Mike McCarthy wants the chance to work with Joey Porter Jr. When McCarthy gets that chance is anyone’s guess, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach included.

McCarthy said Monday that the club and the fourth-year cornerback are at an impasse as the two sides try to work out a new deal. The Steelers placed Porter on the physically unable to perform list when training camp opened with what the team described as a back issue that flared up during a mobility test.

It seems Porter’s back problems are just part of the reason he has yet to take the practice field with the season opener against Atlanta less than three weeks away.

“I learned this in my early years as a head coach, you have to separate the business from the football,” McCarthy said. “Sometimes it’s easier than others.”

Porter is in the final season of the four-year deal he signed after the Steelers selected him with the first pick of the second round in 2023. While Pittsburgh has locked up other members of that draft class — including outside linebacker Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington — Porter’s status seems a little more uncertain.

The 26-year-old is coming off his best season as a pro, and he said during minicamp in June that he long felt he’s one of the top players at his position and that he believes he will be paid that way.

The top of the cornerback market has been particularly hot of late, with Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon agreeing to a massive new deal and New England’s Christian Gonzalez getting offered one in recent weeks.

Though Porter, who has three interceptions across three seasons, might not be in that neighborhood yet, he also might not be far off. Though he has deep ties to Pittsburgh — he grew up in the city while his father, Joey Porter Sr., played and then later coached for the Steelers — he didn’t rush to sign his rookie deal in 2023, waiting until the eve of training camp to do it.

Porter essentially “held in” during minicamp, participating in individual drills but staying out of full 11-on-11 work, a not uncommon tactic by players seeking new contracts.

McCarthy described the situation as a challenge, in part because the entirety of Pittsburgh’s defensive staff is in its first season.

“Every one of us has a contract,” McCarthy said. “The organization, they have beliefs and so forth. So that’s where we are.”

While Porter remains out, veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey and rookie first-round offensive tackle Max Iheanachor returned to practice on Monday.

Ramsey has been on the PUP list since the start of camp because of a knee injury sustained during minicamp in June. The eight-time Pro Bowler said the defense is still getting up to speed and it’s important for the entire secondary to be available when the Falcons visit on Sept. 13.

“They need to pay Joey Porter,” Ramsey said.

Iheanachor, taken 21st overall in the draft, hadn’t practiced since hurting his upper body on Aug. 6. McCarthy didn’t rule out Iheanachor making an appearance when Pittsburgh wraps up the preseason on Thursday night in Buffalo.

“We got two padded practices (this week), so it’ll be a really good indication of how much he’ll be able to play personally,” McCarthy said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Which teams will rise to the top of the AFC South in 2026?

With a few preseason games out of the way, I’m feeling pretty confident about a couple of wagers when it comes to this division.

Here’s what I’m backing.

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Texans’ AFC South Finish

The Texans have the best defense in football. 

Their defense was first in yards averaged per game and second in points allowed. It was seventh in sack rate and second in defensive DVOA. It generated 30% of its pressures with just a four-man rush and allowed under two yards a play when pressuring. 

Just wildly good numbers. 

That defense should be elite again in 2026. It returns almost everyone, and it just drafted a few more defensive pieces.

Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans has been at the helm for three seasons. He’s 32-19 and helped lead the squad to a division title in 2023 and 2024 before finishing just one game outside the division title in 2025. His teams are disciplined, tough, physical and are easy to root for.

The question for the Texans is their offense and quarterback C.J. Stroud. 

With a consistent C.J. Stroud, the Texans should win the AFC South in 2026 (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images).

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The offense was nothing special in 2025. It was middle of the pack in total yards but poor on third and fourth down. It couldn’t rush the ball either, with just 3.9 yards per carry — which was 29th in the league. 

Stroud was up and down last season and ended with a dud in Houston’s postseason loss to the Patriots. This offseason, the Texans went about fixing the offensive line through free agency and draft additions. It should be better. David Montgomery is the new running back and the Texans receivers are mostly healthy entering the season. 

So it all comes down to Stroud.

I have faith in Stroud because he’s shown plenty in his career. Even for large stretches last season, he showed glimpses of the guy we saw as a rookie in 2023. Houston returns the same offensive coordinator in Nick Caley, which gives the offense some familiarity. An improved offensive line and running game should ease the pressure for Stroud, and he doesn’t have to do much with that defense. 

