LOS ANGELES — The NFL fined five players for their roles in a fight during the Chargers‘ 22-10 victory over the Raiders on Sunday.
Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer was the lone Charger fined. He and Raiders cornerback Jack Jones were both ejected from the game. Palmer was fined $11,255, and Jones was fined $5,472.
Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and outside linebacker Maxx Crosby were also fined $11,255 for their roles in the fight. Raiders safety Marcus Epps received the largest fine of $11,817.
The fight began after the Raiders stopped running back Gus Edwards from a two-point conversion with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter.
Palmer ran to help wide receiver Ladd McConkey block safety Marcus Epps. Jones ran after Palmer and the two were wrapped up outside of the end zone. Multiple players tried to break up the fight, which sparked separate fights.
Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston was one of the first players to try to break up Palmer and Jones, but Raiders outside linebacker Maxx Crosby grabbed Johnston by his collar and pulled him down, prompting another skirmish.
Eventually, Chargers coaches such as head coach Jim Harbaugh and linebackers coach NaVorro Bowman were on the field to help stop the fight. Bowman waved his hands to energize the crowd afterward.
Palmer said Jones punched him earlier in the game, but no TV cameras or All-22 footage show Jones throwing a punch.
“I mean … it’s on video. I ain’t got to really say nothing about it,” Jones said Wednesday. “Y’all seen every angle. Every angle’s posted all over social media. … They said I wasn’t going to get suspended, so, on to next week. We’re on to Baltimore.”
Palmer said Sunday that there was no bad blood between him, Jones or the Raiders and that he didn’t expect to be fined because he didn’t throw a punch.
“I’ll fight that battle in NFL court,” Palmer said Sunday about a potential fine.
If college football were a cartoon, there would’ve been a moment last December, just after the committee snubbed an undefeated Florida State team from the playoff, when Mike Norvell would’ve concluded this was as bad as things could get, all while unknowingly standing beneath a piano perilously being lifted up to a 20th-floor window.
Of course, after Florida State fell to Norvell’s former school, Memphis, 20-12 on Saturday, it’s entirely possible the Seminoles would prefer the piano to reality.
Nine months ago, Florida State had the world’s sympathy — at least the parts of the world that don’t chant “S-E-C, S-E-C” at weddings, funerals and children’s parties. It was easy to like that team. It was a group that fought harder after losing QB Jordan Travis, that gave all it had to keep winning, that missed its shot at the playoff not because of its own mistakes but because of the committee’s whim.
Now, there is no sympathy. There is only a strange mix of shame, frustration and dark humor, like spilling a drink down the front of your pants.
The beneficiary of the committee’s decision was Alabama, and things could’ve easily shifted toward a bleak 2024 for the Tide, too. They lost their playoff game, waved goodbye to the greatest coach in the sport’s history, then saw an exodus of players into the portal, including five who left for Tallahassee.
And yet, on the same day Florida State hit a new nadir, Alabama flexed the same muscle it so often did under Nick Saban, annihilating Wisconsin 42-10 behind a five-touchdown performance from Jalen Milroe.
In a more just world, Florida State might’ve earned a little good karma after the indignity of its playoff snub. In a more fair world, Alabama might, just once, be dealt a bad hand.
But college football has proven, again and again, it doesn’t care about fairness, but it does have one heck of a sense of humor.
And in Tallahassee, Florida State is ready to pack it up and pack it in.
For Alabama, the roster turnover only opened space for new stars, like freshman receiver Ryan Williams, who caught four balls for 78 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s win. Williams is just 17 — born just seven months before Saban coached his first game at Alabama, not old enough to even remember there was a time something like an 0-3 start would be unimaginable at Florida State.
For FSU, there’s no clear path forward. DJ Uiagalelei has been awful, the ground game has mustered little, the offensive line that was supposed otherwise be a strength got manhandled by a Group of 5 program, and the defense, which played its best game Saturday, still is full of holes. For the Seminoles, the only silver lining to take from this miserable start to the season is it may have lowered the program’s media valuation enough that it can escape the ACC for a standard exit fee and some Kohl’s cash.
Nine months ago, there could be a reasonable debate about the comparative resumés of Alabama and Florida State. On Saturday, during commercial breaks of the Tide’s thumping of Wisconsin, it was possible to flip between ads for “9-1-1: Lone Star” featuring a massive train derailment and an FSU game featuring an even more horrifying train wreck.
To witness what’s become of Florida State in the time since the committee delivered its verdict is hard to comprehend, an avalanche of ceaseless misery typically reserved for “Saw” movies or minor weather issues at LAX.
But it’s worth considering how utterly incomprehensible it is for Alabama to be here, too — 3-0 with a road win in Big Ten country just months after Saban’s exit. Alabama has been the model for sustained greatness for a generation, and that consistency was typically attributed to Saban’s relentlessness. But even he reached a point in which it was time for something new, and yet Alabama keeps on plugging along — one dominant win after another, as reliable as the sunrise.
None of this is proof the committee got its decision right, of course. That was last season — a different team, a different time. But it is proof that in this chaotic sport, greatness is fleeting and opportunity often brushes past like a Florida State linebacker missing a tackle at the line of scrimmage.
And even at a place like Alabama, a program that has stood defiantly against the winds of change for 16 years now, it’s always better to appreciate the good things while you have them. Because if there’s anything we’ve learned from watching Florida State these past nine months it’s this: It can always get worse.
The first 56 minutes of Saturday’s game against South Carolina was far from pleasant for LSU.
A series of special teams gaffes, two turnovers and some big runs by Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers had the Tigers playing catchup often. South Carolina jumped out to a 24-10 lead, saw LSU pull ahead briefly in the fourth quarter, then saw Rocket Sanders explode for a 66-yard score.
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Leaping block denies LSU punt, sets up South Carolina TD
Maurice Brown II blocks the LSU punt, which sets up a Raheim Sanders touchdown to pad the Gamecocks’ lead.
With less than four minutes to play, LSU trailed by four, and Brian Kelly had gone through all six stages of grief: Frustration, indignation, hostility, anger, asking to speak to the manager and, finally, pondering the execution his players.
But Garrett Nussmeier rode to the rescue with his 29-yard completion to Kyren Lacy to jumpstart a 55-yard touchdown drive to put LSU up 36-33.
South Carolina had one last crack at the win, attempting a 49-yard field goal as time expired, but it missed, giving Kelly a chance to celebrate a hard-earned win before returning to his office to watch film and scream into a pillow.
The bad news is, three of them were caught by Arkansas State players.
So, here’s where we are with the defending champs: After decades rotating through a carousel of quarterbacks who won their position by finding a golden ticket under a Detroit-style pizza, the Wolverines were treated to two seasons of J.J. McCarthy and thought perhaps things had changed for good. Instead, Warren is averaging 6.1 yards-per-pass with two touchdowns and six picks through three games.
Now, USC is on deck next week, and Michigan is left trying to find an answer between Warren or Alex Orji or to hope there’s another QB stashed in Jim Harbaugh’s abandoned storage locker behind those boxes labeled “signals for every opponent, 2020-2023.”
Matthew Sluka led an 18-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that chewed 9:31 off the clock in the fourth quarter Friday night, and UNLV upset Kansas 23-20. It was the Rebels’ second win over a Power 4 opponent already this season after dumping Houston in the opener. How impressive is that? Entering Saturday, Northern Illinois‘ upset of Notre Dame was the only other Group of 5 win over a power conference foe.
Like with anything in Vegas, it’s a little skill and a lot of luck.
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UNLV somehow comes up with wild fumble vs. Kansas
Matthew Sluka fumbles the ball, but somehow UNLV retains possession after the ball touches multiple Kansas players’ hands.
Still, it’s safe to say Barry Odom has the Rebels peaking at the right time, with UNLV’s sales pitch to the expanding Pac-12 now looking pretty strong: A big market, a good team, and access to myriad all-night buffets. Then all Odom needs to do is take that Pac-12 payout in chips, bet it all on black on a single roulette spin, double down two or three more times, and boom — UNLV is playing with SEC money.
Land of the rising Sun Devils
A year ago, Arizona was the darling of the college football world after a rollicking 10-3 season, while Arizona State was a laughing stock forced to start a chorus of struggling quarterbacks possibly including a couple guys they found waiting outside a Tempe In-N-Out Burger.
What a difference a year makes.
Arizona waved goodbye to head coach Jedd Fisch, who left for Washington, and opened this season with two unimpressive wins over New Mexico and Northern Arizona before falling to Kansas State 31-7 on Friday. It was Arizona’s worst offensive performance since being shut out at Colorado in 2021.
The Sun Devils, on the other hand, found a QB in Sam Leavitt and are riding high after knocking off Texas State on Thursday 31-28, starting 3-0 for the first time since 2019. Arizona State is the surprise team of 2024 so far (unless you count bad surprises, which Florida State hopes you don’t), and Dillingham’s turnaround of a program left in shambles after the Herm Edwards era ended exactly as everyone said it would.
