What exactly is going on with Aaron Judge?

Following a three-month absence due to a stress fracture in his first rib, the New York Yankees superstar outfielder returned to action earlier in September but quickly went back on the injured list with a calf injury. Now, Judge and his manager, Aaron Boone, are offering up conflicting timelines on when the three-time American League MVP could be activated.

Here’s everything we know about Judge’s calf injury and potential return date:

 

Judge initially felt pain in his rib when trying to make a diving catch during an April 26 game against the Houston Astros, but the five-time Silver Slugger played through the discomfort through May 31.

Ultimately, Judge was placed on the injured list on June 5. Prior to going on the shelf, Judge had totaled 17 home runs and 38 RBIs, while posting a .248/.375/.533 slash line.

 

Judge returned to the Yankees’ lineup on Sept. 8. However, he was placed back on the injured list retroactive to Sept. 17 after suffering a right calf strain.

Over the seven games he played in his return from the injured list, Judge totaled one home run and three RBIs, while posting a .174/.208/.304 slash line. The injury, and his performance, made FOX Sports’ Deesha Thosar question the lack of a rehab assignment for Judge, who came right back to the majors from the IL.

 

The Yankees’ skipper revealed on Sept. 22 that he doesn’t expect Judge to be with the team during the American League Wild Card Series (Sept. 29-Oct. 1).

“We’re planning on him not being a part of that [the Wild Card Series], but we’re also at the time of the year where you hear all the time with injuries, you give ranges two to four weeks, four to six weeks,” Boone said about Judge.

Aaron Judge has played in just 66 games this season. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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“The range is for a reason, and we’re at a point of the year where obviously we push it a little bit if that was in play, but that’s a week away. I’m not expecting it, but I’m not ruling it out either.”

 

Then, on Sept. 23, Boone asserted that Judge was dealing with a “moderate” calf strain.

Meanwhile, the eight-time All-Star told ESPN that his “plan” is to return for the Wild Card Series and also pushed back on Boone’s claim about Judge’s calf strain being “moderate” prior to the team’s Wednesday night victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Everybody’s ‘moderate’ is a little different. I think your ‘moderate’ is a little different than my moderate, and so on and so on. Yeah, I don’t know why he used those words, but like I said, I’m trying to come back as soon as I can,” Judge said.

Judge also expressed he wants to attempt to play right field, should he return.

 

The Yankees (91-67) are locked into the No. 1 AL wild-card seed and will host either the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium from Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

Should New York win the best-of-three wild-card series, it would face the No. 1-seeded Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Division Series, which begins on Oct. 3.

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The question itself wasn’t directly about any public criticism Josh Hoover has faced this season. After Indiana’s 38-0 rout of Western Kentucky over the weekend, the Hoosiers’ starting quarterback rattled off the throws he felt he had missed, and a reporter wondered if having a quarterback who is willing to take ownership and acknowledge his mistakes makes a coach’s job easier. 

That’s when Curt Cignetti stepped in to defend him.

“I think there is too much scrutiny of Josh Hoover right now,” Cignetti told reporters this week during a press conference. “Unfair scrutiny.”

Cignetti was likely responding to some of the social media reaction surrounding his quarterback. No matter how good a team is — and Indiana is 3-0, having outscored its first three opponents 145-16 — there will always be fans and pundits nitpicking, comparing and looking for ways a team should be better. That’s the nature of sports. Win a national championship, and the future standards can become too high to meet.

Josh Hoover runs the ball against Western Kentucky in Indiana’s Week 3 shutout win. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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“Three years ago, nobody knew who Indiana’s quarterback was,” former Indiana coach and current Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo told me. “Now, not only do they know, they’re an expert about him.”

Hoover transferred to Indiana from TCU in the offseason as one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the transfer portal. He presumably knew what he was getting into when he signed up to replace Fernando Mendoza, who had just led Indiana to its first national championship, won the Heisman Trophy and was selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft.

It’s incredibly rare for the next man up to replicate everything his predecessor accomplished. 

Oklahoma came close under then-coach Lincoln Riley, when Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray won back-to-back Heisman Trophies, and Jalen Hurts followed with a Heisman finalist finish. But that kind of succession is the exception, not the rule.

“I’d be surprised if Josh came there thinking that because Fernando won the Heisman, ‘That’s my next step,'” DiNardo said. “I think we’re too realistic to think that.”

Cignetti’s willingness to push back on expectations and defend Hoover, though, stands out. His comments hit the news cycle quickly, and this became somewhat of a viral moment entering the fourth week of the season. 

