The vast majority of NFL teams won’t begin padded practices until Monday, but that isn’t stopping us from noticing things around the league in the opening week of training camp. 

As we get settled in at training camps around the country, there are a handful of items that have stood out to us in the first week of practices. How have the New England Patriots handled their unusual offseason? Which injured players look to be in good shape? Who has impressed among the rookies?

Here are our seven takeaways from the first week of training camp: 

1. Mike Vrabel And The Patriots Are Operating Business As Usual

While Mike Vrabel was at the center of drama this offseason, the Patriots have seemed to move on from it. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Henry McKenna: The Seattle Seahawks might have won the Super Bowl, but it felt like the New England Patriots dominated the offseason storylines — for better and for worse. 

It’s already a big story if a New England-based team doesn’t win a championship. The region is accustomed to winning the big game — in every major sports league. But New England has steeped itself in drama. There may have been no bigger offseason NFL storyline than Vrabel’s scandal. The Patriots also acquired A.J. Brown from the Eagles, a transaction that took months for both sides to complete. That became a top three offseason storyline in the NFL. So there was a lot to discuss in New England.

Inwardly, Vrabel addressed the scandal with his players. Outwardly, the Patriots are operating business as usual. 

Certainly, the coach hasn’t changed the way he operates. He welcomed Brown to the team by making an example of the star wide receiver when he made a mistake on the first day of training camp.

“First team meeting, he ripped me for not bringing in a catch,” Brown said last week. “Early on, as a rookie, I didn’t really like that too much. Now I know it comes from a great place. He expects me to make that play, and so do I.”

When it comes to offseason storylines — whether it’s right or wrong — Brown could play a big part in making Vrabel’s scandal go away. If the Patriots win games and start the season strong, that’ll be the focus. If they lose … well, the focus might fall on the scandal again.

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2. Giants Encouraged By Malik Nabers’ Early Performance

Malik Nabers had 1,204 receiving yards as a rookie in 2024 before an ACL tear cut his rookie season short in 2025. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Ralph Vacchiano: The Giants are still very cautiously refusing to say whether receiver Malik Nabers will be ready for Week 1. But his performance in the first two days of training camp (with a scheduled off day on Day 3) sure was a very encouraging sign. 

Just nine months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL that ruined most of his second NFL season, New York’s No. 1 receiver not only practiced fully early in camp, he also earned rave reviews. 

“He definitely has a presence about him,” quarterback Jaxson Dart said. “There’s an aura that he has on the field that is exhilarating. It makes me happy. Everybody’s happy to see him out on the field. And I think for him, he’s had a lot of positives.”

New coach John Harbaugh was a bit more cautious, but added, “He looked good. It was encouraging.”

The Giants plan is to see how Nabers responds to the early workload and gauge how much, and how quickly, they can increase it. One team source told me they are hopeful he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season, but aren’t afraid to delay his return a few weeks if it helps him get to full strength. 

Nabers’ importance can’t be overstated, though. Dart has never played a full regular-season game with Nabers, who suffered his knee injury in Week 4 last year, when Dart made his first start. Dart had an impressive rookie season anyway, but Nabers would be the best and most talented receiver he’s played with, by far. 

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3. Rodgers-Metcalf Connection Clicking Early

DK Metcalf (right) had a career-low 850 receiving yards in his first season with Aaron Rodgers. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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Vacchiano: There’s been obvious chemistry between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf early in training camp, as there should be. But that’s a big change from last season when the Steelers never seemed to get enough out of that connection.

Metcalf had just 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games last season — far from the elite numbers Pittsburgh expected after trading a second-round pick to get him and signing him to a five-year, $150 million deal. Metcalf had just two 100-yard games and nine games with fewer than 50 yards — including a disappointing two-catch, 42-yard performance in the Steelers’ first-round playoff loss.

“[Last season] we were kind of like trying to get used to the dynamic of everything,” Metcalf said. “He was in a new place. I was in a new place. I think right now our communication is far beyond where it was last year when we first got to camp. We’re just leaps ahead of the communication aspect. And I think it’s only going to continue to grow.”

It helped, Metcalf said, that Rodgers — his training camp roommate — was more present in the offseason. He attended several OTA practices and took his receivers on a “bonding” trip out West. It also helped that the Steelers acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman in the offseason to give Metcalf another receiver that can take some of the pressure off. 

Now it’s up to new coach Mike McCarthy to use all that and find a way to make the connection really work.

“He’s a matchup problem,” McCarthy said. “You’d better get some help (covering) him. We want to move him around a little more. But I was impressed with their timing together in the spring. We just want to continue to grow off of that because DK can change a game.”