The question came 20 minutes into Mauricio Pochettino’s introductory press conference as U.S. men’s national team coach; the first query of the event in his native Spanish.
“It’ll give me a break,” Pochettino joked at the chance to rest his English.
“What was the challenge that made you want to take the U.S. job?” the journalist asked.
The question got to the root of an issue that hovered over the entire event at a glitzy high rise in New York City’s Hudson Yards development. Why would a manager with such a massive reputation see this as his next step?
The 52-year-old former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager spoke first about the feeling he had meeting with U.S. Soccer executives, and then about the great potential of the sport in the U.S. Then he got to the task at hand: taking the USMNT to a different level.
“It’s a challenge that takes us out of our comfort zone,” Pochettino said in Spanish, smiling. “For us, the easy thing to do is take on things we already know, and we already have a quick vision and an idea (of how to accomplish it). But here it is about taking on something one does not know as well; getting out of your comfort zone so that you can challenge yourself.
“It is not only about a challenge to achieve things together but also about challenging yourself.”
CEO of U.S. Soccer JT Batson, technical director Matt Crocker, Pochettino and president Cindy Parlow (Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Whether knowingly or not, Pochettino put himself on a parallel path with his new team. For several cycles, the idea of “getting out of your comfort zone to grow” has been a part of the USMNT’s journey toward improvement. The idea dates back to Jurgen Klinsmann’s era, but it was also discussed often by former coach Gregg Berhalter.
But the idea is about more than just going to Europe to play for the biggest clubs. It is about understanding how to find the right challenges that force you to grow. To get better.
That Pochettino sees this job as a challenge for his own growth was, perhaps, the most important takeaway from Friday’s press conference. The U.S. needed a new voice to push them to take that next step, beyond potential and into results. They will now begin that journey with a coach who has a bigger reputation than anyone else in the room but who is seeking that same type of growth.
Pochettino came across as charming, excited and motivated in the press conference. He spoke about how happy he was to be with the U.S., about the honor of being the first Spanish-speaking Latin American coach in the history of the program, and of his connection with U.S. women’s coach Emma Hayes and the potential influence the winning history of the USWNT can have on the men’s program.
He told a story about learning the English-language term of being “over the moon” in his early days as manager of Southampton in the Premier League and said he and his family are over the moon that he has taken this new job.
That he switched back and forth between English and Spanish was, in itself, a historic moment and representative of how this hire creates an unprecedented opportunity for U.S. Soccer to reach this country’s massive — and growing — Latino population.
Pochettino clearly understood, though, that reaching fans, both new and old, will come down to one thing: winning.
Pochettino is presented to the media at Hudson Yards (Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Several times over the course of the morning, Pochettino returned to a simple idea that he thinks can push this team forward: belief. He said the word “believe” a dozen times over the course of the hour-long event. For a coach famous for his ability to inspire a dressing room, it hinted at the way he’ll target mentality and psychology as much as he will tactics.
“’Believe’ for me is a word that is a powerful word,” Pochettino said. “You can have enormous talent and you can be clever, but in football, you need to believe. Believe that all is possible. If we find a way to believe all together, then for sure we will achieve.”
Later, he reinforced that idea with his sights set on the World Cup tournament the U.S. will co-host with Mexico and Canada in two years’ time.
“We need to really believe in big things,” Pochettino said. “Believe that we can win not only a game, we can win the World Cup. … We want players that show up, day one at the training camp, and think big. That is the only way to create this philosophy or this idea all together to perform and to put your talent in the service of the team. That is going to be our massive challenge.”
Bringing that belief back will be first on his to-do list as the USMNT coach.
The U.S. was clearly lacking confidence in the September window, something Pochettino said was understandable considering the results in the Copa América. The performances in a loss to Canada and a draw with New Zealand only magnified the issues within the group. Pochettino, though, didn’t seem overly concerned with the overall culture of the group, alluding then to the idea of tapping into the “winning mentality” that permeates American sports and taking inspiration from the winning culture the U.S. women have long demonstrated.
“We are here because we want to win,” Pochettino said.
The video board announces Pochettino’s appointment at the friendly against New Zealand in Cincinnati (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
There were, of course, ideas about how to play discussed as well.
“We are in the USA,” Pochettino said. “I think to convince our fans, this is about to attract (them), and the aesthetic is really important. We want to play nice football, good football, exciting football, attacking football. And then, of course, we want to have the possession, because we are coaching staff also with a philosophy to have the ball. We need to run, we need to move, we need to give options, good angles to your team-mate. … And then when we don’t have the ball we need to run, we need to be aggressive, we need to be competitive.
“The potential is there. The talent is there. It’s only to create the best platform for them to express themselves.”
While Pochettino acknowledged that those are the trademarks of his team, he also said he wants first to get a feel for his players before he declares how this U.S. team will play.
That process will start in the coming days, as Pochettino inevitably goes to sit and meet with members of the player pool, chief among them star winger Christian Pulisic. Pochettino said he wants to hear from members of the team individually, to get feedback on how they see things. Then he will gather the group together for the first time next month for friendlies in Austin, Texas and Guadalajara, Mexico.
The process to get a deal over the line has been a long one, stretching more than two months from the beginning of recruitment to his formal introduction. Pochettino admitted it was difficult to wait it out. He was ready to get to work.
Now, the clock has started. The U.S. has less than two years until the World Cup and a mountain to climb to be ready. They have a coach, though, that few would have imagined would take this group into that tournament.
A coach who now will try to inject belief into and around this team.
GO DEEPER
How USMNT landed Pochettino: Hayes’ role, Chelsea delays and Argentine steak
(Top photo: Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
GAINESVILLE, Va. — LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan took responsibility Saturday for the tour’s failure to get fans to the Solheim Cup in time to see the opening tee shots a day earlier but did not offer a full explanation of the debacle.
Players teed off Friday morning in front of half-empty grandstands at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, muting what could have been a raucous first-tee atmosphere in the team competition between the United States against Europe. The stands were full on Saturday, but the damage had been done, with media coverage more focused on the logistical problems than the dominant first day of golf by Nelly Korda and the U.S.
“At the end of the day, I’m the leader of the organization and I have to own it,” Marcoux Samaan said.
RTJ is tucked into a private residential community serviced by a single road off U.S. Route 29 in this exurb about 40 miles west of Washington, D.C. The venue hosted four Presidents Cups in the 1990s and 2000s and a PGA Tour event in 2017 without any significant transportation problems.
Marcoux Samaan said there simply weren’t enough buses at Jiffy Lube Live, the concert venue where fans paid $30 for parking, without explaining why the LPGA didn’t have a fleet of vehicles ready to shuttle spectators who were motivated to get to the golf course before dawn. Instead, they spent hours standing in lines with little or no access to restrooms.
Asked how many buses were available, Marcoux Samaan declined to answer directly.
“It’s a complicated question, and again, we were writing spreadsheets and trying to figure it all out,” she said. “We didn’t have enough buses in the morning, clearly.”
The LPGA Tour is responsible for on-site operations at the Solheim Cup when it is played in the United States. The last U.S. event was in 2021 in Ohio, with the COVID-19 pandemic limiting the number of international fans.
“This was an LPGA issue,” Marcoux Samaan said.
The commissioner said the tour staff spent much of Friday in “triage mode” trying to diagnose the problem and ensure departing fans would be shuttled off the golf course efficiently. More than 12 hours passed before the LPGA posted a statement on social media promising improvements for Saturday and emailed a letter to fans that included an offer of free tickets for use this weekend.
“We had some staff out there and we were trying to communicate to the people that were there,” Marcoux Samaan said. “I think we thought that was more important than getting something out more broadly on social.”
During a year that has seen major audience growth for women’s sports including basketball and soccer, the LPGA attracted modest viewership this spring when the top-ranked Korda won six times in seven starts, including a major championship.
Marcoux Samaan, who has been the LPGA commissioner for three years, pointed to increased participation in the sport as a sign of her tour’s growing popularity.
“The percentage of women playing has escalated over the last several years. Young girls playing golf has continued to grow,” she said. “I think our team is working really hard to grow the game.”
Rivals Roundtable: Big visits and even bigger games on deck for Week 3
The third major college football Saturday of the season is upon us and our recruiting analysts discuss its impact on recruiting.
1. What is the biggest recruiting visit this weekend?
Jake Kreul (Photo by Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)
Friedman: College Gameday is at South Carolina today for the first time in years and the Gamecocks have a huge opportunity in front of the with a stacked visitor list. The most important visitor is definitely top-100 receiver Jordon Gidron. The 2026 playmaker is a local prospect South Carolina can’t afford to lose. Shane Beamer’s offense needs more explosive weapons and Gidron would be just what the doctor ordered.
Garcia: Jake Kruel‘s visit to Oklahoma. The 2026 class has ascended to upperclassman status and many of these recruitments are in full swing. Kruel has become one of the premier pass rushers in the class, even against the national schedule IMG Academy provides, yet Oklahoma is one of the programs that jumped in on the junior much earlier than most others on his list. The Floridian has long held an affinity for the program both in the Sooner tradition and how he has been personally prioritized longer than most in his class. This return trip, especially now that the program is in the SEC, could provide plenty of new perspective in OU becoming a true contender in this national recruitment — for good.