“I always like to see when a coach comes to the defense of his players, because quarterbacks obviously deal with way too much credit and way too much blame,” Garrett Gilbert — who was supposed to be the next great quarterback at Texas following Vince Young and Colt McCoy — told me. 

“It was difficult for me during my time at Texas, not just being the guy who came after Colt, but just expectation in general is tough for a young kid to deal with.”

As a freshman, Gilbert was famously thrust into the 2009 national championship game between Texas and Alabama after McCoy was injured on the fifth play. A former five-star recruit and the No. 1 quarterback prospect in Texas, Gilbert had appeared in 10 games that season. But stepping into that moment was an impossible task, and it turned into a long night for the Longhorns. Gilbert was named the starter the following season as a sophomore, but after struggling to win games, he eventually transferred to SMU, where he finished his college career before becoming a sixth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Gilbert was 19 when he followed McCoy, a Heisman finalist and Texas legend. Hoover is 23 and has years of starting experience as he leads Indiana into the post-Mendoza era — that’s the reality of college football in the transfer-portal world. But Hoover’s age and track record don’t necessarily make taking over for Mendoza any less daunting.

Gilbert struggled with the attention. He read the local newspaper and said he checked ESPN after good games and bad ones to see what people were saying about him. He joked that, back then, Instagram was simply a place to look at pictures your friends posted. Now, it’s a meme-driven culture that can be unforgiving to anyone — let alone a college quarterback whose every mistake becomes public fodder.

“I can’t imagine being a kid in today’s day and age and seeing and dealing with that stuff,” Gilbert said.

Former SMU coach June Jones talks with quarterback Garrett Gilbert in 2012. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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When it comes to blocking out the noise, Gilbert will never forget a conversation he had with former SMU coach June Jones early in the 2012 season. It was Gilbert’s fourth game with the Mustangs, and he had thrown five interceptions in a 24-16 loss to TCU. The next day at practice, after the team finished wind sprints, Jones pulled Gilbert aside on the field.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh, here we go again,’” Gilbert said. “But June said, ‘This is your team. You could throw 100 interceptions, and it’s still going to be your team. You’re our guy. So let it go and go play.’

“That was a very freeing moment for me that maybe I hadn’t experienced. Not that I didn’t feel like it was my team at Texas when I was the starting quarterback, but I think I put a lot of pressure on myself. And June said that to me, and this is 14 years ago now, and I’ll never forget it. And from that point on, I played well because he had given me the confidence.”

Hoover’s situation isn’t the same, of course. He has completed more than 72% of his passes, thrown 10 touchdowns without an interception, and he has the second-best passer efficiency rating in the country. He faced backlash before the season even began after his former TCU coach, Sonny Dykes, publicly highlighted Hoover’s previous turnover rate.

Cignetti came to Hoover’s defense then, noting that when Hoover arrived at Indiana, he met “his two new best friends: great defense and a really good run game.” 

“I think maybe there’s a chance that’s what happens behind closed doors every day at Indiana,” Gilbert said of Cignetti instilling belief in his players. “He’s a fiery individual, but it’s clear to me that he has his players’ backs whenever it matters.”

Cignetti said he saw Hoover miss just one throw on the tape from Indiana’s game against Western Kentucky because “we did a bad job picking up the blitz at running back, and he had a guy in his face.” Other miscues were partly due to bad route running, and Cignetti said they had to hash some of that out as a staff.

He concluded with: “I’m glad he’s our quarterback.”

Curt Cignetti runs with his Indiana team onto the field before playing Howard in Week 2. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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After the 2024 season, Mendoza didn’t arrive at Indiana from Cal as a superstar — but developed into one. During the Hoosiers’ historic 2025 run, he threw 41 touchdowns with six interceptions and had five games in which he threw more touchdowns than incompletions, including two College Football Playoff games.

“He had his Heisman moment against Penn State, but before that, he was just a guy,” DiNardo said, referencing Mendoza’s memorable game-winning drive to keep the Hoosiers’ undefeated season intact. “I was there for camp, and he was great — a nice kid, a good interview and all that. But nobody was talking about him winning the Heisman Trophy. I mean, it’s insane.”

Expecting Hoover to be Mendoza 2.0 is unreasonable. But he can still accomplish great things and win a lot of games.

“I think the answer is probably as simple as be yourself,” Gilbert said when asked what kind of advice he might give Hoover or another player in a similar position. “Fernando is a perfect example of that. He became this lovable guy that his entire team respected and had so much success. And I think the reason he’s been able to do that is by being himself.