4. Can Bucs’ WR Corps Be Better Without Mike Evans?

Chris Godwin headlines the Buccaneers’ wide receiver room, but they’ve shown plenty of talent at the position. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Greg Auman: The biggest transaction of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offseason was the surprising departure of Mike Evans to the San Francisco 49ers after 12 seasons in Tampa. And somehow, a week into their first training camp without the future Hall of Famer, it’s possible the Bucs’ depth can make up for such a significant loss.

Chris Godwin, 30, has spent his whole career in Evans’ shadow, and now fully recovered from a 2024 ankle injury, has a chance to show what he can do leading the room. The real excitement is in the next four receivers — all age 24 or younger — who will each take on part of the challenge of replacing Evans.

That starts with Emeka Egbuka, 23, last year’s first-round pick who had five touchdowns in his first five NFL games, then hit a wall with only one score the rest of the way. He could be the next in a pipeline of former Ohio State receivers dominating the NFL. Jalen McMillan, 24, missed most of last year recovering from a neck injury, but looks like he did at the end of his rookie season, when he led the NFL with seven touchdown catches in the final five weeks of 2024.

Tez Johnson, 24, caught five touchdowns last year as a sixth-round rookie, stepping up amid multiple injuries, and there’s excitement surrounding rookie Ted Hurst, 22, a third-round pick from Georgia State whose 6-foot-4 frame could help give the Bucs a red-zone lob threat that Evans was for so long.

New Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson – their fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons – is close friends with former offensive coordinator Liam Coen, and the hope is that Tampa Bay’s offense and passing game can get back to its peak as a top-five unit under Coen in 2024.

Evans was limited by injuries to eight games and three touchdown catches in his final year in Tampa, so the Bucs already had a taste of life without him, and the hope is that five receivers, collectively, can help offset one major offseason loss.

***

5. Carnell Tate Not The Only Young Titans WR To Keep An Eye On 

Second-year wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has been a standout so far at Titans camp. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

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Ben Arthur: Second-year wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has been the biggest standout at Titans training camp through the first week, making several plays. 

The 2025 fourth-round pick made a beautiful leaping grab by the sideline over cornerback Joshua Williams in team drills on Saturday, drawing plenty of cheers from the fans in attendance. Earlier in the day, he had a similarly impressive catch in a 7-on-7 period. 

Just two days prior, Ayomanor made what’s arguably been the biggest highlight of training camp so far — with starting cornerback Cor’Dale Flott draped over him, the former Stanford standout jumped and snagged a Cam Ward pass over Flott’s head. 

No. 4 overall pick Carnell Tate is expected to be Tennessee’s WR1 at some point, and free-agent acquisition Wan’Dale Robinson will be a primary target for Ward, too. But Ayomanor should be a significant factor in the offense as well. 

Ayomanor led Titans receivers last season with 515 receiving yards. The second-year pro focused on his posture this offseason and trained some with Robinson, work that hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates. 

“To me, Elic is a star,” veteran Calvin Ridley said.

Overall, the Titans boast one of their most talented wide receiver rooms in years, a group that can further Ward’s development as a franchise quarterback. 

In addition to young talents like Tate and Ayomanor, they have a 1,000-yard receiver from each of the last two seasons (Robinson in ‘25, Ridley in ‘24). Second-year pro Chim Dike, an All-Pro returner, ranked third on the Titans with 423 receiving yards as a rookie. 

“This is one of the deepest rooms I’ve been in,” Ridley said of Tennessee’s wide receivers. “If we do what we gotta do, get on the same page with our quarterback, we can push [this season].” 

***

6. Cade Klubnik May Have A Shot To Cut Geno Smith’s Jets Reunion Short

Cade Klubnik was selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

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Vacchiano: Geno Smith’s second Jets tenure got off to a rocky start during an offseason that featured several run-ins with police, including a domestic incident that became a viral video. And then he was a bit shaky during the first two light practices of training camp, though he got better as the early days went along.

Make no mistake: Smith is entrenched as the Jets’ starter for as long as he can keep them somewhat relevant this season. But it’s still worth keeping one eye over his shoulder, because the most interesting quarterback in camp is rookie Cade Klubnik, their fourth-round pick. 

Jets general manager Darren Mougey said he’s “excited” to see what the rookie can do, and a team source said they’ve been “thrilled” with what they’ve seen so far. He looked mostly sharp in his first two days, though those were really light practices. If that continues, he’s got a “real good chance” to emerge as Smith’s primary backup. It’s also not crazy to suggest they might give him a shot as a starter later in the season, especially if the season goes awry again. 

The Jets are a near-lock to draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2027 draft, and not much can change that plan. But late in the season, especially if they’re not miraculously in playoff contention, they still might want to see what they’ve got in Klubnik, just in case.