Gorney: There has been so much talk about Elijah Griffin being a Georgia lock, that the Bulldogs are definitely going to land the five-star defensive lineman from Savannah (Ga.) Savannah Christian and while Miami and USC round out his top three, Griffin is going to play in Athens. But after years of recruiting Griffin, he still has not committed to the Bulldogs and he’s visiting Miami this weekend. I still think Georgia is far and away the strongest but Miami has momentum to start this season.
Levenson:Texas bringing in arguably its top remaining target in the 2025 cycle, Michael Terry, holds some weight. The top-100 prospect is choosing between Texas, Nebraska, and Oregon, and while the Longhorns have long been the leader, Matt Rhule and the Huskers have done quite the job recently selling the Big Ten program. Texas has a chance to slow or completely thwart the momentum with a successful visit in Austin. The game atmosphere will not be on par with Terry’s visit to Nebraska’s win over Colorado, but Steve Sarkisian and his staff have a chance to make Terry feel like a priority and remind him why the Longhorns have long been considered his leader.
Smith: This visit will likely go way under the radar because Purdue isn’t close to a powerhouse program. But getting 2026 four-star wide receiver Corey “CJ” Sadler on campus for the matchup with Notre Dame is huge. Sadler’s recruitment is a little more open than normal at this point for a player of his caliber. That’s because both in-state programs, Michigan and Michigan State, are going through their own transitions. It presents a unique chance for a school like Purdue to make a big impression.
Spiegelman: Joseph Mbatchou is getting his first look at Texas this weekend after collecting an offer from the Longhorns a few days into his senior season at Loganville (Ga.) Grayson High. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive lineman is just getting in his feet wet and is already breaking through at an astounding clip. Since committing to Florida this summer, Mbatchou has made a visit back to the Swamp and last week made his way to Auburn. Texas has been at the forefront in trying to make a late run at Mbatchou, and he heads to Austin after a colossal victory on the road at Michigan in what should be an electric atmosphere at home. This could get interesting.
2. Which program can do most to help its recruiting efforts with a big win this weekend?
Friedman: It feels like the media has already written off Florida and Billy Napier but that hasn’t stopped highly-ranked prospects from visiting Gainesville. With a vulnerable Texas A&M coming to town, the Gators have a chance to show legitimate signs of life and give fans and recruits something to get excited about.
Garcia: Florida State is reeling on the field and recruiting trail alike, and most view Memphis as a legitimate Group of Five program with a shot at the College Football Playoff if things break their way. A strong Seminole performance could go a long way towards reversing perception after the notable and nationally-televised 0-2 start. Not to mention this is Mike Norvell against his former program, so another loss would pile onto what has been a shallow start to the ACC title defense. The recruiting draw is actually fairly strong in Tallahassee this weekend, too, so even the demeanor of the program and effort of its players could potentially make an impact on the future roster.
Gorney: South Carolina has a phenomenal group of visitors coming in, the Gamecocks could land some commitments regardless of the outcome Saturday against LSU and they’re coming off a very impressive performance by pounding Kentucky last weekend. A win over the Tigers in Columbia would be huge for coach Shane Beamer, for the team, for the entire program. With so many elite players on the visit list and a guaranteed great environment at South Carolina, it could take the step forward.
Levenson: South Carolina has an opportunity to walk away from this weekend with some wins on the trail. There are a number of prospects who are seemingly on the cusp of potentially choosing the Gamecocks and an atmosphere that is bringing College GameDay to town will certainly help put a bow on things. Nearly every in-state top prospect will be on tap for their matchup with LSU and a win could jolt the perception of Shane Beamer and his staff. Elite DT Deuce Geralds and CB Samari Matthews are just a small sample of the level of talent making their way into Columbia today.
Smith: Wisconsin. The Badgers have been pretty unimpressive this season despite being 2-0. However, a huge test awaits as Alabama comes to town. If there is going to be a chance to spring the upset (or play Alabama close) the time is now. Many of the Badgers 2025 commitments will be in town. So will key 2026 targets like tight end Gavin Mueller, offensive tackle Braden Wilmes and linebacker Cincere Johnson. I don’t think the Badgers have to win to impress the recruits on hand but it must be competitive
Spiegelman: South Carolina is bracing for what might be one of its biggest recruiting weekends of the fall. Several of the Southeast’s best in 2025 and 2026 are flocking to Columbia, including several notable top-25 prospects like elite DT Deuce Geralds and CB Samari Matthews — a return visitor. Perhaps even more notably, several familiar targets in the 2026 class are making their way back to campus — namely four-star WR Jordon Gidron, four-star OL Desmond Green, four-star TE Jamel Howse, four-star WR Donovan Murph, four-star OT Zyon Guiles, four-star RB Jaylen McGill and four-star OL Malcolm Gaston.
South Carolina is at its best when it keeps its best talent in-state. The 2026 class in South Carolina is loaded with blue-chip talent. Several of those aforementioned targets were on campus in July, and a great environment in Williams-Brice for the LSU game and a strong showing on the field could pay dividends down the road.
Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our fantasy football buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the NFL.
On Monday night, backup Jordan Mason stepped into McCaffrey’s role and rushed for 147 yards and a score. Mason is the 11th-ranked running back in our ESPN Fantasy rankings, and is currently available in 13.6% of leagues.
On Fantasy Focus, Mike Clay speculated that Mason could lead all running backs in fantasy points with the opportunity he has in front of him,
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Why Jordan Mason could lead RBs in fantasy points in Week 2
Mike Clay explains why Jordan Mason has a strong chance to lead the 49ers’ running backs in fantasy points in Week 2.
Sept. 13: Hollywood Brown to miss “months”, other injury notes
With Brown out for an extended stretch, Xavier Worthy is further cemented as the Chiefs’ No. 2 wideout behind Rashee Rice.
Other wide receiver injury notes:
Sept. 11: McCaffrey status uncertain for Week 2
Christian McCaffrey was held out of the San Francisco 49ers‘ season opener in Week 1 with lingering Calf and Achilles injuries. He is listed as day-to-day as the 49ers prepare to face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2, but it seems like the issue might take longer to fully heal than expected. While this would certainly be disappointing for McCaffrey’s fantasy managers, it would propel Jordan Mason into the lead role. Mason is currently ranked inside the top 20 running backs in our Week 2 rankings, signaling a potential big week for the 49ers’ backfield.
Sept. 11: Njoku out for Browns, Akins to start
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday that David Njoku (ankle) will be out Sunday against the Jaguars. While Jordan Akins will get the extra snaps at tight end for Cleveland, Liz Loza says in her Week 2 Facts vs. Feelings column that New Orleans Saints‘ tight end Juwan Johnson is a better streaming consideration for those who need a fill-in.
Sept 11: Mostert out for Dolphins, Achane questionable for Thursday
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that RB Raheem Mostert (chest) is ruled out for Thursday’s AFC East matchup against the Buffalo Bills, while De’Von Achane is listed as questionable. Achane is ranked as a top 15 running back in our Week 2 running back rankings with third string back Jaylen Wright outside the top 50 for everyone but Eric Moody, who has Wright at RB31.
Sept. 10: Higgins could sit again; Are other Bengals WRs worth considering?
Daniel Dopp:Tee Higgins sat out the Cincinnati Bengals‘ opener with a hamstring injury. So will we see him in Week 2?
“I’m going to predict to you right now, on Tuesday, Tee Higgins isn’t going to play this week either,” Adam Schefter said on The Adam Schefter Podcast. Schefter made it very clear this offseason that Higgins was unhappy with the approach Bengals ownership took toward his contract and insinuated that Higgins could choose to play it safe and not risk further injury, knowing he’s getting paid whether he plays or not while on the franchise tag. It’s only Tuesday, but when Schefter makes a strongly worded statement like that, I pay attention and adjust accordingly. Fantasy managers, make sure you have another route at the WR/Flex spot in case we’re without Higgins for a second consecutive week.
After an abysmal Week 1 outing against the New England Patriots, the only Bengals wide receiver I’d consider starting in Week 2 is Ja’Marr Chase. With the position being the deepest in fantasy, there’s no reason to throw a dart at Andrei Iosivas or Trenton Irwin. The Bengals take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and I’m expecting them to be playing from behind all game. Despite that, Joe Burrow doesn’t inspire much confidence after his Week 1 performance and lands outside my top 10 at the QB position, given his lack of passing game options.
Running backs Zack Moss and Chase Brown are low-end flex plays at best, as we assumed Brown would handle third down and pass-catching duties after a strong offseason, but neither impressed against New England and both could be game planned out of this Week 2 showdown from a ground game perspective. I have Moss as RB29 and Brown outside my top 40 in Week 2.