“You go back to before me, Colt was stepping in, and how could he possibly be Vince Young? The answer is, he can’t. Being yourself and trusting what got you to that point can make such a big difference.”

MORE CFB

Joel Klatt on Arch Manning being ‘okay’, Florida vs. Ole Miss, Colorado | FULL INTERVIEW | The Herd

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Quarterback injuries were unfortunately the theme of NFL Week 2.

Hopefully this week’s theme is that our NFL Week 3 best bets cash in.

Here’s where I’m putting my money.

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The Packers have had a bad habit of blowing late, double-digit leads, but last week they flipped the script. Down 17-7 in the fourth quarter, the Packers rallied to beat the Jets 20-17 in overtime and now host the reeling Falcons, who have yet to run a play from inside the red zone this year. I think the Packers win by a touchdown.

Hill’s Pick: Packers -4.5

The Chargers are being left for dead after a brutal 0-2 start and a vicious schedule that lies ahead. But the summer line was Bills by 1.5, now it’s up to 7.5. A downgrade for the Chargers is warranted, but a 6-point adjustment seems aggressive. The Chargers are desperate and getting 7.5. I think they’ll bounce back with their backs against the wall and at least keep this game close.

Hill’s Pick: Chargers +7.5

Maybe it will never happen. Maybe the Jets will never intercept another pass again. But if they do, I will be there holding a bet slip on it! All of 2025, the Jets failed to record an interception, and now through two games in 2026, they are without one once again. However, head coach Aaron Glenn knows opposing quarterback Jared Goff very well from Glenn’s time as the Lions’ defensive coordinator and I think they can finally end the streak and force Goff into a miscue.

Hill’s Pick: Jared Goff Over 0.5 Interceptions

Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes has heard for a couple of years now about how his skills may be declining and he doesn’t throw the ball down the field as well or as often as he once did. In Week 2, Mahomes answered some of those questions, throwing for 382 yards in a win over the Colts. I look for him to continue to put up big numbers this week against a helpless Dolphins defense. 

Hill’s Pick: Patrick Mahomes Over 235.5 Passing Yards

The 2–1 Cleveland Browns? I’m not sure who wins what is a very difficult game to figure out. But the Browns are home getting 2.5 points and have shown the roster is perhaps better than perception — despite the obvious concerns at quarterback. 

Hill’s Pick: Browns +2.5

This feels like a typical Steelers game that they ugly up, keep close and either win or lose by a field goal to cover the 3.5-point spread. But I can’t do it. The Steelers looked alarmingly inept last week, losing 20-3 in New England and now face a Bengals squad that looks to be much improved defensively.

Hill’s Pick: Bengals -3.5

It appears that the defending champs are still very good at football. The Cardinals were a trendy upset pick last week and tied with the Seahawks 7-7 before the Seahawks scored the final 24 points to win 31-7. With the Commanders forced to turn to back-up QB Marcus Mariota, I expect the Seahawks defense to dominate. 

Hill’s Pick: Commanders Team Total Under 16.5 points

These are two teams with high expectations after winning their respective divisions last year. The loser here will be facing some early anxiety that comes with a 1-2 start. While the Patriots haven’t been overly impressive thus far, I’ll take them getting 3 points in what figures to be a very close game between two squads that are evenly matched.

Hill’s Pick: Patriots +3

This will be a battle of former first overall picks but 10 years apart, as Jameis Winston and Cam Ward are the quarterbacks for this one. I’ll go Over the 39.5. The Giants defense looked shaky Monday night against the Rams, and Winston is notorious for being ultra aggressive and creating big plays to the good and the bad.

Hill’s Pick: Over 39.5 Total Points Scored

These are two 0-2 teams both in desperate need of a victory. The Colts lost to the Ravens and Chiefs, which are two respectable losses. But I’ll go with the much superior defense here and back the Texans.

Hill’s Pick: Texans -2.5

The Cardinals were the surprise team of Week 1, but Week 2 showed why expectations for them were quite modest heading into the season. I expect the 49ers to light up the scoreboard and quarterback Brock Purdy to continue his strong play.

Hill’s Pick: Brock Purdy Over 236.5 Passing Yards

Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers with quarterback Kyler Murray making his return, look for Justin Jefferson to have a big day against the Buccaneers’ secondary. That unit struggled against a much less prolific passing game last week in a loss to the Browns. 

Hill’s Pick: Justin Jefferson Over 68.5 Receiving Yards

The Raiders look to start 3-0, but even with their surprising play early on, I think the Saints at home are the bet here, laying just a field goal. 