Just play within yourself.

In the AFC South, the Texans will have to compete with the Jaguars once again, but the Jags have the tougher schedule with those three first-place games. Houston’s roster is better. 

The Colts don’t worry me. They are not as talented as the Texans and quarterback Daniel Jones is coming back off injury. 

The Titans … well, they have no chance in the division. 

Schwartz’s Pick: Texans to Win AFC South (+110)

Titans’ Over/Under Win Total

News out of Titans camp suggests Cam Ward is struggling (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images).

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I want Cam Ward to succeed, but the vibes aren’t great at the moment. Reports out of camp are that Ward has struggled a bit. 

The Tennessee offense was bad in the first preseason game, joint practices haven’t been pretty either, and there is a new offense that does display some red flags.

However, I like the Titans’ running game and the draft pick of Carnell Tate to help Ward.

You’d have to believe the Titans’ defense will improve with Robert Salah in charge. However, I’m not sure that this group is an overly-talented unit.

Looking at the Tennessee schedule makes me love the Under even more. There are just not a ton of winnable games for this team as it stands right now. Jets, Browns and Raiders stand out as winnable games. 

That’s about it. 

So the Titans would need to win those games and then four more. I just don’t see it.

Schwartz’s Pick: Titans Under 6.5 Wins (-115)

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It didn’t take long for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to his goalscoring ways with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Ronaldo on Friday made his first appearance for Al-Nassr since the 2026 FIFA World Cup and scored in the 83rd minute, just 22 minutes after coming on as a substitute. Ronaldo skillfully shielded the ball upon receiving a pass from Ayman Yahya from the right wing and scored with his left foot.

This marks Ronaldo’s first goal of the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League campaign and his 977th career goal. Al-Nassr opened the Saudi Pro League season with a 3-0 win over Al Fateh on Saturday, August 15th and currently sit at the top of the table. Al-Nassr won the Saudi Pro League last season, ending Ronaldo’s five-year stretch without a major club trophy.

Ronaldo is expected to retire at the end of the season, stating last week that this was “probably my last year of football.” Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr expires June 2027.

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Newcomer Christos Tzolis helped set up two goals as defending champion Arsenal opened the Premier League season by dismantling promoted Coventry 3-0 to spoil the visitor’s long-awaited return to the top flight Friday.

After ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title, Arsenal showed why it’s favored to repeat as champion by completely dominating Frank Lampard’s side in a game that was one-sided from start to finish.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard scored for the Gunners, who spurned chances to pad the scoreline even further.

For Coventry, it was a rude welcome back to the Premier League after a 25-year absence. Having won the second-tier Championship last season by a wide margin, Lampard’s side simply looked outmatched as it was repeatedly taken apart by a marauding Arsenal.

Tzolis was the only summer signing to start for the hosts, but the left winger showed he could give this attack an added dimension by helping to set up both opening goals.

First he stole possession to feed defender Riccardo Calafiori, who squared the ball for Havertz to slot home in the 15th minute. The Greece international then sent a cross in from the left that goalkeeper Carl Rushworth managed to only push into the path of Saka, who scored into an empty net in the 23rd.

Odegaard added the third shortly after the break after his scuffed shot looped in out of reach of Rushworth. The Arsenal captain gave an apologetic shrug as a celebration.

At the other end, the only time Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was troubled was when a speculative overhead kick from Loum Tchaouna from outside the box sailed just high of the bar in the 42nd. The visitor’s only effort on target came in the 86th, when Jack Rudoni managed only a weak header straight at Raya.

Arsenal introduced its latest signing, England defender Ezri Konsa, before kickoff after he completed a move from Aston Villa earlier Friday.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Olympique de Marseille has a new captain, and he’s someone who United States men’s national team fans should be very familiar with.

Marseille opened its Ligue 1 campaign against RC Strasbourg Alsace on Friday and U.S. men’s national team winger Tim Weah captained the French club in its 4-0 win. Weah started at right back and went the full 90 minutes.

Weah was a key player under Marseille’s former manager Habib Beye, but new manager Bruno Génésio has pushed Weah even more by awarding him the captain’s armband. Weah completed his permanent transfer to Marseille in June after joining the club on a season-long loan last season.