***

7. Jeremiyah Love Getting Comfortable In Cardinals’ Scheme

Jeremiyah Love rushed for 1,372 yards at Notre Dame last season, leading the Cardinals to make him the third overall pick in the 2026 draft. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Eric D. Williams: Because of positional value and Arizona clearly not considered to be a player away from contending as a rebuilding roster, NFL observers criticized the Cardinals for taking Love at No. 3 overall. But in training camp practices, the Notre Dame product has looked as good as advertised, showing explosive playmaking ability as a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield.

However, the Cardinals have a crowded running back room, including free agent pickup Tyler Allgeier and veteran incumbent James Conner. That means Love will have a shared workload as he learns the offense and transitions to a more complex NFL game. Allgeier was listed as the starter in Arizona’s unofficial depth chart released for this week’s Hall of Fame game, while Love was No. 2 on the depth chart.

“There’s a lot of guys in there,” Cardinals new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett told me. “Any time you’ve got a great room like that, they’re going to be able to root for each other. We want to use them all, give them all the ball and watch them all grow together.”

Hackett said to expect diversity in the running game, including outside zone and a downhill running attack.

 

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New users on Kalshi can use promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $500 in bonuses while trading on one of the busiest days of the MLB season—the 2026 trade deadline.

Moves have already been made, like the blockbuster trade between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers acquired reigning two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. 

Skubal is expected to make his debut in this series against the Chicago Cubs.

The Philadelphia Phillies added three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and veteran reliever Brooks Raley. The Phillies take on NL East foe the Washington Nationals with Aaron Nola on the bump. 

The New York Yankees send breakout starter Cam Schlittler to the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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Dodgers vs. Cubs

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Today’s MLB Schedule

Toronto Blue Jays @ Houston Astros (8:10 PM ET)

• The Houston Astros enter tonight as the hottest team in baseball, carrying a season-high six-game winning streak after a dominant sweep of the Rangers.
• Pitchers: Both teams’ starters are listed as TBD as they navigate final deadline moves.

Washington Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies (6:40 PM ET)

• The Phillies made some aggressive trades this morning. They host a Nationals team that just traded away infielder Luis García Jr. to the Yankees and got swept in a four-game series against the Braves.
• Pitchers: Nationals TBD vs. Aaron Nola (3-9, 5.61 ERA) for Philadelphia.

St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Yankees (7:05 PM ET)

• The Yankees look to snap a cold offensive stretch and integrate their new acquisition, Luis García Jr.
• Pitchers: Michael McGreevy (4-9, 3.57 ERA) vs. Yankees Cy Young candidate Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2.04 ERA).

San Francisco Giants @ Texas Rangers (8:05 PM ET — ESPN)

• Pitchers: Logan Webb (6-7, 3.93 ERA) vs. Rangers TBD.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs (8:05 PM ET)

• The Cubs start this series after acquiring Kevin Gausman. Skubal is scheduled to debut tomorrow for LA, meaning the Dodgers’ bullpen handles tonight.
• Pitchers: Dodgers TBD vs. Matthew Boyd (6-1, 3.41 ERA).

San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 PM ET)

• The Headline: A fierce NL West battle unfolds in the desert.
• Pitchers: Michael King (6-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. Brandon Pfaadt (5-0, 1.85 ERA).

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Milwaukee Brewers (7:40 PM ET)

• Pitchers: Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.56 ERA) vs. Brandon Sproat (3-6, 5.05 ERA).

Tampa Bay Rays @ Colorado Rockies (8:40 PM ET)

• Pitchers: Both teams are TBD following the Rays’ acquisition of Freddy Peralta and Colorado trading away Brenton Doyle.

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Coaching arguably has the biggest impact on whether NFL teams win or lose and plays a major role in determining the landscape of the league.

However, the Coach of the Year award does not always go to the league’s best coach or the coach of the team with the best record. It typically rewards the coach who exceeds preseason expectations, engineers a major turnaround or takes a franchise to the next level.

So with that, let’s check out the odds to win the 2026 NFL Coach of the Year at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 3. 

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.

John Harbaugh is the +600 favorite to win the NFL Coach of the Year in 2026 (Justin Casterline/Getty Images).

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2026 NFL COACH OF THE YEAR ODDS

John Harbaugh: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Jesse Minter: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Robert Saleh: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Kellen Moore: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Brian Schottenheimer: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Todd Monken: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Joe Brady: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Ben Johnson: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Mike McCarthy: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Klint Kubiak: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Kevin Stefanski: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)

Mike Vrabel won the AP Coach of the Year Award in 2025 (Michael Owens/Getty Images).