Hill’s Pick: Saints -3

For all the talk that the Cowboys would be improved defensively, it hasn’t shown up on the field just yet. In a battle between two elite quarterbacks, I expect plenty of points, which we’ve all come to expect from Cowboys’ games.

Hill’s Pick: Over 52.5 Total Points Scored

This was very nearly the Super Bowl matchup last year, but neither team made it and now they meet up several months later. I like Rams’ running back Blake Corum Over 48.5 rushing yards. Corum is averaging 67 yards per game through two weeks, and his backfield competition, Kyren Williams, lost a fumble last week. Corum should continue to see plenty of opportunities.

Hill’s Pick: Blake Corum Over 48.5 Rushing Yards

It looks like veteran quarterback Case Keenum may be getting the nod for the Bears on Monday night. The third-stringer is the next man up after injuries to Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent. I think both teams will rely heavily on the run game in this one, and I look for a low-scoring start early on.

Hill’s Pick: 1st Half Under 21 Points

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When college football Week 4 odds hit betting boards across the country Sunday, it was perhaps a bit surprising to see No. 21 Florida as a 2.5-point home favorite over No. 4 Ole Miss.

More surprising, the Gators quickly moved to -3 and -3.5.

“But the public is disagreeing with that sentiment,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said, noting plenty of interest in the fourth-ranked Rebels.

Bookmakers and sharp bettors serve up their insights on that matchup and more in college football Week 4 betting.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Masses On Ole Miss

Ole Miss is coming off a huge home win in Week 3. The Rebels blew all of a 24-7 first-half lead, then barely held on for a 32-24 victory as 3-point home underdogs vs. LSU.

Meanwhile, Florida gave away most of a 17-point, fourth-quarter edge at Auburn, winning 44-39 as a 2.5-point favorite.

Ole Miss certainly had the more impressive win. But this week, the combination of Florida at home and Rebels’ running back Kewan Lacey (shoulder) being questionable convinced Caesars to open the Gators -2.5.

The public loves Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss. (Getty Images)

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Florida moved to -3 in short order and has toggled between -3/-3.5 multiple times. On Wednesday night, it’s Gators -3.5 (-102) for a 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday kickoff.

“Despite that line movement, it’s a little reverse action. Most of the action we’ve seen is on Ole Miss,” Feazel said.

Florida and Ole Miss are both 3-0 straight up (SU) and 2-1 against the spread (ATS).

College Football Rocks On FOX

On Friday night, it’s a battle of Big Ten unbeatens. However, one is just a little more respected by oddsmakers than the other.

And by a little, I mean a lot.

No. 5 Indiana, the defending national champion, is a 21-point home favorite vs. Northwestern (2-0 SU and ATS). That’s actually down from Caesars’ opener of Hoosiers -22.5, perhaps in part because Indiana (3-0 SU/0-3 ATS) hasn’t covered this season.

Last year, Indiana went a perfect 16-0 SU/10-6 ATS and covered in three of its four College Football Playoff victories.

But the public isn’t going to lay off a team that hasn’t lost since the first round of the 2024-25 CFP.

Can Curt Cignetti keep his Hoosiers hot for another week? (Getty Images)

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“It’s really what we’re expecting so far, mostly Indiana action,” Feazel said, while noting he anticipates plenty more betting for this 8 p.m. ET kick on FOX. “This game should drive a ton of action, despite it not appearing to be very competitive.

“People like Indiana and they like Curt Cignetti. The need here is gonna be for Northwestern to hang in there and keep it a lower-scoring game.”

Saturday’s Big Noon Kickoff on FOX is even more of a mismatch, by oddsmakers’ estimates. At DraftKings Sportsbook, Ohio State is a 26.5-point home favorite vs. Illinois, down slightly from a -27.5 opener.

Even with that big number, it’s all Buckeyes so far at DraftKings, with 82% of spread bets/77% of spread money on Ohio State.

On-Campus Sharp Side

College football betting expert Paul Stone got there last week on Louisville -1.5, as the host Cardinals topped SMU 41-31. This week, he’s most intrigued by a Big 12 matchup: Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia, at 7 p.m. ET Saturday on FS1.

Oklahoma State (2-1 SU and ATS) shockingly lost at Tulsa in Week 1 but even more shockingly beat visiting Oregon in Week 2.

Still, Stone is more impressed by West Virginia’s 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS start. 

After struggling to a 4-8 record last season, West Virginia was a consensus pick to again finish in the bottom half of the Big 12 this season.