Stephania Bell: Both Miami Dolphins backs were listed on the injury report Monday as non-participants due to injuries sustained during Sunday’s game. Miami did not actually practice, so these were projected absences. Raheem Mostert was listed with a chest injury, and De’Von Achane, who was seen limping off the field late in Sunday’s win over Jacksonville, was listed with an ankle injury. The Dolphins play Thursday night, making this a tight turnaround for player recovery.
Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson had an awkward landing in Sunday’s game, and it looked as if he could have suffered a serious injury. However, an ACL injury was quickly ruled out and subsequent testing revealed a bone bruise and a “minor” MCL sprain, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. A minor sprain suggests no structural compromise and can then be treated as a pain-limiting issue, meaning if pain does not compromise performance, the athlete can play. Bone bruising, while important to monitor, is often managed similarly. Coach Mike McCarthy has already said Ferguson will work with the Return to Play group Wednesday and they’ll go from there, leaving the door open for him to possibly return as soon as this weekend.
The news wasn’t as good for Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua, who was placed on IR with a PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) sprain, meaning he will miss at least four games. A common mechanism of injury is a fall directly on the front of the knee forcing the lower leg (tibia) in a backward direction relative to the thigh bone (femur) and stressing the ligament. The key is allowing enough healing time to restore stability so that the player can function without feeling like the knee is constantly slipping. Healing and return to play time depend on the severity, and it’s possible Nacua’s absence could extend beyond four weeks.
Sept. 9: Top options to replace McCaffrey
Tristan H. Cockcroft:Christian McCaffrey, fantasy football’s No. 1 overall player, will sit out the San Francisco 49ers‘ Week 1 contest on Monday night against the New York Jets due to the calf strain that also cost him the entirety of the preseason. The news heightens concerns about his availability in-season, considering his past injury history that includes 24 missed games combined in 2020-21, though he did put in limited practice during the week that offers hope he’ll be ready for Week 2.
In McCaffrey’s absence, Jordan Mason gets a golden opportunity as the 49ers’ go-to running back, though Patrick Taylor Jr. and Isaac Guerendo are also active for the contest.
Mason’s positive preseason reports and greater experience should align him for a double-digit carry total, especially as Guerendo is likely slated to return kicks. Frankly, the team might lean more on Deebo Samuel Sr. in the running game, a boon to the wide receiver in fantasy terms. Consider Mason a mid-range flex option, and one fantasy managers almost certainly now must use if they were waiting on a McCaffrey decision, as it’s a tough matchup. Samuel is arguably the best fantasy play from the entire 49ers’ offense as a result of the news, a near-WR1.
Sept. 9: Puka Nacua to go on IR, miss at least four games
Rams head coach Sean McVay said Monday that star receiver Puka Nacua has a sprained PCL (knee) and will be placed on the IR, ruling him out for at least four games.
Nacua sustained the injury in the second quarter of Sunday night’s season opener against Detroit, and according to McVay, it is a new and more significant injury to the same ligament the wide receiver injured in training camp during a joint practice.
Fantasy managers tasked with replacing Nacua are in a difficult spot as there is no way to fully replicate his type of production with a pickup, but here are Eric Moody’s top widely available receivers to consider as streamers and fill-ins until Nacua returns.
South Alabama crushed Northwestern State 87-10 on Thursday night, with the Jaguars setting a school scoring record. The onslaught was so bad that the coaches of both teams agreed to shorten the fourth quarter by six minutes, resulting in only 54 minutes of play.
This ended up being key for the sports betting results. College football sportsbook house rules usually require 55 minutes of play for most action to be considered valid, though there is leeway for interpretation.
DraftKings’ house rules state, “There must be 5 minutes or less of scheduled game time left for bets to have action unless the specific market outcome is already unconditionally determined.” The last part is crucial, as over and under bets on the total (in this case set at 59.5, per ESPN BET odds) can be deemed “unconditional” — in other words, they would have hit regardless of anything that could have happened in the final minutes of the game.
As a result, DraftKings graded overs and unders as winners and losers, respectively. BetMGM confirmed that it settled total bets in the same manner. Caesars, ESPN BET and FanDuel did not immediately respond to inquiries for this story.
For the point spread (set at South Alabama -36.5), DraftKings graded all bets as void in accordance with its rules. However, the book said it is awarding cash payouts Friday for any wagers on USA’s full-game and second-half spreads as if they were winners. First-half and third-quarter wagers stand as is.
BetMGM voided all full-game wagers on Northwestern State, in accordance with house rules, but graded South Alabama bets as winners, calling the final score an “official result” as “declared by the official governing body,” per the book’s house rules.
The NCAA’s official football rulebook says, “Any time during the game, the playing time of any remaining period or periods may be shortened by mutual agreement of the opposing head coaches and the referee.” Essentially, coaches and officials have freedom to cut off games in a blowout situation, though there is no standard for how much they should be shortened by.
These circumstances have occurred at least three times this season, with each one handled differently by head coaches and referees.
On Aug. 29, Arkansas defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 70-0, with the teams deciding to play 10-minute quarters in the second half, leading to just 50 minutes of game time. BetMGM and DraftKings applied the same rulings as they did for Thursday’s game.
On Sept. 7, Georgia steamrolled Tennessee Tech 48-3. In that case, the coaches and officials decided to shorten the fourth quarter by five minutes, making for exactly 55 minutes of play and thus validating all action for that contest.
Editor’s note: This is a Weird and Wild short. To read this week’s full Weird and Wild column, go here.
For weeks now, months to be honest, we’ve been spending way too much valuable time making all-important comparisons between the 2024 White Sox and Casey Stengel’s legendarily hapless 1962 Mets. But now we know: That was actually the wrong comp.
These White Sox (current record: 33-114) would need a miracle to out-win those ’62 Mets (40-120). So it’s time to do something I never thought would happen: It’s time to turn our attention to those even more legendary 1899 Cleveland Spiders (attractive final record: 20-134).
I came to that mind-blowing realization Thursday morning, when the reality of this nutty little number hit home:
81 Games under .500!!!
As a longtime chronicler of everything Weird and Wild, I’ve seen a lot of stuff. But I thought to myself as I stared at the standings: Have I ever seen THAT? Have I ever seen any team that fell 81 freaking games under .500?
Here’s the truth: Nope. I. Have. Not. And neither have you, unless you’re a spritely 108 years old. And even if you are indeed 108 years old, your memory of previous 81-under-.500 history might be a little hazy. So allow me to fill you in.
The ’62 Mets? Sorry. Never got to 81 under.
The 2003 Tigers? Sorry. They never made it either.
Both of those teams got to 80 under. But it takes a truly special group to sink below 80 games under the sea. So let’s salute these White Sox because they’re one of those extraordinary teams that took a wrong turn and just kept going.
And who are those extraordinary teams? Here they come — the only teams in American League/National League/19th-century American Association history that ever got to 81 under or worse (in chronological order):
Whitey Witt’s 1916 A’s — Fell to 81 under at 33-114, just like these White Sox, except it wasn’t until Sept. 27 and they had only six games left in the season … but they somehow won three of them! (Final record: 36-117.)
Harry Colliflower’s 1899 Spiders — There’s a reason the Spiders are the poster boys for single-season futility, you know. They plummeted to 81 under on Aug. 31 (at 19-100). They still had 35 games to play … and they lost 34 of them! (Final record: 20-134.)
Kirtley Baker’s 1890 Alleghenys — Once upon a time, before the Spiders, these guys were the standard for 19th-century ineptitude. They descended to 81 under on Sept. 16 (at 21-102). They had 14 games remaining … and won two! (Final record: 23-113, plus two ties.)
Toad Ramsey’s 1889 Colonels — The worst team in the American Association’s glorious history, the Colonels tumbled to 81 under at 26-107. Fortunately, it was Oct. 8, so they had only five games left … and won one! (Final record: 27-111.)
And that’s the whole 81-Under Club. But if you were paying attention (in case we spring an end-of-season 2024 White Sox quiz on you), you might have noticed something. Only once, in nearly a century and a half of major-league history, had any team awakened this early in September and found itself 81 games under .500 or worse. And it was … those 1899 Spiders, because of course it was!
Yet now the Spiders have company, in these 2024 White Sox? What a time to be alive.
GO DEEPER
White Sox might break record for losses. How should the 1962 Mets feel about it?
Wednesday’s loss to the Guardians dropped the White Sox to 1-27 in their past 28 games at home. (Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Images)
But meanwhile, in other important White Sox news …
They can’t go home again! Since the second game of their July 10 doubleheader with Minnesota, the White Sox are 1-27 when they play baseball in their home park. One and 27! According to Baseball Reference, only one other team in the modern era has ever had a 1-27 stretch at home (or worse). And it was those 1916 A’s (also 1-27, in a messy 28-game span in July and August).
So that means, just since that game against the Twins on July 10, nine teams have more wins at Guaranteed Rate Field than the team that plays half its season on that field. There would be more teams, of course, but only nine have been allowed to play there by the schedule-makers of America.