Weah wasn’t the only American to make an appearance in Friday’s match. United States men’s national team midfielder Gio Reyna also appeared as a substitute against Marseille and played 21 minutes. Reyna joined Strasbourg from Borussia Dortmund earlier this month. He wears the elusive No. 10 for the club.

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The Houston Texans reportedly signed wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones on Friday. 

The addition of both veterans comes on the day Houston placed second-year WR Jayden Higgins on season-ending injured reserve after tearing his ACL in Tuesday’s practice. 

Shepard and Jones will provide a boost to what was already a thin receiving corps even before the Higgins injury. Shepard is entering his 10th NFL season, and will be joining his third team. He spent the last two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the eight before that with the New York Giants. 

Shepard peaked in his third NFL season when he hauled in 66 catches for 872 yards and four touchdowns. 

Jones, on the other hand, is entering his ninth NFL season for his fifth team. He suited up for the Arizona Cardinals for the last two seasons. Jones also had his best season for the Texans’ AFC South rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he had 82 catches for 823 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.

Shepard and Jones join Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson in the Texans’ receiving room. 

Higgins, though, was primed for a second-year breakout. After being selected with the second pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Higgins had 525 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season. He had received praise from Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley. 

Texans WR Jayden Higgins had 32 catches for 404 yards and five touchdowns over the last 10 games of 2025. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

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“He’s put in work. He’s so much more comfortable — I thought he was comfortable last year by season’s end. The familiarity with the details and nuances of the offense, he’s playing clean. He can play all over,” Caley said last week. “He doesn’t have any limitations, he really doesn’t.”

Instead, it will be a lost season for Higgins. As he recovers, the Texans will try to make up for his loss with the help of Shepard and Jones. 

 

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A slumping star player is the last thing a team wants with the MLB postseason just around the corner. And yet, everyone from the World Series favorites to the Wild Card hopefuls is dealing with it in some capacity.

The question now is whether it’s too late for those players to turn things around or if there’s still time for them to build enough momentum for a postseason peak. FOX Sports MLB writers Rowan Kanver and Deesha Thosar dive into that and more in this week’s MLB Roundtable:

What is the most important thing or player for L.A. to fix over the next few weeks, as rosters expand and the postseason looms?

Kavner: Kyle Tucker. Edwin Díaz is a close second, but even if Díaz never threw another pitch this year, the Dodgers demonstrated last season when Tanner Scott struggled in the first year of his four-year, $72 million deal (and then didn’t appear in the postseason) that they can withstand the loss of a high-leverage reliever and make up for it in other ways. Some of their starting pitchers will likely again find their way in the bullpen once October arrives.

There aren’t as many ways to mask Tucker’s struggles, which show up on both offense and defense. He has the lowest OPS at home of any qualified MLB player, and he has dropped catchable fly balls in each of the Dodgers’ last two series. His frustrations at home got to the point last Saturday that Dave Roberts gave him a mental day off. Last year, when Michael Conforto struggled in L.A. on his one-year, $17 million deal, the Dodgers gave Conforto all year to try to get right before ultimately holding him off the postseason roster. That’s a lot harder to do with a player making $60 million a year, so they need to try to find a way to get Tucker’s confidence back to a place where he can at least be an additive supporting piece. He doesn’t have to be an All-Star caliber player, like he was the last four years. He just can’t be this.

(Photo by Ross Turteltaub/Getty Images)

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Thosar: As much as I want to say fixing Kyle Tucker’s season-long slump is the biggest priority, I actually think Mookie Betts getting hot at the plate is exactly what the Dodgers need down the stretch run. He’s the stabilizing force in the lineup, and we’ve seen Betts carry the offense when he’s hitting well. Plus, the Dodgers seem to go as Betts goes. He’s batting .315 with an .888 OPS, three home runs and eight RBI over the past two weeks, and Los Angeles went 8-6 over that span. The Dodgers seem to find their footing and reclaim their momentum when Betts is right in the middle of their production.

Is Pete Crow-Armstrong just this good of a player, where he’s a genuine MVP candidate who could lead a team to a World Series, or is there concern that another shoe will eventually fall?

Kavner: Can I say both? Right now, this version of PCA looks like a player capable of carrying a team to a championship. He is providing value in every way imaginable, and this is no longer a small sample of elite production. At the same time, with any player who has a history of chasing and is prone to swing and miss, there’s always concern about a slump at some point. (It’s easy to forget now, considering how he has played since, that Crow-Armstrong had a .669 OPS at the end of April and a .713 mark at the end of May.)