West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins has thrived so far in the Mountaineers’ offense. (Getty Images)

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However, the Mountaineers are off to their first 3-0 start since 2018, largely due to the play of quarterback Michael Hawkins. The transfer from Oklahoma found a home in Rich Rodriguez’s offense, which emphasizes a mobile quarterback who can use his legs in the running game.

Hawkins accounted for five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing) in West Virginia’s 38-27 neutral-site victory over No. 25 Virginia last week.

Stone likes the Mountaineers as 1.5-point home favorites vs. Oklahoma State.

“Oklahoma State turned a lot of heads with its victory over Oregon a couple of weeks ago,” Stone said. “But I look for Hawkins & Co. to get the job done in Morgantown. I think West Virginia wins by a field goal or more.”

   Oh, Say Can You SEC

It’s just a massive Saturday in the SEC. Ahead of Ole Miss-Florida, top-ranked Texas meets Tennessee at noon ET.

The Longhorns (3-0 SU/1-2 ATS) have the signature win of the season so far, with their 21-point rally to beat Ohio State 24-23 in Week 2. Meanwhile, The Vols (3-0 SU/1-2 ATS) face their stiffest test by far, having been double-digit favorites in their first three outings.

Caesars Sports opened Texas as a 5-point favorite, and interestingly, the line quickly tumbled to -3.5. But it rebounded nearly as quickly, returning to Texas -5.5 by Monday, with Feazel noting sharp play on the Longhorns -4.5.

However, by Wednesday night, the Longhorns fell back to -4 once again.

Books are expecting big bets coming in on the Texas-Tennessee matchup.

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“Some wild movement thus far for this SEC matchup,” Feazel said. “We expect to see some larger Texas wagers as we get closer to Saturday’s kickoff. This should be our biggest-action game of the early kickoffs.”

Also in the SEC, No. 23 Texas A&M (2-1 SU and ATS) visits No. 10 LSU (2-1 SU/1-2 ATS) at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday. The Aggies are coming off a huge upset loss to Kentucky, 31-21 as 16.5-point home favorites.

And as noted above, the Tigers fell at Ole Miss 32-24. But Caesars’ risk room rightly deemed the Tigers’ setback a much more quality loss than A&M’s, and the point spread shows it.

“Texas A&M has been very inconsistent and is desperate for a win. But our look-ahead line [last week] was LSU -5.5, and it’s moved up to LSU -8.5,” Feazel said. “It’s not lopsided quite yet. But we’re gonna have more coming in on LSU.

“We’re gonna need Texas A&M to come through and keep this close.”

   B1G Battles

Saturday brings a couple key Big Ten matchups, as well: No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 18 Michigan at 3:30 p.m. ET, and No. 20 Oregon vs. No.  12 USC at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Michigan (3-0 SU/2-1 ATS) is pretty fortunate to be unbeaten at this point. Still, Caesars opened the Wolverines -4.5 vs. the Hawkeyes (3-0 SU/2-1 ATS), and the line was Michigan -5.5 on Wednesday night.

The more interesting market might be the total, which is a tidy 38.5. That matches the opening number, down from the 39.5 high Sunday but up from the 37.5 low Monday.

“It’s a classic Big Ten matchup. We anticipate a low-scoring game, with this being one of the lowest totals on the board,” Feazel said. “We’re seeing two-way action on the total and a little more action on Iowa.

Bryce Underwood and the Wolverines are lucky to still have a perfect record. (Getty Images)

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“On paper, Michigan probably shouldn’t be undefeated. Come game time, I think we’ll need Michigan to win and not cover.”

Oregon opened as a 2.5-point road favorite vs. USC, and the Ducks advanced to -3 by Monday.

“This Oregon team is desperate after the loss to Oklahoma State,” Feazel said. “It’s mostly Oregon money coming in, on the spread and the moneyline.”

So Caesars could well be rooting for USC at home. But that’s not the biggest concern in a game with a total of 62.5.

“We’re seeing a lot of Over money, which is not a surprise. The sharper side is on the Under,” Feazel said. “With these two high-flying offenses, the bigger need is gonna be a lower-scoring game.”

I Like Big Bets And I Cannot Lie

Feazel noted above that some major wagers are expected to land on Texas. But Tennessee took the first big play on Saturday’s SEC clash in Knoxville.

A customer put $76,900 on Vols moneyline +175. If Tennessee pulls the outright upset, then the bettor banks $134,575 profit, for a total payout of $211,475.

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The 40-40 club has a new member.

By stealing second base in the top of the first inning of the team’s Thursday afternoon home game against the Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs superstar center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong became the seventh player in MLB history to record a 40-40 season (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases).