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Here’s what to know about this oddsboard.

PAST WINNERS: In 2025, Mike Vrabel won the award in his first season as the Patriots head coach, transforming the Pats from a 4-13 record in 2024 to a 13-4 record in 2025, an AFC East title and a Super Bowl appearance. Vrabel has now won COTY twice (last season and in 2021 with the Titans). In 2024, Kevin O’Connell won the award, and in 2023, Kevin Stefanski won it for the second time in his career (2020 and 2023). 

NEW HEAD COACHES: Over the last decade, 60% of the Coach of the Year awards went to coaches in their very first season with their team. In 2026, there are 10 new NFL head coach changes, tying the record for the most head coaching moves in a single offseason. John Harbaugh, Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh, the top three names on the oddsboard, are all in their first year with their new team. Harbaugh is the favorite as he looks to transform a young Giants core that features Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers. New York won four games a season ago, and are presumed to take a step forward under Harbaugh, who has a .609 winning percentage in his career. Meanwhile, Minter will replace Harbaugh in Baltimore and looks to take a Ravens team that missed the playoffs last year to new heights. Baltimore is currently tied for the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl (+1000). And lastly, Saleh looks to improve a Titans team that won just three games in 2025. 

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One of the most sought after catchers in Major League Baseball has a new home. 

The Boston Red Sox have acquired Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, according to ESPN. The O’s return is headlined by 2026 Future Game participant, 21-year-old righty starter Anthony Eyanson and additional top prospects from Boston, as well as current Red Sox starting catcher Carlos Narváez, per the Baltimore Sun.

Rutschman has been limited to 67 games this season due to a wrist injury, but the 28-year-old switch hitter immediately gives his new squad one of the game’s better catchers both behind and at the plate. 

Rutschman had a down 2025, but his 2026 has been a return to his All-Star form. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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A .251 hitter with eight home runs in 2026, he’ll likely begin his new stint on a rehab assignment. After finishing second for Rookie of the Year honors in 2022, he broke out in 2023 when he hit .277 with career highs of 20 home runs and 83 RBIs – earning a Silver Slugger Award. He had 19 homers, 21 doubles and 79 RBIs in 2024 before playing in just 90 games last season (nine home runs, 29 RBIs). 

Rutschman is also playing on a team-friendly deal as he has one year of arbitration remaining. He’s on a one-year, $7.25 million contract in 2026 before becoming an unrestricted free agent following the 2027 season.

While the Red Sox have seen their offense recover across most of the diamond since the start of July, behind the plate, Boston is still struggling. Connor Wong has made it on base at a .346 clip, but is slugging just .362 and has a .707 OPS in 55 games. That is significantly better than what Carlos Narváez had managed as the primary backstop in 62 games, as he’s hitting all of .187/.260/.275 on the season. In comparison, Rutschman is batting .251/.333/.431 with a .764 OPS, in addition to what is considered elite defense behind the plate.

In addition to Eyanson and Narváez, the Orioles will receive 19-year-old outfielder Enddy Azocar, starting pitcher and 2025 first-round pick Kyson Witherspoon and 18-year-old Rookie League center fielder Harold Rivas. Eyanson is the No. 2 prospect in Boston’s system, per MLB Pipeline, while Witherspoon is No. 4 and No. 17.

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Clint Dempsey didn’t hesitate.

When I asked arguably the greatest American soccer player of all time what the U.S. men’s national team must do to keep its fans engaged and create new ones before the next World Cup arrives in 2030, Dempsey — the USMNT’s all-time co-scoring leader and a FOX Sports analyst during the 2026 tournament — was unequivocal.

“Win,” Dempsey told me during a post-World Cup interview. “Score goals, keep clean sheets, get the people excited and out of their seats because you’re fighting for your country, making them proud. I mean, that’s what it’s all about, right?”

Right. And for three games at the first World Cup held on American soil in three decades, the home team did all of that. Those emphatic group stage wins over Paraguay and Australia, and another in the new round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, were enough to convince the U.S. Soccer Federation to offer Pochettino a new four-year contract despite a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16. The deal became official on Monday, giving the 54-year-old Argentine — who took over the program less than two years before the last World Cup — an entire cycle to build a squad to compete on the biggest stage in sports.

Before that, lots of games must be played. The USSF is expected to announce the first slate of exhibition games on the road to 2030 later this week. There are Concacaf Nations League matches in November and March. The 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup follows in June. In 2028, there’s a Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and almost surely another U.S.-hosted Copa América — the South American championship.

In other words, to Dempsey’s point, a lot of opportunities for Poch and his players to continue to endear themselves to the broader American public before the main event returns four summers from now.