Second to none! This seems impossible, but the White Sox are now 6-43 in the second half. Six and 43! Does this seem bad? How about historically bad. Since the invention of All-Star breaks, the fewest games any team has won in the second half of a non-strike season is 15, by Orie Arntzen’s 1943 A’s (15-61). I’m starting to think the White Sox aren’t going to catch them.
Late starters! In a related development, White Sox starters are now 2-30 in the second half. Two and 30! The record for the worst second-half winning percentage by any rotation is .167 (7-35), by Paolo Espino’s 2022 Nationals. I’m starting to think the White Sox might not catch that group, either.
No one will save you! On those sporadic occasions when the White Sox take a lead, they’ve been known to call on their bullpen to protect it. Here’s how that’s gone:
When they bring in their relievers in save situations, their bullpen’s record is now 3-17. Three and 17! Plus a 7.79 ERA, 31 blown saves and (somehow) more home runs allowed (26) than saves converted (18).
I rumbled through the Baseball Reference files for way too long. How many other teams could I find, since the dawn of the modern save rule in 1969, with more gopherballs than saves in those situations? That would be none!
I could keep going here for hours. But did you know …
• This White Sox team hasn’t started a pitcher with a winning record in over a month? Not even some opener who was 1-0. It’s 36 games in a row now, the fourth-longest streak in franchise history.
• The White Sox have now lost their first game of every month – April, May, June, July, August and September? Can’t beat that kind of consistency.
• It’s Sept. 13 … and the White Sox have won 33 games! You know when the Guardians won their 33rd game? How about May 22! That’s three and a half freaking months (and 111 days) ago!
• And finally, is it too late to wish a happy 105th birthday to Loyola of Chicago icon Sister Jean? As a friend of mine reminded me on Sister Jean’s birthday last month, she’s been gracing our planet for more than a century now. And she has seen the White Sox win a postseason series in exactly one of those 105 years (2005, obviously). I’m starting to think the chances of her seeing another series win this October aren’t good.
GO DEEPER
Weird & Wild MLB highlights of the month: Game of the Year, a first-inning first, and more
GO DEEPER
Loyalty, history and $5 beers: Why fans still come out to see the Chicago White Sox
GO DEEPER
White Sox watch: Shutout loss puts Chicago within six losses of MLB record
(Top photo of Luis Robert Jr.: Matt Krohn / Associated Press)
PHILADELPHIA — The driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew as they bicycled on a rural road had a blood-alcohol level of .087, above the .08 legal limit in New Jersey, a prosecutor said Friday.
Gaudreau, 31, and brother Matthew, 29, were killed near their childhood home in South Jersey on Aug. 29, the evening before they were set to serve as groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding.
The driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins of nearby Woodstown, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. At a virtual court hearing Friday, a judge ordered that he be held for trial after prosecutors described a history of alleged road rage and aggressive driving.
“’You were probably driving like a nut like I always tell you you do. And you don’t listen to me, instead you just yell at me,’” his wife told Higgins when he called her from jail after his arrest, according to First Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan Flynn of Salem County.
The defense described Higgins as a married father and law-abiding citizen before the 8:19 p.m. crash.
“He’s an empathetic individual and he’s a loving father of two daughters,” said defense lawyer Matthew Portella. “He’s a good person and he made a horrible decision that night.”
Higgins told police he had five or six beers that day and admitted to consuming alcohol while driving, according to the criminal complaint. He also failed a field sobriety test, the complaint said. A prosecutor on Friday said he had been drinking at home after finishing a work call at about 3 p.m., and having an upsetting conversation with his mother about a family matter.
He then had a two-hour phone call with a friend while he drove around in his Jeep with an open container, Flynn said. He had been driving aggressively behind a sedan going just above the 50 mph speed limit, sometimes tailgating, the driver told police.
When she and the vehicle ahead of her slowed down and moved left to go around the cyclists, Higgins sped up and veered right, striking the Gaudreas, the two other drivers told police.
“He indicated he didn’t even see them,” said Superior Court Judge Michael J. Silvanio, who said Higgins’ admitted “impatience” caused two deaths.
Higgins faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, a sentence that the judge said made him a flight risk.
Higgins has a master’s degree, works in finance for an addiction treatment company, and served in combat in Iraq, his lawyers said. However, his wife said he had been drinking regularly since working from home, Flynn said.
Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 10 full seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport’s top players and a fan favorite across North America.
Widows Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau described their husbands as attached at the hip throughout their lives. Both women are expecting, and both gave moving eulogies at a heart-wrenching double funeral on Monday.
“I urge everyone to never drink and drive,” Madeline Gaudreau said. “Call a ride. Please do not put another family through this torture. The loss of Matty and John will leave a hole in the family, with his close friends, the community for eternity.”
Defense lawyers, in seeking bail, suggested that Higgins could be limited to driving only with a locking device to prevent him from drinking and driving. And they noted that he tested just over the legal limit, adding that a recent knee surgery likely impacted the field test.
But Flynn argued that the locking device would not stop what he called “the fundamental issue” of Higgins’s “angry and aggressive driving,” exacerbated that day by alcohol.
Fact or Fiction: Joey McGuire has legit reason for not playing Micah Hudson
Rivals national recruiting analyst Marshall Levenson and national recruiting director Adam Gorney, along with OUInsider.com‘s Parker Thune and RedRaiderSports.com‘s Ben Golan tackle three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.
1. Billy Napier’s best hope off the hot seat is to start DJ Lagway the rest of the way.
DJ Lagway
Gorney: FACT. Not only does starting DJ Lagway buy Billy Napier more time because it could show that he’s developing a freshman quarterback, but Lagway is the better quarterback and gives the offense the spark that Graham Mertz just does not give. The closing part of schedule is going to be very difficult anyway, so maybe no quarterback could save Napier at this point because one or two more losses and the Florida fan base will turn, but Lagway does give him the best opportunity to point to the future and say that he needs more time to build around Lagway moving forward.
Levenson: FACT. There is arguably not a coach in college football that is more on the hot seat than Napier. And as happens in sports, when on the hot seat, coaches will look for any avenue to at least attempt and save their situation. For Napier, the only attempt that has even an ounce of potential of saving him at this point is to lean into the future of Lagway. Like Gorney says, it may do no good either way, but he likely solidifies his fate if he passes up the opportunity to try and develop the five-star freshman.
Fresh off breaking the Florida freshman passing record and preparing to face a flawed Texas A&M team coming to the Swamp, Lagway could provide a spark. It is Napier’s best chance of saving face as the season progresses.
2. Joey McGuire has a legitimate reason for not featuring Micah Hudson to this point.
(Photo by AP Images)
Golan: FICTION. Micah Hudson’s playing time has been a topic of great debate for Texas Tech fans through two games. Red Raider fans had expectations of Hudson playing significant snaps – after all, that was the messaging coming out of Lubbock all off-season. Joey McGuire has said the main reason for Hudson only seeing spot snaps so far is due to the other receivers around him, namely Josh Kelly, Caleb Douglas, Coy Eakin, Drae McCray and the tight ends, as well as Hudson missing all of spring ball.
Texas Tech’s wideouts are certainly talented, but there should also be a way to feature the only five-star in school history. At the end of the day this is a story because Texas Tech escaped Abilene Christian and then lost at Washington State. If Tech handled ACU by 30 and won in Pullman, this wouldn’t be a topic of conversation.
Hudson is still extremely talented, still all the way bought in, and has a bright future in Lubbock. It just may not be right away like everyone expected.
Levenson: FICTION. If there is any position in college football this season that has the most star true freshman, it is wide receiver. We see Ryan Williams at Alabama, Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State, Ryan Wingo at Texas, Nick Marsh at Michigan State, and a trio of freshman at Auburn all making big-time contributions for their teams. For McGuire to insinuate that a healthy Hudson can’t carve out any time seems highly unlikely.
If he is fit to play, and every indication is that he is, then he needs to be out there. If Alabama, Ohio State and Texas are finding opportunities for their freshmen wideouts, then Texas Tech should be able to do the same. This is especially looking at the fact that the Red Raiders have struggled early in the season, including only scoring 16 points last weekend. To only play 10 offensive snaps in the first two weeks for the highest-rated prospect in program history seems like there should be an adjustment.
3. The talent pool in Oklahoma is the strongest it’s ever been.
Thune: FACT. Generally, the state will produce a handful of blue-chip prospects per year, and the 2025 class is no exception with such talents as Ohio State commit Nate Roberts and Oklahoma commit Elijah Thomas. But what makes the 2025 class so different is the sheer depth of Power Four pledges. Even beyond the state’s top 10, such prospects as Boston College QB commit Shaker Reisig, Oklahoma State WR commit Matrail Lopez and Kansas DL commit Josiah Hammond highlight a large second tier of future P4 players. This 2025 class is arguably the best in state history, and we’re fully expecting the 2027 class to be similarly loaded.