To his credit, PCA has followed his slow start to the year with three extraordinary months, during which he has registered an OPS over 1.000 in each of June (1.249), July (1.011) and August (1.002 entering Thursday). That’s a long stretch without any dramatic dips, and it’s not a coincidence that both his whiff and chase rates have been down considerably over that time. If he can keep those close to league average, he should remain a superstar and could be headed toward a 40-40 season. This looks like an MVP player right now.

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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Thosar: The evidence from this season, in particular, points to he’s really just this good. Even if this exact level of production comes down a little, the underlying metrics and the player he is suggest this is all real. He’s only 24, and he’s already reached his second consecutive 30-30 season, doing it all while playing an elite center field. Beyond the stats on the back of his baseball card, the biggest reason to believe PCA is maturing as a hitter is the incredible jump in his walk rate. He went from a 4.5% walk rate last season to a 11.9% rate this season, which coincides with the huge uptick in his on-base percentage. Plate discipline paired with his ability to adapt to pitchers figuring him out has really increased his ceiling in ways that suggest he’ll be a star in the league throughout his prime.

With Adley Rustchman now behind the plate and Roman Anthony due back relatively soon, does Boston have enough for a deep postseason run?

Kavner: This is definitely a team capable of making a deep October run, but it will all come down to how their bats perform. Their pitching is without question good enough to make a deep October run, especially if Garrett Crochet and Garrett Whitlock are back contributing by then. The offense has come and gone, though, and even after their spectacular month of July and terrific start to the second half, the lineup has been exactly league-average overall this season. I trust the bats of Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu in the postseason, and with Caleb Durbin heating up, it’s worth pointing out he was the Brewers’ best hitter in the NLCS against the Dodgers last year. But getting Rutschman and Roman Anthony going could be the difference between a nice season and a championship one.

(Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)

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Thosar: If Anthony returns looking remotely like the player he was last season, the lineup gets substantially deeper. Especially with Rutschman behind the plate, suddenly the Red Sox look like they can run out a playoff lineup with multiple high-end offensive threats rather than asking one or two guys to carry the entire offense. So, yes, the combination of those two bats makes them a legitimate October threat. But I’m not convinced that, even with Rutschman and Anthony slugging, the Sox are a World Series contender. They would have to be overwhelmingly dominant to get there. Thanks to their quality pitching, they can make opponents uncomfortable in a short series. It all goes back to how effective Anthony will be, and how soon he will get there. Expecting him to instantly become an MVP-caliber hitter after being out since May is a touch unrealistic.

Paul Skenes has seen his ERA jump nearly two full runs, and Pittsburgh trails four teams for the last NL wild-card. Can the Pirates realistically make a run at the postseason with Skenes unable to get further than the fifth inning?

Kavner: Maybe if they found a way to switch to the American League? No, realistically, I can’t see a world in which the Pirates reach the postseason if this is the version of Skenes they have for the rest of the year. The signs lately have not been promising. He hasn’t gone more than five innings in any of his last four starts, his fastball velocity is down and fluctuating, he has a 5.67 ERA since the start of July, and he still labored through 4.1 innings his last time out even after extra rest. The Pirates have to win the games he starts, and they have done that just once in his last five outings.

Given the hole they’ve dug themselves to start the second half, it would be difficult at this point for the Pirates to reach the playoffs even if Skenes suddenly found a way to tap back into his Cy Young form. As of Thursday night, FanGraphs gives the Pirates a 4.9% chance to make the playoffs. Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler are doing everything they can to try to lift the rotation, and the return of Oneil Cruz provides some needed upside for an offense that has struggled to produce since the break. But they need their ace to get on track if they want any shot at ending their 10-year playoff drought.

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Thosar: Absolutely not. Skenes’ performance this season is the biggest reason Pittsburgh’s margin for error has completely disappeared. It would be one thing if he was showing signs of getting back on track around now, but things are still going downhill. He’s allowed 17 earned runs in his last 23 ⅔ innings pitched, good for a 6.46 ERA over five starts. The Bucs went 1-4 in those outings. Things have been so bad for so long that it’s fair to wonder whether he’s dealing with an underlying injury. And then there’s the issue with Pittsburgh’s offense, which is fifth-worst in the league since the All-Star break. When the lineup isn’t carrying the team, as it did in the first half of the season, and the pitching staff overall has taken a turn for the worse, it would be a mistake to think the Pirates could realistically make a run for the postseason.