With that in mind, here are five things Pochettino must accomplish before the 2030 World Cup arrives.

1. Uncover Fresh Talent

Noahkai Banks remains an intriguing prospect at center back. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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While the U.S. needs upgrades in several areas, no positions are thinner than central defense and goalkeeper. Premier League veteran Chris Richards, 26, will remain the Americans’ defensive anchor. But his partner, captain Tim Ream, is now two months shy of his 39th birthday and has probably played his last game for the national team.

Finding newcomers who can challenge reserve center backs Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson for Ream’s vacated spot will be both crucial and challenging. There simply aren’t many good young American center backs, in MLS or overseas. 

Landing 19-year-old German-American Noahkai Banks would be huge. But don’t be surprised if Poch drafts in guys like 29-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps mainstay Tristan Blackmon, who made two U.S. starts last year.

In goal, Poch now has two keepers with World Cup experience in Matt Freese and Matt Turner. Both should be in the mix going forward, but there will be chances for others to push them. Among those are World Cup third-choice keeper Chris Brady, Barcelona prospect Diego Kochen and 19-year-old FC San Diego starter Duran Ferree. It should be a wide-open race for the next couple of years at least.

2. Win Next Year’s Concacaf Nations League And Gold Cup

Mauricio Pochettino will aim to win one of Concacaf’s major trophies first. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

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The U.S. won the first three editions of the new regional competition, beating blood rival Mexico in the final in 2021 and 2024 (and in the semis in 2023). But they didn’t even make it to the decisive match in Pochettino’s maiden Nations League trip, losing to Panama in the semis and Jesse Marsch-led Canada in the third place game.

Getting back to the title bout next March would show progress. Winning the first available trophy this cycle would be an even better signal of intent. It would also give themselves momentum heading into the second regional championship of 2027 just a few months later.

After the Nations League debacle in 2025, Pochettino used the Gold Cup to reset the mentality of the U.S. team. Or at least he tried to: Christian Pulisic, the Americans’ most important attacking player, withdrew from consideration citing fatigue. Same for Yunus Musah, another American starter at the 2022 World Cup. A slew of other regulars — including striker Folarin Balogun, midfielder Weston McKennie, and left back Antonee “Jedi” Robinson — also missed the tourney because of injury or FIFA Club World Cup commitments.

But those who Pochettino summoned instead took advantage of the opportunity. Players like Sebastian Berhalter and Alex Freeman, who didn’t have a cap before that summer, would both go on to score at the 2026 World Cup.

But the 2025 Gold Cup literally ended in tears for Pochettino, as the U.S. lost to Mexico in front of 71,000 mostly green-clad fans in Houston.

This summer, expect all the top Americans to participate. If they do, there’s no reason the U.S. can’t claim the Gold Cup for the eighth time and first since 2021.

3. Make Deep Runs At The Copa América And Olympics In 2028

Steve Cherundolo will be in charge of the USA at the Olympics (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

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The U.S. under-23 national team will have home-field advantage at the Olympics. It’s imperative that they don’t squander it. So it will be fascinating to watch how Poch and U-23 boss Steve Cherundolo decide which players get sent to what team. Will Cherundolo have first dibs on youngsters like 19-year-old Zavier Gozo? What three overage players will the former U.S. defender have access to? Because the best U.S. won’t be available for both the Olympics and Copa.

The Americans have history in the latter, reaching the semis in 2016 and in Uruguay in 1995, when they stunned Poch’s native Argentina 3-0.

But things didn’t go nearly as well two years ago. Under former coach Gregg Berhalter, the red, white and blue became the first Copa América host ever to be eliminated before the knockout stage.

Making a deep run in 2028 is therefore important for several reasons. It’s just two years before the next World Cup, obviously. But a successful Copa would also give the Americans the confidence that they can beat better foes. The same goes for the Summer Games; Spain’s World Cup-winning roster had 12 former Olympians on it. Meanwhile, Miles Robinson was the lone member of the 2024 U.S. Olympic team on Pochettino’s 26-man World Cup squad.

4. Beat One Of Soccer’s Iconic Teams

Belgium took out the USA at the 2026 World Cup. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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In the not-too-distant past, the U.S. upset the sport’s superpowers regularly frequently. The Americans topped Portugal at the World Cup. A Dempsey goal helped stunned European champ Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. In friendlies, they beat former World Cup champs like Germany and Italy.

But it’s now been more than a decade since the Stars and Stripes beat one of FIFA’s Top 10 squads. In the last two months alone, they lost to Germany and Belgium. Chances to test themselves against elite opposition don’t come often for the current generation of U.S. players; the advent of Europe’s own Nations League has made it harder to schedule non-official matches against that continent’s best. That only makes it more crucial to take advantage of the next opportunity against one of soccer’s best. 