Levenson: FACT. Since being around the state of Oklahoma starting in 2019, I have watched the talent pool double if not triple. Much of it has had to with facilities greatly improving in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas. The 2025 class is very strong as Thune points out but looking forward to 2026 and 2027, the talent threshold is very appealing. Junior prospects Tajh Overton, Kaydin Jones, Colton Yarbrough and sophomore standouts such as Semaj Stanford and Bryson Brown point to a very impressive stretch to come in the state. It is not just the regional powers looking to land the talent but also Ohio State, Oregon, USC, Alabama and others.
Pep Guardiola says he’s ‘happy’ Manchester City’s long-awaited hearing into 115 alleged charges will be heard next week and the club will accept the outcome.
For 14 seconds, Jordan Chiles paused and looked down to collect her thoughts and emotions.
The question — about what Chiles felt she lost when the International Olympic Committee stripped her of her bronze medal in the Olympic women’s gymnastics floor exercise — forced her to stop mid-answer. The audience at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit in New York applauded her as she regrouped and held the microphone back up to her mouth.
Holding back tears, Chiles said she lost more than a bronze medal through the controversy that dominated the end of last month’s Paris Games. The controversy “wasn’t about the medal,” she said, but other realities that made her feel “stripped.”
“The biggest thing that was taken from me was the recognition of who I was, not just my sport, but the person I am,” Chiles said.
“It’s about my skin color,” Chiles added. “It’s about the fact there were things that have led up to this position of being an athlete.”
The on-stage interview Wednesday — which occurred before Chiles appeared at MTV’s Video Music Awards at night — marked the gymnast’s most extensive comments since the IOC said it would reallocate Chiles’ bronze to Romania’s Ana Bărbosu following an appeal by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation.
At the floor final on Aug. 5, Chiles originally finished fifth but rose to third after her coach, Cecile Landi, submitted a successful inquiry to raise her score by one-tenth of a point. Five days later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Landi’s inquiry should be invalidated because it came four seconds after the one-minute window for such an appeal. After the ruling, the International Gymnastics Federation dropped Chiles to fifth, and the IOC reallocated the medal. USA Gymnastics has said it is appealing the CAS decision to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
Chiles said she felt “left in the dark” and unsupported during the controversy. She felt her voice wasn’t heard during the appeal process and compared her emotions to 2018, when she said an emotionally and verbally abusive coach caused her to lose her love for gymnastics.
“No one was listening to the fact that there are things that we have in place,” Chiles said. “There are things that we have that should’ve been seen but weren’t taken for realization.”
“The biggest thing that was taken from me was the recognition of who I was, not just my sport, but the person I am.”
USA Gymnastics has argued that it has video evidence showing Landi made the appeal 47 seconds after Chiles’ score was posted, 13 seconds before the inquiry window closed, and that it did not have enough time to properly make its case to CAS.
Chiles previously referred to the decision as “unjust.”
“(It) comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey,” Chiles said in a post on X on Aug. 15. “To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful.”
Almost a month later, Chiles maintains that she and her coach followed the rules and did “everything that was totally and completely right” in the floor exercise competition.
“I made history and I will always continue to make history,” said Chiles, who won gold in the Olympic women’s team competition.
Chiles, who will return to UCLA for the upcoming college gymnastics season, received a bronze clock at the VMAs as a gift from Flavor Flav, who promised to make her one after her medal was stripped.
Chiles receives a bronze clock from Flavor Flav on Wednesday. (Noam Galai / Getty Images for MTV)
Alaina Getzenberg is a staff writer who covers the Buffalo Bills and the NFL. She joined ESPN in 2021. Alaina was previously a beat reporter for the Charlotte Observer and has also worked for CBS Sports and the Dallas Morning News. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. You can follow her via Twitter @agetzenberg.
The first-quarter touchdown came on a 17-yard pass from quarterback Josh Allen to running back James Cook on fourth-and-3 after the Bills took a timeout before the play.
The Bills used pre-snap motion to put wide receiver Curtis Samuel in the backfield behind Allen, while Cook moved from the quarterback’s left to his right. Cook then ran to the left side, caught the pass wide open and ran down the sideline to the end zone.
The play capped a six-play, 37-yard drive that came after Ingram brought the Dolphins’ first drive of the game to an early end. Ingram is playing in the team’s dime package, with Cam Lewis starting at nickel corner for the injured Taron Johnson (forearm).
With the throw, Allen reached 226 career touchdown passes, passing Dan Marino and Peyton Manning (225) for the second most in a player’s first seven seasons. The Bills scored a touchdown on their opening drive in just three games last season (and went 2-1 in those games).
Cook continued to surge in the second quarter, first scoring on a 1-yard handoff from Allen to extend Buffalo’s lead to 17-7 with 6:25 left in the second quarter.
The very next time the Bills got the ball, Cook scored again to put Buffalo up 24-7 with 3:36 left in the first half. This time, Cook received the handoff, went up the middle and then was off, running down the right sideline. Former Bills safety Jordan Poyer attempted to tackle Cook as he ran down the field, but no one else came close. Cook then flipped into the end zone and threw the ball deep into the stands.
The 49-yard touchdown was the longest rush by a Bills player since Devin Singletary had a 51-yard score against the Denver Broncos in 2020. In the first half, Cook had five carries for 60 yards and the first-quarter touchdown catch for 17 yards.
The Bills scored points on four of the their five drives in the first half. Cook scored all three touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving, after not scoring in the season-opening win against Arizona. His two rushing touchdowns equal his total from each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Cook is the third Bills player in the past 30 years to score three touchdowns in a first half, all of whom did so against the Dolphins (Lee Evans in Week 13 in 2005, Isaiah McKenzie in Week 17 in 2020).
Buffalo kept it going in the second half thanks to Ingram. After starting the Bills off with an interception on Miami’s first drive of the game, Ingram raised the stakes to start the third quarter.
On Miami’s first drive of the second half, Ingram added a pick-six. On third-and-5 from the Miami 30-yard line, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was put under pressure quickly by Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa and moved backwards in the pocket before throwing the ball towards the left sideline.
Ingram scooped the ball mid-stride and went up the sideline and into the end zone for a 31-yard score.
It was the Bills’ third interception of the night (cornerback Christian Benford got the other). Tagovailoa has thrown 10 interceptions against the Bills since entering the league in 2020, the most interceptions by any quarterback vs. a single opponent over that span.
Ingram is the first Bills player with two interceptions on the road since Poyer in Week 4 of 2022 against the Ravens.
Daniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Prior to ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun. You can follow him on Twitter @DanielOyefusi.
BEREA, Ohio — The attorney representing the plaintiff in a civil lawsuit accusing Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and battery told ESPN on Thursday that the woman will speak to the NFL within two weeks.
“We will be scheduling a meeting with the NFL and hope that can be accomplished in the next two weeks,” attorney Tony Buzbee wrote in an email. “We have a video and two additional witnesses for the NFL to speak with. I’ve personally never had confidence in the NFL’s disciplinary process but my client has chosen to engage it.”
According to the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Harris County, Texas, the alleged actions occurred in October 2020 before Watson and a woman, identified as Jane Doe in the court filing, were set to have dinner at the woman’s apartment. Watson was a member of the Houston Texans at the time.
Watson on Wednesday denied the allegations in a statement issued by his attorney, Rusty Hardin.
The NFL on Tuesday said it is reviewing the complaint under the personal conduct policy, but the league added that Watson will not be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list because there have been no formal charges and the league’s review just began.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Watson will still start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars but declined to comment on the lawsuit, deferring to a team statement released Tuesday.
In a statement released Wednesday, Buzbee said he reached out to Watson’s attorneys for months to resolve the matter privately.
Watson said that he found out about the lawsuit when it surfaced and that he was surprised to see the allegations. When asked about Buzbee’s claim of reaching out to Hardin’s office 10 months ago, Watson responded: “I’m not aware of that.”
Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. A pair of Texas grand juries declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson, but he served his suspension after the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement in his disciplinary matter.
Watson also had to pay a fine of $5 million and undergo mandatory evaluation by behavioral experts and follow their suggested treatment program before being reinstated by the league.
Watson settled 23 of the 24 lawsuits filed against him in the summer of 2022.
The lawsuit filed Monday is unrelated to the two remaining active lawsuits (the one from summer 2022 plus one filed that October) from women who accused Watson of sexual misconduct during massage sessions.
In the earlier civil cases, a judge compelled the women suing Watson to use their actual names in court filings. Hardin told ESPN on Wednesday that he intends to ask the court to require the woman who sued Watson on Monday to also be identified by name in court filings.
In March 2022, the Browns traded six draft picks, including three first-round picks, for Watson and gave him a fully guaranteed $230 million deal, which was an NFL record at the time.
The suspension and injuries have limited Watson to just 13 starts with Cleveland.
ZURICH — Texas-based snacks maker Frito-Lay will be a global sponsor for the next men’s and women’s World Cups and back a “fan of the match” award at every game, FIFA said on Thursday.