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Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Ian Fray have been fined undisclosed amounts for making contact in the head and neck area of opponents in separate incidents during second-half stoppage time in a 2-2 draw against Philadelphia, MLS said Friday.

Messi slapped the Union’s Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck as the two exchanged words Wednesday night. Messi scored his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, and added an assist.

Sullivan also was involved in the fracas that led to Fray’s fine. After Sullivan lost his footing dribbling into the penalty area, he got tangled with Fray, who then grabbed his neck. Sullivan jumped up and tackled Fray.

Minnesota United FC defender Anthony Markanich was fined for embellishment in the second half of a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United on Wednesday.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Ryan McMahon was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 left thumb sprain Friday, but the New York Yankees third baseman said he’ll just miss the minimum amount of time.

“Not great news. Could have been worse,” McMahon said before the Yankees opened a three-game series with Toronto. “Obviously I’m not happy with it, but thankful that most likely no surgery and just the minimal time.”

McMahon was injured on a play at second base in Wednesday’s 5-3 win at Baltimore. He singled in the second inning and jammed his thumb when he was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

“Just felt like it probably would have been a couple more days where he’s maybe a little bit compromised,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So I kind of don’t want to create anything habit-wise that’s bad, so just felt like probably the right thing to do here.”

(Photo by Colton Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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McMahon said he felt fine in the field, but was having a difficult time swinging — though he was able to take swings in the batting cage.

“I feel like with what these games meaning as much as they are down the stretch, me going out there at 50% probably wasn’t the best,” McMahon said.

McMahon is hitting .218 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in 108 games. McMahon also missed 10 games earlier this season with a throat infection.

To fill McMahon’s roster spot, Max Schuemann was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Schuemann batted .194 in 40 games earlier this season, but his stay on the Yankees could be short if Cody Bellinger is ready to return from a left hamstring strain.

Bellinger started his minor league rehabilitation assignment Thursday, was scheduled to play again Friday before taking Saturday off and could return Sunday.

Max Fried to throw side session Saturday

(Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Fried will throw a side session Saturday and if it goes well, the left-hander could be on track to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible next week.

Fried was placed on the IL on Monday and the move was retroactive to last Friday, a day after he pitched five innings in a 1-0 loss to Seattle.

“I’ve been feeling good,” Fried said. “Not ideal coming out of my last start with a little soreness, but all in all we’re really encouraged.”

Fried missed 57 games with the same injury from May 14-July 22 after exiting a start in Baltimore with pain following three innings on May 13.

“Before, it was definitely more intense, more pain,” Fried said of the differences between injuries. “I would say that it felt similar, but on a smaller scale. I just wanted to be as transparent as I could be with the medical staff and coaching staff.”

Fried is 4-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 15 starts this season. He’s 0-1 with a 1.82 ERA in five starts since returning from his first IL stint July 22.

“We’re encouraged,” Boone said. “I think the last couple of days have been good for him. Kind of talking to him, he probably could have made his last start maybe, but hopefully this gives (it) a chance to calm down a little bit, too. If everything goes well with that side tomorrow, then we could do a live (throwing session) at some point early in the week to hopefully set him up when he’s eligible.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — During a break in 11-on-11 drills at Friday’s joint practice between the Titans and Seahawks, the quarterbacks from both teams gathered in the middle field at the Vanderbilt Health Football Center. 

Before Sam Darnold could even complain about the heat — mid 80s, plus humidity — Tennessee’s QBs essentially thanked the Seahawks for the reprieve.

“They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a beautiful day! You brought the cool weather with you,’” Darnold said post-practice, laughing and shaking his head in disbelief. 

That pretty much summed up how the defending Super Bowl champions felt in the muggy heat, much different from the cool weather they’re used to in Seattle. Several Seahawks battled heat-related issues. 

On the practice field, the champs traded blows with a Titans team hoping for better days under new coach Robert Saleh. Despite their pedigree, the Seahawks have questions of their own. Perhaps the biggest one facing Seattle entering 2026: What will its offense look like? 