Crow-Armstrong is the third player in four years to accomplish the feat, with Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (2024) — who actually had the first-ever 50-50 season — and Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023) being the other two. He’s also just the fourth player this century to have a 40-40 year, with Alfonso Soriano doing it for the Washington Nationals in 2006.

The 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong, a 2025 Gold Glover recipient and an All-Star in each of the last two seasons, entered Thursday leading the National League in home runs (45), runs scored (119), slugging percentage (.577), OPS (.949), OPS+ (157) and wins above replacement (9.8).

He also entered the day with 107 RBIs and a .280/.373/.577 slash line, while having posted 16 defensive runs saved in center field. At present, Crow-Armstrong’s 9.8 WAR is tied with third baseman and Hall of Famer Ron Santo (1967) for the fourth-highest in a single season by a player in Cubs’ history.

Chicago acquired Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets at the 2021 MLB trade deadline as part of its return for Javier Báez.

Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs are currently in possession of the No. 2 NL wild-card seed at 87-71.

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. “definitely” sees himself playing at some point this season.

When that is, even Porter doesn’t know, though he didn’t rule out making his 2026 debut on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The fourth-year pro sat out each of Pittsburgh’s first two games. Coach Mike McCarthy held him out of the opener against the Atlanta Falcons, which McCarthy said was his decision. Porter then watched a loss in New England to the Patriots last weekend from the sideline because of back pain.

All of it has been set against a backdrop of stalled contract negotiations between Porter and the club. The son of former NFL linebacker and Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter Sr. is entering the final season of the four-year rookie deal he signed in 2023 and wants a raise that makes him among the highest-paid players at his position.

Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan has said repeatedly the team “loves” Porter, but the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new contract and any talks about an extension won’t begin until the offseason, if they’re even held at all.

“I know you guys are tired of it, and I am too,” Porter said Thursday. “So … I mean all my emotions already came and went.”

Porter, who hasn’t allowed a touchdown as a primary defender since 2023, denied reports that he asked for a trade. He called the inability to sign an extension “old news” and is focused on trying to get healthy.

Pittsburgh selected Porter with the No. 32 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Penn State. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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The Steelers to a man have defended him throughout the process, and the secondary could certainly use his 6-foot-2 frame on Sunday when Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and unbeaten Cincinnati (2-0) visit.

“This game I’d really like to come back for considering [Chase] is on the opposite side,” Porter said. “Yeah, you know, it’s always a good matchup with the Bengals and what they got over there, their talent. And I always want to sharpen iron on iron.”

Asked if he felt his conditioning was good enough to see the field against Cincinnati, Porter shrugged.

“I don’t know,” Porter said. “We still got two more days to practice. … I just know I did everything today and it went smooth. So we’re going to just keep working.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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By the time Cody White caught his second touchdown pass Sunday, they knew who he was.

The Las Vegas Raiders receiver, a 27-year-old practice squad call-up with more tackles than catches in his first six years in the NFL, was the surprise star of their 26-14 upset over the Chargers in Week 2. When he made a diving catch in the end zone for his first score Sunday, CBS’ TV broadcast put up a graphic showing receiver Corey Rucker, a teammate who is on injured reserve.

“I saw the CBS [graphic], saw that fantasy football didn’t have me, the Madden [snub]. I don’t think anybody was ready for me to go for two touchdowns like I did,” White told me over the phone.

CBS had a smiling headshot of White ready when he got open and uncovered in the end zone for a second touchdown, and friends who had trouble finding him in fantasy football a week ago can now see him as a potential waiver-wire add like anyone else. And for a player who’d scored just once in the NFL before Sunday, he came prepared with a pair of celebrations as well.

“I’ve been in the league for seven years, so I know how hard it is to get to the end zone, so I want to go in there and have some fun,” White said. “I think I found the first one on TikTok, and then the second one is just the Ronaldo and I pulled my lightsaber out like it was Star Wars.”

The Raiders might be the biggest surprise of the NFL’s first two weeks, first beating the lowly Miami Dolphins but then going to Los Angeles and beating a Chargers team most saw as a likely playoff team. White might be as unlikely a success story as his team is, too. He was cut by the Seattle Seahawks on cutdown day in August after earning a Super Bowl ring last season. He landed on the Raiders’ practice squad under head coach Klint Kubiak, who had him as Seattle’s offensive coordinator last year.

“From what I’ve seen, all the guys are buying into what Klint is selling, and the culture we’re trying to build here,” White said.