Frito-Lay upgrades its previous FIFA deals as a third-tier North American sponsor — for the men’s World Cup in 2022 and the Women’s World Cup last year — to become a second-tier global sponsor.
The value of the deals was not disclosed. They cover the men’s 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the 2027 women’s tournament in Brazil.
FIFA has budgeted to earn total marketing revenue of $2.7 billion for all of its tournaments from 2023-26, and has six top-tier commercial partners for the next men’s edition in 2026.
The Frito-Lay sponsorships “will break new ground at both tournaments by recognizing and rewarding the fan of the match at every match, spotlighting those in the stands whose passion and energy bring the beautiful game to life,” FIFA said.
The Lays brand has been a sponsor of the Champions League in Europe since 2015 with its parent company PepsiCo.
The FIFA deal covers just the Frito-Lay brands, which include Doritos, Cheetos, Cracker Jack and Quaker, because Coca-Cola is a top-tier World Cup partner through 2030.
Joining with FIFA ahead of the 2022 World Cup was “a great way for us to talk directly to the Hispanic community,” Frito-Lay, which has headquarters in Plano, Texas, has said.
Its signature commercial for that World Cup in Qatar featured David Beckham and Peyton Manning in a mock argument about “football or soccer.”
Florida Spotlight: Five most impressive performances
Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. has covered multiple games in Florida over the past month, getting extra looks at some of the nation’s best in the 2025 class and 2026 classes.
The Miami (Fla.) Northwestern junior is a jack-of-all-trades secondary prospect and also a return specialist, and in both arenas he made statement plays in the first official road game of the Teddy Bridgewater era – a blowout 45-0 win over Coconut Creek (Fla.) High. It started right out of the gates, too, as CCHS tried to throw at him on one of its first few possessions, where Flowers worked at outside corner and all but shut down his side of the field.
On one route in particular, a backside slant, he was so quick out of his break that he beat the wide receiver to the football. The instincts and technique led to a standout night of coverage.
It was Flowers’ return skills that caught most everyone else’s attention on this night, however. Not only did he take a kickoff return some 90 yards very early on, showcasing his legitimate track speed, but he nearly housed a punt return on top of it.
During the punt return, he broke a total of seven tackles, cutting against the grain with ease en route to the end zone before a flag brought the play back. Flowers won a state title in the 100-meter dash and finished second in the 200 this spring. Programs all around the country are courting him, with local Miami in a good spot early on.
IMG Academy had no shortage of impressive performers in its rout of state champion Cocoa (Fla.) High School just last week, but the Oklahoma State commitment may have flashed the most. McPherson lived in the backfield no matter who was lined up in front of him, winning in a variety of ways en route to multiple sacks and even more hits against the quarterback despite the plan for the opponent to have let the ball go on three-stop drops or even less. He also played the run well and helped force a fumble on the night.
McPherson uses his hands extremely well, winning with some classic swats and just raw power on his improved bull rush. At 255 pounds, he still has some tweener ability to line up inside and out, but after Friday it’s clear he needs to lean into the interior projection and build on his head-turning strengths.
McPherson also impressed with his leverage, winning low against some tall blockers and changing direction without losing much momentum en route to the point. The Cowboys’ commitment is rock solid to Mike Gundy‘s program.
The one-time Miami commitment made plenty of plays during the last day of said pledge to Mario Cristobal and company. Sporting Auburn gloves and playing against Notre Dame quarterback commitment Noah Grubbs, Melendez would help his team in the game that became a bit of a defensive struggle. He flashed as a run defender, as he seemingly always does, screaming downhill with bad intentions and explosion upon contact for multiple tackles for loss.
But it was a pass play that stole the conversation that evening, as Melendez picked off Grubbs in one of the more unconventional ways. Despite being known as a downhill player, the four-star showcased his awareness and slowed down his rush on a quick drop-back from the QB, before settling and leaping into the passing lane. Not only did Melendez time the play just right, but he swallowed the football with his broad frame, showed head-turning athleticism in landing on his feet and even took off for some 25 yards on the return.
It’s part of the reason why SEC programs Auburn and Oklahoma are working hard on getting the senior on the commitment list.
Sure, it was a kickoff classic game and technically didn’t count, but the showdown between Seffner (Fla.) Armwood and Miami (Fla.) Norland is still being talked about a month after it came to an end. The Hawks picked up the big road win and the Miami commitment was a major reason why. We knew of his electric speed and he showed it on an 80-yard score to put the game away.
It was the other elements the four-star back brought to the table that were just as impressive. Pringle says he is up to 185 pounds and he ran tough against a defensive line littered with Power Four talent, showcasing a combination of great vision, patience and even power relative to his size.
Pringle finished forward even though the entire stadium knew No. 2 was getting the rock. It balances out his game and aids his trajectory as a potential all-around back instead of one just known for speed and ability in space. Pringle is a complete player at the position and his rise up the rankings shouldn’t soon slow down.
An Ole Miss commitment who picked the program back in the summer, Reed kicked off his senior campaign with an out-of-state opponent in Suwanee (Ga.) Peachtree Ridge on a slightly wet day. The visitors got off to a hot start and Reed’s team, Coconut Creek (Fla.) Monarch High, could not move the football with their young quarterback. Late in the first half, down double digits, and for the bulk of the second half meant Reed needed to be taking the snaps.
The four-star is known for his versatility and great athleticism on the outside, but Reed led the comeback with pure grit and toughness in running between the tackles against a stout front-seven. It became more of a front closer to double-digits as the end of the game became near, but Reed continued to churn out yards and move the chains. Not only did he bring Monarch High back – on his back – but he was cramping up and visibly banged up after the bulk of his final carries. Reed would score three times and rush for more than 100 yards in the win, having played defense and wide receiver in between gritty runs.
The first Asian heritage footballer ever to represent England, Frank Soo, will be inducted into The National Football Museum Hall of Fame, Sky Sports News can exclusively reveal.
Buxton-born former Stoke City player Soo, whose father was Chinese, became the first player of Asian heritage to represent England when he appeared in a wartime international against Wales at Ninian Park in 1942. Raised in Liverpool, Soo turned out for Prescott Cables as a teenager and went on to play nine England wartime matches between 1942 and 1945.
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The Stoke City legend was also the first person of East or South East Asian (ESEA) heritage to appear in the Football League, making more than 250 appearances for the Potters where he was a former team-mate and captain of Sir Stanley Matthews.
Soo would later play for Leicester City, Luton Town and Chelmsford City. Soo, who died in 1991 at the age of 76, also played with Matthews in England wartime matches and will now posthumously join his former team-mate in The National Football Museum Hall of Fame.
Frank’s story is ‘incredibly inspiring’
Image: Frank Soo with fellow footballers including Joe Mercer, Stanley Matthews and Matt Busby (Photo credit: Mercer Family)
CEO of The National Football Museum, Tim Desmond, to Sky Sports News:
“At the National Football Museum, we are delighted to induct Frank Soo into our Hall of Fame celebrating not only his achievements on the pitch but also his role as a pioneer for being England’s first-ever player of Asian descent.
Image: The Frank Soo Foundation are joined by the Football Association, Sky Sports News and the Football Supporters’ Association at Frank Soo Street at the site of Stoke City’s Victoria Ground former stadium
“The National Football Museum is proud to be representative of football in all its diversity and Frank must have overcome a lot of social barriers to achieve at the highest level in the game. His story is incredibly inspiring and we hope this induction contributes to his legacy.”
The National Football Museum Hall of Fame aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of those who have made an outstanding contribution to English football. Other players to be honoured with a place in the Hall of Fame include Steven Gerrard, Bobby Moore, Vincent Kompany, Hope Powell, Eric Cantona and Dennis Bergkamp.
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Sky Sports News celebrated the 80th anniversary of Chinese-origin former Stoke, Leicester, and Luton Town footballer Frank Soo becoming the first ethnically diverse player to play for an England side
The announcement comes during East and South East Asian Heritage Match and a ceremony will take place at the bet365 Stadium ahead of Stoke City vs Derby County on November 2, live on Sky Sports Football.
‘We hope this will inspire the next generation’
Image: Sky Sports News’ Dev Trehan and Leicester CIty Diversity and Inclusion lead John Olaleye celebrate Frank Soo at the King Power Stadium with Maxwell Min and Alan Lau from the Frank Soo Foundation
Frank Soo Foundation co-founder and chair Alan Lau to Sky Sports News:
“It is wonderful to see Frank Soo honoured with induction into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame. This highlights the positive effect that people from ESEA and Pan-Asian communities have had on football and we hope this will inspire the next generation.
“It means a lot to us, our communities, and also the Soo family, who are yet to see Frank Soo awarded his England cap.”
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Soo never received an England cap, with the FA telling Sky Sports News that a significant number of players who represented England during wartime did not get caps as the fixtures were not recognised as official internationals.
Leslie, who scored 137 goals for Argyle, was the first Black footballer to be selected by England, back in 1925 – but was denied the opportunity to play for the country because of the colour of his skin.