Darnold is a proven Pro Bowl quarterback. Superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, is one of the NFL’s best players. The Seahawks had the league’s No. 3 scoring offense last season. But they have a first-time playcaller in Brian Fleury, who replaces Klint Kubiak, who was named the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach in February. Fleury spent the past seven seasons as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers. 

“I think for him, it’s just like learning the flow of [playcalling],” Darnold told me. “When to call a certain play. When to get the play in. How much time we’re going to have on the play clock. When we want to get into tempo. … It’s tough sometimes to be the offensive coordinator, but he’s really, really smart and we know he can handle it.” 

My takeaways from Friday’s joint practice: 

Cam Ward, Titans’ Offense Hold Their Own

Titans quarterback Cam Ward gave the Seahawks’ elite defense fits in a Week 12 matchup last season, and he had more success against Seattle on Friday. 

In a red-zone period at the start of practice, last year’s No. 1 overall pick threw a short touchdown pass across his body to second-year receiver Elic Ayomanor. Ward also capped off a two-minute drive late with a touchdown pass to tight end Daniel Bellinger. Ward didn’t force shots deep, taking what Mike Macdonald’s defense gave him underneath for several short completions. 

It wasn’t all perfect — Ward threw a pick-six to Seahawks safety Ty Okada — but it was an encouraging day overall for the young quarterback, who hopes to make big strides in his second season with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Playing well against a Super Bowl defense is a great sign. After an uninspiring preseason opener last week, Ward has strung together a handful of strong practices. 

“He can extend plays, I think that’s a big part of his game,” Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV said post-practice. “I think he was on time with his throws today, getting to his check downs. I think he’s growing and getting better.” 

And it wasn’t just Ward playing well for the offense. Ayomanor drew an interference penalty to set up Bellinger’s score in the two-minute drill. Running back Tony Pollard ripped off several great runs thanks to a great showing from Tennessee’s offensive line. 

Ward agreed with the sentiment that there were “A-plus” plays on the ground. 

“They made some holes for us, for sure. They were the first ones to the ball,” Ward said. “I’m happy to have those guys in front of me.” 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Makes The Game Look Easy

Not surprisingly, the All-Pro receiver was a standout on the day. With the Seahawks deep in negative territory during team drills, Smith-Njigba beat Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor with ease down the left sideline to catch a Darnold pass. Later in the same period, he wiggled his way through the middle of Tennessee’s defense to find open grass, making a grab around the one-yard line. 

A two-time Pro Bowler, Smith-Njigba is coming off a season in which he led the league in receiving yards (1,793). He’s just 24 years old and his numbers have improved across the board in each of his three seasons, so he should continue to ascend — a scary proposition for opposing defenses. 

Tennessee’s Defense Also Holds Its Own

Early in team drills, Jeffery Simmons stuffed first-round running back Jadarian Price up the middle. The All-Pro defensive tackle proceeded to chirp at the Seahawks’ offense. 

It set the tone for what turned out to be a strong showing for Tennessee’s defense against a talented Seattle offense. 

“You see the aggression, you see kind of the pressure they put on the quarterback,” Darnold said. “Their four-man rushes are really, really good, and then they bring five or six-man rushes. And even when they bring fire zones [blitzes], they’re really, really good. Their back end is really good at disguising right now. They’re showing a lot of different things defensively. … That defense is going to be really good this year.”

Taylor had a pick-six off Darnold in the first play of a two-minute period. Linebacker Cody Barton broke up a pass in the red zone. The Titans’ defensive front held up well in the run game. 

Tennessee’s secondary came under fire for a poor showing in last week’s preseason opener against San Francisco’s backups, but the defensive backs — and the defense as a whole — bounced back against Seattle. 

Seahawks RB George Holani Steps Up In The Backfield

Seattle’s backfield faces a bit of uncertainty entering 2026, with reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III departing in free agency for the Kansas City Chiefs and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. The Seahawks will need unproven players to step up at running back this season. 

At Friday’s practice, backup George Holani answered the bell. The third-year pro had a pair of touchdowns as a pass-catcher — one off a deep pass on third down, and another on a short catch and run. 

Price, who has missed time in training camp due to lower-body soreness, continued his ramp-up by participating in full contact work at joint practice. 

 

“They may be hungry, but we’re starving. Let’s continue to starve to get to where we want to get to.” — Titans DT Jeffery Simmons after practice with the Super Bowl champs

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