White, long and lanky at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, showed enough in two weeks of practice that he was elevated to play in the Raiders’ opener against Miami, and he had three tackles on special teams, one a touchdown-saving stop on a 79-yard kickoff return that earned him a game ball from coaches. He reverted to the practice squad after the game, but had been told early enough in the week that he would be elevated again that he was able to make sure his parents could fly in and attend the game, along with his brother Jordan, who lives in Los Angeles.

White played only seven offensive snaps — his bread-and-butter is still on special teams, where he has more career tackles (15) than catches (11) —but still managed to catch touchdowns on two of them. The Raiders can elevate him one more time from their practice squad, but after that, they’ll have to move to add him to the 53-man roster if they want to play him again.

“He’s just the same guy that I knew last year,” Kubiak said after the game. “I’m really proud of him. … When his number’s called, he’s making the plays and obviously makes us have to make decisions.”

His three years at Michigan State — including leading the Spartans with 66 catches, 966 yards and six touchdowns in 2019 — were also the last three for Mark Dantonio, who has enjoyed following White’s career in his retirement.

“He’s hung in there, and when he’s given an opportunity, the guy makes plays,” Dantonio told me. “Very smart player, good-natured, good teammate. Tall, big, makes the tough catch and will battle you for the ball. That catch radius, long arms. He was a great player for us, and it’s no surprise that he’s still in the NFL, and hopefully this verifies that for him.”

Cody White had a standout career at Michigan State before playing for six NFL teams since his career started in 2020. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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White’s father, Sheldon, played six years in the NFL as a cornerback and has worked the last 30 years in NFL and college personnel offices, the last four with the Steelers. So Cody understands the business of the NFL, and his path to the end zone Sunday wasn’t an easy one.

White went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2020, and when he reported to his first training camp with the Chiefs, he took his physical, picked up his helmet and was promptly told to turn in his playbook as he was being cut. He signed with the Giants and was cut within a week, signed with the Broncos and was cut within two weeks, all in the same preseason.

Then he spent a year on the Steelers’ practice squad, all of 2021 on Pittsburgh’s active roster, and just five games in three years before he found a role with Seattle in 2025, even scoring a 60-yard touchdown. He went on injured reserve in late December last year, but was part of a Super Bowl championship team.

“Just that resilience, the never-give-up mentality,” White said. “Being on four teams my rookie year, now I’m in Year 7 and still able to contribute and make plays on Sundays, to help my team get wins. I love the game of football, and my mom and my dad taught me growing up to never give up, that if you start something, you have to finish it. Here we are now.”

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England would be making a mistake by trying to replicate Spain’s successful style of play in a bid to win major tournaments, winger Anthony Gordon said ahead of Saturday’s match between the European giants.

Gordon is well-placed to discuss the qualities of Spain’s World Cup-winning players, given he now trains daily with many of them — like Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Pedri and more — following his offseason move to La Liga champion Barcelona.

“They’re definitely built different,” Gordon said. “So I’m not sure we can ever get that.”

(Photo by Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) –>

Long-held doubts over England’s ability to end the men’s team’s long wait to win a European Championship or World Cup returned over the summer when England squandered a lead — earned by a goal from Gordon — by conceding two late goals to lose 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semifinals.

Speaking at England’s training base this week, Gordon said he might never get over the defeat that has prompted questions over whether England’s players have the quality to control these high-pressure games like the Spanish can. That’s because England became ultra-defensive after taking the lead — Gordon was replaced by a defender, Ezri Konsa, in a telling substitution by coach Thomas Tuchel — and allowed Argentina to seize the initiative in the final half-hour.

So, Gordon was asked, couldn’t England just be more like Spain?

“I think culturally, it’s not just that tournament or that game where we couldn’t control a game,” he said, referring to the Argentina loss. “England, as a nation, we don’t have that strength like the Spanish, where we control games like they do. It’s not in us.

“It’s not in the English DNA,” Gordon added, “and it’s probably something I’ve only realized to that extent from playing in Spain now. Because I think we, as English players, are educated the same way as the Spanish players. We know how to keep possession but it’s the decision-making of certain players in Spain, which it’s just not a natural thing. I even look at some of the decisions they take on the ball sometimes and think, ‘I’m not sure how you’ve seen that.’”

(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) –>

Gordon believes England might have to pursue its own course, rather than trying to imitate Spain.

“We can definitely get better,” he said, “or maybe go the other way and really play to our strengths, which is to play physical, play direct football, and on the counter-attack.”

Spain’s trip to play England at Wembley Stadium is its first match as world champion and marks the start of the teams’ Nations League campaign.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons meet tonight on Thursday Night Football in an NFC matchup as Green Bay plays at Lambeau Field for the first time this season.