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Recognition came after widespread efforts – particularly from The Jack Leslie Campaign – which campaigned for a statue to be built in tribute to the former Plymouth Argyle captain. Leslie played more than 400 matches for the club.
Image: Jack Leslie was set to become England’s first black player when he was called up in 1925
Jack Leslie Campaign co-founder Matt Tiller to Sky Sports News:
“Just as Jack Leslie’s illustrious club career was coming to a premature end after an eye injury in the winter of 1933, Frank Soo burst onto the scene at Stoke City.
“Both trailblazers, Jack was denied the chance to play for his country due to the colour of his skin, while Frank did represent England several times.
“Their stories are, however, similar in one striking manner. Both were largely forgotten for decades.
Image: Frank Soo playing for the RAF against Scotland at Hampden Park (Photo credit: Mercer Family)
“Frank’s talent won him appearances for England through the Second World War, which meant his international career was ‘unofficial.’
“But his achievements are remarkable and deserve to be known far and wide. It is time to recognise pioneers like Frank Soo, particularly when players of Asian heritage remain under-represented in our national game.”
‘We’re not just around now – we’ve been around for years’
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Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari thinks it would be ‘fantastic’ to award Asian-heritage football trailblazer an honorary cap in recognition of the nine wartime games he played for England. Soo was also English football’s first East Asian player
Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari to Sky Sports News:
“It’s really important to celebrate these icons from our history and Frank Soo is one of those icons.
“The barriers that someone like that must have overcome to be successful in the game. That in itself is huge and should be celebrated.
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“It’s part of a broader trend we’re seeing of players who have played many, many years ago now being celebrated. We’ve seen it with Plymouth Argyle and Jack Leslie, and it sends a really important message to people today that we’re not just around now – we’ve been around for years.
“It would be fantastic [for Frank Soo to be awarded an honorary England cap]. I happened to be at Wembley for the Ukraine game where Jack Leslie’s honorary England cap was given, and it means an enormous amount to the family and also to the clubs as a recognition for them as well.”
Representation ‘is so important’
Image: Frank Soo Foundation chair Alan Lau, Sky Sports News’ Dev Trehan and Frank Soo’s great niece Jacqui Soo at Stoke’s Civic Centre for Frank’s appointment to the city’s Sporting Hall of Fame
Frank Soo’s great niece, Jacqui Soo, to Sky Sports News:
“Frank Soo should be recognised with an England cap. But I am not surprised that it hasn’t already happened – you only need to look at women’s football and what it has taken [after it was banned in England for 50 years until the early 1970s] to get it where it is.
Image: Frank Soo with france’s General Koenig at Wembley on 26th May 1945 (Photo credit: Soo Family)
“My great uncle Frank played nine times for England and he still hasn’t got a cap. He also made guest appearances for other teams during the war and he played in front of enormous crowds.
“Race has become such a big issue in the last few years. Representation of minorities in this country is so important. We are a multi-racial country with men and women who play sports, so let’s try and get Frank Soo his cap.
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“If you have got an Asian and someone from a Chinese background, who has played for England and can now get an England cap, imagine what that would do for kids growing up?
“A cap for Frank Soo could be an inspiration for so many kids. Let’s start the recognition of Asian players with Frank Soo. He’s played for England. Let him be the first and let us move on from there. He was an absolute trailblazer.”
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Why it’s important to shine a light on Frank Soo’s achievements
Soo would also go on to enjoy a successful managerial career, taking charge of Italian side Padova, coaching Norway at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, and winning the Swedish Allsvenskan title as Djurgardens IF manager. He also managed in England at Scunthorpe United and St Albans City.
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.
MIAMI — Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert will not play in Thursday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills, coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday, leaving the team without its leading rusher from a season ago.
Mostert was estimated to have missed all of the Dolphins’ practices this week with a chest injury; the team didn’t practice Monday and held walk-through practices Tuesday and Wednesday.
Running back De’Von Achane also missed Monday’s and Tuesday’s practices with an ankle injury but returned to the practice field Wednesday.
In terms of Achane’s availability for Thursday’s game, McDaniel said: “We’ll see.”
Achane was officially listed as questionable for the game by the Dolphins. He was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, according to the team.
Both players picked up their injuries during the Dolphins’ 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. Mostert recorded 19 total yards on eight touches, while Achane finished with 100 total yards on 17 touches.
McDaniel said the short week has impacted the practice reps his players have received, considering the team typically waits until Thursday to have a padded practice during a normal week.
Achane ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns in two games against the Bills last season, but if he is unable to play, veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright are in line to man the Dolphins’ backfield against their division rivals.
Wright was inactive in Week 1, but Wilson led the team with 26 rushing yards on five carries.
Nikki Doucet, the CEO of the English women’s professional game, says moving the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Championship’s streaming platform to YouTube will grow the game’s reach.
The WSL and Championship’s YouTube channels have replaced the FA Player as the divisions’s primary streaming service for the 2024-25 season, with all non-televised WSL matches and select Championship games available to view globally on the platform.
The WSL’s broadcast deal was set to expire at the end of last season and in April this was extended for a further year by the BBC and Sky Sports. Doucet said the move to YouTube can help make the case for the value of both leagues when the media rights go out to tender again next year.
“When we are going to market, we are including both the WSL and the Championship (broadcast rights),” Doucet said.
“We had 55,000 people watch the (London City Lionesses vs Newcastle United) game (on YouTube on Sunday). When you think about that vs the FA Player. I think the most on the FA Player last year ever was 4,500.
“So our job right now is to make sure we’re getting as much reach, that we’re bringing up the Championship in the right way, that we’re focused on it. So there is careful consideration from a marketing and commercial perspective, on what we can do for the Championship.
“The more value we can extract there, the better for everybody and the WSL. The more reach we can do with the Championship, bringing them on YouTube, bringing more people in, telling more stories, using our channels in the right way.
“We’re investing in the YouTube channel to make sure we’re getting views and we can point to that in the right way. And over time, we’re building that up to have more data to be able to show these are the views, this is the engagement, this is the audience, this is the reach. And then we have the ability to go back to market and see again where we can maximise value on those points.
“Our media rights are up for 25-26, and we’ll be looking at both properties.”
Doucet was appointed WPLL CEO in November (The Football Association – Women’s Pro Game/Nina Farooqi)
Under Article 48 of UEFA’s statutes, the FA prevents games from being broadcast between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays in the UK to protect stadium attendances. Doucet added while they had explored potential changes to the 3pm blackout, “at the moment it is not an option”.
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Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told a government committee in January that Premier League clubs had agreed a loan to WPLL. This was for £20million ($25.2m) and was expected to be interest-free and only repayable when it reaches £100m in annual revenue.
“Based on the size of the business, that’s the right amount of capital today,” Doucet explained. “It is a loan. We do have to pay it back at some point.
“It’s a long term loan on favourable terms. It’s interest free, which is super positive, and it comes with that cooperation agreement. So we have to meet either certain revenue thresholds to pay it off, or there’s a time frame, but it’s a longer term time frame to enable us to have space to grow.”
On the topic of raising revenue and attracting investors, Doucet emphasised the importance of long-term vision and highlighted the example of U.S. businesswoman Kang following her takeover of London City Lionesses in December.
The Washington Spirit and Lyon Feminin owner’s investment resulted in a busy summer window for the Championship side, with signings including Sweden international Kosovare Asllani and young forward Isobel Goodwin from Sheffield United. The club has also purchased and is in the process of renovating a new training facility.
“To invest in the women’s game today, based on where we are in the phase of maturity of the business, is a different type of capital and risk profile than investing in the men’s game today,” Doucet added.
“We have to find the investors over here that believe in the concept of community purpose, of a growth story that is built on business metrics going forward but has the ability to invest ahead of revenue. Our biggest challenge is a revenue challenge, not necessarily a cost challenge.
“To be a professional club, to provide the right infrastructure, costs money. That’s someone like a Michelle Kang or some of the bigger clubs right now, their owners are investing, they believe in that future. They’re like: we understand that this is a ten year journey. This isn’t like a two or three year immediate return.
“And our job right now is to maximise value at each point of the growth journey. The market will dictate what we can extract and what we can maximise from a value perspective. And our job is to obsess that every single day.”
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![Frank Soo with fellow footballers including Joe Mercer, Stanley Matthews and Matt Busby [MUST CREDIT THE MERCER FAMILY]](https://e0.365dm.com/20/05/768x432/skysports-joe-mercer-frank-soo_4986556.jpg?20200508205437)
![Frank Soo playing for the RAF against Scotland at Hampden Park [MUST CREDIT MERCER FAMILY]](https://e0.365dm.com/20/05/768x432/skysports-frank-soo-raf-hampden-park_4986559.png?20200508205710)
![Frank Soo with General Koenig at Wembley on 26th May 1945 [MUST CREDIT THE SOO FAMILY]](https://e0.365dm.com/20/05/768x432/skysports-frank-soo-wembley_4986553.jpg?20200508205249)
