Sabally also scored 14 points for the Mercury. Natasha Mack had 10 rebounds — including a career-high seven offensive boards — to go with eight points and four blocks. DeWanna Bonner added nine points and seven rebounds.
There were nine lead changes and nine ties before Kathryn Westbeld and Copper hit 3-pointers 29 seconds apart to take the lead for good at 51-48 and spark a 15-1 run. Bonner stole a pass and went the other way for a layup, then hit 3 to cap the spurt and make it an 11-point lead almost a minute into the fourth quarter.
The Mercury made 10 of 14 from the field in the fourth and scored 17 of the final 20 points. New York missed five consecutive field-goal attempts and committed three turnovers before Isabelle Harrison made a layup to cap the scoring with 16.8 seconds left.
Emma Meesseman led New York (24-16) with 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Breanna Stewart scored 14 points and Natasha Cloud added 13.
The Liberty play Tuesday at Golden State. The Mercury host Indiana on Wednesday.