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Green Bay and Jordan Love look to keep its momentum going, while Atlanta comes in trying to avoid dropping to 0-3. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is back in action after missing time with an injury. Running back Bijan Robinson and receiver Drake London could be in store for big games with Penix’s return.

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How to Watch Falcons vs. Packers

• When: Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
• Stream: Amazon Prime Video
• Follow Live: FOX Sports

Players To Watch

Green Bay has leaned on Love more than most starters this early, and the numbers back it up: 532 total yards and 4 touchdowns through two games. The Packers rank ninth in the league in passing yards per game at 244.5 and ninth in passing touchdowns, while their ground game has produced just 64.5 rushing yards per game.

Atlanta has allowed 27 points per game through two weeks and has yet to force a turnover through the air, but the Falcons will also test a Green Bay line that has allowed 7 sacks already. Better protection turns Love’s early volume into a real edge for the Packers.

Atlanta’s offense has stayed on track mostly because of Robinson’s workload through two games. In the September 20 loss to Carolina, he ran 16 times for 72 yards and added 3 catches for 9 yards, and the Falcons are averaging 138.5 rushing yards per game against just 123.5 passing yards per game.

Atlanta is averaging only 8 points per game with a minus-6 turnover margin, which raises the stakes on every one of Robinson’s touches. Green Bay has been physical up front with 7 sacks and 13 tackles for loss through two games, so finding room behind that line will decide how much he can carry the offense.

With Jayden Reed ruled out with a neck injury, Green Bay could need more from Kraft at tight end. He has 5 catches for 80 yards through two games, though he was limited to 2 catches for 15 yards in the September 20 overtime win over the Jets. 

Green Bay has converted just 19 percent of its third downs, a mark that ranks 32nd in the league, and a reliable tight end matters more when an offense is stuck moving the chains. Kraft settling into that middle-of-the-field role eases pressure on the rest of Green Bay’s passing game.

Atlanta turns to Michael Penix Jr. on Thursday for his first start of the season after he missed the first two games while finishing his recovery from last November’s ACL tear. He replaces Cooper Rush, who started the 0-2 start, including 10 of 17 for 86 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble in the 34-3 loss to Carolina. Tua Tagovailoa remains out with an oblique injury. 

Penix steps into a passing offense at 123.5 yards per game and 8.0 points per game. How he handles Green Bay pressure in his return start will shape whether Atlanta can stay competitive at Lambeau Field.

]–>

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How to Watch Falcons vs. Packers

• When: Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
• Stream: Amazon Prime Video
• Follow Live: FOX Sports

Players To Watch

Green Bay has leaned on Love more than most starters this early, and the numbers back it up: 532 total yards and 4 touchdowns through two games. The Packers rank ninth in the league in passing yards per game at 244.5 and ninth in passing touchdowns, while their ground game has produced just 64.5 rushing yards per game.

Atlanta has allowed 27 points per game through two weeks and has yet to force a turnover through the air, but the Falcons will also test a Green Bay line that has allowed 7 sacks already. Better protection turns Love’s early volume into a real edge for the Packers.

Atlanta’s offense has stayed on track mostly because of Robinson’s workload through two games. In the September 20 loss to Carolina, he ran 16 times for 72 yards and added 3 catches for 9 yards, and the Falcons are averaging 138.5 rushing yards per game against just 123.5 passing yards per game.

Atlanta is averaging only 8 points per game with a minus-6 turnover margin, which raises the stakes on every one of Robinson’s touches. Green Bay has been physical up front with 7 sacks and 13 tackles for loss through two games, so finding room behind that line will decide how much he can carry the offense.

With Jayden Reed ruled out with a neck injury, Green Bay could need more from Kraft at tight end. He has 5 catches for 80 yards through two games, though he was limited to 2 catches for 15 yards in the September 20 overtime win over the Jets. 

Green Bay has converted just 19 percent of its third downs, a mark that ranks 32nd in the league, and a reliable tight end matters more when an offense is stuck moving the chains. Kraft settling into that middle-of-the-field role eases pressure on the rest of Green Bay’s passing game.

Atlanta turns to Michael Penix Jr. on Thursday for his first start of the season after he missed the first two games while finishing his recovery from last November’s ACL tear. He replaces Cooper Rush, who started the 0-2 start, including 10 of 17 for 86 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble in the 34-3 loss to Carolina. Tua Tagovailoa remains out with an oblique injury. 

Penix steps into a passing offense at 123.5 yards per game and 8.0 points per game. How he handles Green Bay pressure in his return start will shape whether Atlanta can stay competitive at Lambeau Field.

]–>

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