5. Qualify For The 2030 World Cup

Three countries – Morocco, Portugal, Spain – will serve as the hosts of the 2030 World Cup. (Photo by Harold Cunningham – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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It sounds simple and it should be. Even if the next World Cup doesn’t end up expanding from the 48 nations  that participated next summer to 64, Concacaf will have as many as seven slots for 2030. (When the Americans famously failed to reach the 2018 event, they finished fifth in a single-table format.)

Still, as the 2026 World Cup showed, soccer’s smaller countries are getting more competitive with each passing year. Neither Costa Rica nor Honduras, which both qualified for multiple 32-team World Cups this century— the Ticos even reached the quarters in 2014 — made the cut for 2026 despite the additional berths.

So while the ultimate goal is success at the World Cup itself, “First,” Pochettino acknowledged, “We need to qualify.”

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New users on Polymarket can enter promo code FOX to claim a $20 trading bonus while following the busiest day on the MLB schedule.

The trade deadline ends at 6:00 p.m. ET and the moves are rolling in.

So far, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal was sent to the Dodgers, adding to one of the best rotations in baseball.

The Philadelphia Phillies strengthened their lineup by adding three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and veteran reliever Brooks Raley. 

With contenders across the league still making moves, several clubs have yet to announce starting pitchers for tonight’s games.

Tonight’s game includes the Astros riding a six-game win streak, taking on the Blue Jays. The Padres put their three-game win streak on the line when they face the Diamondbacks. 

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Dodgers vs. Cubs

*Probability is subject to change*

Los Angeles Dodgers	54%	54¢	47¢
Chicago Cubs	46%	47¢	54¢

More markets are available on Polymarket.

Today’s MLB Schedule

Toronto Blue Jays @ Houston Astros (8:10 PM ET)

• The Houston Astros enter tonight as the hottest team in baseball, carrying a season-high six-game winning streak after a dominant sweep of the Rangers.
• Pitchers: Both teams’ starters are listed as TBD as they navigate final deadline moves.

Washington Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies (6:40 PM ET)

• The Phillies made some aggressive trades this morning. They host a Nationals team that just traded away infielder Luis García Jr. to the Yankees and got swept in a four-game series against the Braves.
• Pitchers: Nationals TBD vs. Aaron Nola (3-9, 5.61 ERA) for Philadelphia.

St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Yankees (7:05 PM ET)

• The Yankees look to snap a cold offensive stretch and integrate their new acquisition, Luis García Jr.
• Pitchers: Michael McGreevy (4-9, 3.57 ERA) vs. Yankees Cy Young candidate Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2.04 ERA).

San Francisco Giants @ Texas Rangers (8:05 PM ET — ESPN)

• Pitchers: Logan Webb (6-7, 3.93 ERA) vs. Rangers TBD.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs (8:05 PM ET)

• The Cubs start this series after acquiring Kevin Gausman. Skubal is scheduled to debut tomorrow for LA, meaning the Dodgers’ bullpen handles tonight.
• Pitchers: Dodgers TBD vs. Matthew Boyd (6-1, 3.41 ERA).

San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 PM ET)

• The Headline: A fierce NL West battle unfolds in the desert.
• Pitchers: Michael King (6-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. Brandon Pfaadt (5-0, 1.85 ERA).

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Milwaukee Brewers (7:40 PM ET)

• Pitchers: Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.56 ERA) vs. Brandon Sproat (3-6, 5.05 ERA).

Tampa Bay Rays @ Colorado Rockies (8:40 PM ET)

• Pitchers: Both teams are TBD following the Rays’ acquisition of Freddy Peralta and Colorado trading away Brenton Doyle.

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The Brewers have added a veteran starter to their rotation, as Milwaukee traded for St. Louis Cardinals’ righty starter Dustin May, per The Athletic. The Brewers are also receiving reliever JoJo Romero in the deal, with St. Louis getting back prospects Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale, per MLB.

May signed a one-year deal for 2026 with the Cardinals this past offseason, and possesses a 4.38 ERA in 109 innings and 21 starts. The 6-foot-6 hurler is striking out a career-best 8.8 batters per nine, but has had some poor luck with the defense behind him: his batting average on balls in play is .322, and the result of that is an adjusted ERA of 3.14 – the Brewers are hoping playing in front of a better team will mean better real-world results.

Romero has been an effective reliever for St. Louis, with the lefty posting a 3.35 ERA after a career-best 2025 with a 2.07 ERA. Romero is striking out a batter per inning and 2.7 times as many batters as he’s walking, giving the Brewers another reliable option out of the bullpen.

May is packing his bags for the second deadline in a row, and his fourth team in the last year. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

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May has a $20 million mutual option with a $500,000 buyout for 2027. May was also dealt at the 2025 trade deadline, from the Dodgers to the Red Sox in exchange for prospect James Tibbs.

Frias is the No. 11 prospect in the Brewers’ system, per MLB Pipeline, while Ragsdale ranks No. 13. Both are outfielders: Frias is an 18-year-old who has split his season between Rookie League and Single-A ball, while Ragsdale is 22 and hit .327/.447/.528 in High-A before a promotion to Double-A, where he’s continued to rake in 96 plate appearances so far.

The Cardinals are 55-57, four games out of a wild-card spot in the NL and with additional pieces that could be moved before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.

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Luke Weaver will pitch for yet another team, as the 11-year veteran has been traded by the Mets to the Pirates before the deadline, per MLB Network. In return, the Mets received the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect, shortstop Sammy Stafura.

Weaver was one of the more appealing trade targets on the market, as one of the few high-end relievers available. The 32-year-old right-hander is having the best season of his career to this point, as he has a 1.84 ERA through 44 innings while keeping the ball in the park more often than in the past.

He signed a two-year, $22 million deal with New York this past offseason, following a two season and change run with the Yankees, where he produced a 3.22 ERA over 162 innings with 10.6 strikeouts per nine. Weaver is owed $12.5 million in 2027, but that additional season meant he was more than just a two-month rental.

The Mets added Luke Weaver, Bo Bichette and more to the roster this offseason, but ended up in the NL East basement, anyway. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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Weaver was one of the only bright spots among Mets brought to the roster in 2026: starting pitcher Freddy Peralta struggled after he was acquired from the Brewers, free agent infielder Bo Bichette only started hitting like he did with the Blue Jays in mid-June and ex-Mariners slugger Jorge Polanco has been injured and ineffective. Weaver, though, seemingly improved in a way that made him attractive at the deadline to Pittsburgh.

Weaver will slot right into the Pirates’ underwhelming bullpen, which has a 4.34 ERA as a unit. While he could always regress from this career-best form, Weaver was also a high-quality reliever prior to joining the Mets – even previous versions of his work would be a boon to Pittsburgh’s efforts.

Stafura is 21 years old and a second-round pick from the 2023 MLB Draft. He’s in his second stop at High-A, batting .301/.365/.656 with 19 of his 20 home runs this season.

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We’re only in the opening days of NFL training camp. However, there are plenty of things observers around the league are keeping their eyes on as we’re getting a peek at how teams might look in the 2026 season. 

So, we asked scouts and executives around the NFL what they’re focused on as teams are starting to put on the pads in practice. While most are focused on on-field matters, there was one off-field story that’s emerged that some around the league are keeping tabs on. 

Here’s more on what NFL scouts and executives are following during the opening week of training camp. 

Eric D. Williams: A couple league sources I spoke with said they’re keeping a close watch on the contract impasse between Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and the front office.

Mayfield publicly voiced his displeasure, saying he feels disrespected and undervalued by Tampa Bay’s contract offer sheet and that he deserves to be paid like a franchise quarterback.  

The 31-year-old Mayfield is entering the final season of a three-year, $100 million deal. However, the Bucs lost seven of their last nine games last season, missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Mayfield’s 27 interceptions over the last two seasons are second to only Geno Smith (32) over that time frame.

Baker Mayfield ‘disrespected’ by Bucs, How much pressure is on Lamar & Ravens this season?

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But since Mayfield’s arrival, he’s led Tampa Bay to NFC South division titles in two of the last three seasons he served as the team’s starter, including throwing for 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns in 2024.

“It’s interesting that Tampa Bay and Mayfield have not been able to agree on an extension and Baker came out saying he feels disrespected,” an NFL contract negotiator told me. “When I worked in NFL front offices, we never wanted a player in our locker room feeling like the team was getting over on them, especially at the quarterback position.”

However, a longtime NFL scout intimately involved in evaluating Mayfield as a prospect coming out of Oklahoma wasn’t surprised by Mayfield’s prideful stance.

“Mayfield is being disrespected by the Bucs? What a crock,” the longtime NFL scout told me. “He’s lucky they saved his career. He’s got a big ego and needs to get real. In the NFL, they only give you what you prove.”

Ralph Vacchiano: Trading away a No. 1 receiver for future draft picks isn’t a good formula for making a team better. But somehow, that might be exactly what the Philadelphia Eagles did when they traded away A.J. Brown.

At least that’s what the Eagles are hoping. They’ll spend the summer making sure that Brown has been adequately replaced. 

“You can’t argue that the deal made them better on the field. He was their most talented receiver,” one NFL executive told me. “But we all saw that something looked off with them last year. They were always out of sync, [with] no chemistry. Their body language made them look almost unhappy at times. And nobody was more out of sync or unhappy looking than A.J. Brown.

“Dealing him shows they thought he was the problem. If they were right, maybe they are going to be better without him.”

Daniel Jones will ‘pick up where he left off,’ Eagles offense a concern heading into 2026 season

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Of course, as one scout told me, “even if it’s addition by subtraction, they still have to replace him on the field,” and this summer will show how they plan to do that. DeVonta Smith, who topped 1,000 receiving yards in three of the last four seasons, will slide seamlessly into Brown’s old No. 1 role. But beyond him, it could be an open competition with first-round pick Makai Lemon and the recently acquired duo of Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown.

“They’re deep enough to run their offense,” the scout told me. “But it remains to be seen if any of them are as good as Brown used to be.”

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Vacchiano: Jaxson Dart re-energized the New York Giants with his promising rookie. Now the NFL is waiting to see if John Harbaugh can turn him into a star.

“There’s a lot to like about that kid,” one NFL executive told me, “I think given what he had around him last year, his rookie year was even better than his numbers. He clearly can run. And he was pretty efficient as a passer.

“What you need to see is whether he can take the next step. Having [receiver Malik] Nabers healthy would be a big part of that, no doubt. But he’s still got a ways to go to prove he can be their guy for the next 10 years. He’s not a star yet.”

Actually, in some ways, the 23-year-old is already a star, which made one opposing coach worry a little. Dart was everywhere in the offseason, enjoying the trappings of celebrity. He was also a fixture on social media. And he got into a public rift with teammate Abdul Carter — and angered more than a few people in the front office, not to mention parts of the fan base — when he introduced the president at a political rally without informing the team.

Jaxon Dart threw for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions as a rookie, adding 487 rushing yards and nine rushing scores. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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“Being a franchise quarterback is about more than play on the field,” the NFL assistant told me. “It’s about being the face of the franchise. It’s about leading a team and projecting the right image. 

“I think that will be Harbaugh’s biggest challenge with him — helping him mature. The kid is a star and he knows it. And he seems to love that part of it. That’s fine. But at the end of the day, everyone — the front office, the coaches, teammates, fans … everyone — they all need to see that the work comes first.

“That’s how you lead best: By example.”

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Greg Auman: We had a good sense of this before the draft even, but 2026 looks to have as quiet a class of rookie quarterbacks as the NFL has seen in a long time.

The Las Vegas Raiders will take it slow with Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, letting veteran Kirk Cousins open the year as their starter, and we’ve seen the Arizona Cardinals give Jacoby Brissett a nice bump as their 2026 starter, which makes it less likely to see much of third-round pick Carson Beck.

NFL fans have come to expect a steady dose of rookie quarterbacks every year — in the last 15 seasons, there have been at least 40 touchdown passes thrown by rookies in all but one season. That was 2022, when no quarterbacks went in the top half of the first round and the rookie class totaled just 29.

Fernando Mendoza is set to backup Kirk Cousins to open up the 2026 season. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

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Mendoza might end up being a fine NFL quarterback, but we might not see much of it this year, and it could take an injury for any other rookies to get real snaps in games this season. Las Vegas gave up an NFL-high 64 sacks last year, and while they’ll be improved after bringing in center Tyler Linderbaum, they want Mendoza to be ready when he takes the field. The lack of rookies with clear paths to playing is also a function of teams knowing the 2027 draft will be loaded with promising quarterbacks — perhaps in line with the elite 2024 class, which had 97 touchdown passes between Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, among others.

But don’t worry — 2026 won’t be the worst year for rookie quarterbacks. In 2007, even with a No. 1overall pick in JaMarcus Russell, rookies combined for just 16 touchdown passes, and the all-time low was in 2000, when all the rookie quarterbacks combined for four touchdown passes all season. 

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Williams: During the World Cup, NFL players made a plea on social media for the NFL to make grass fields mandatory for all NFL stadiums. Players pointed to NFL stadiums that usually have artificial turf converting to grass fields for the World Cup soccer games as evidence that the same thing can be done on NFL game days.

Players believe practicing and playing on grass curbs injuries and is better for the longevity of players’ careers. However, NFL owners are still not fully on board. Currently, 15 NFL stadiums have grass fields. The NFLPA conducted a player survey, with the results stating that 92% of players prefer grass fields.

“The thing I’m hot about right now is that NFL owners refuse to look at uniform grass logistics for all 32 teams and take care of the players,” a league source told me. “Just like the helmets and healthcare, they’ll have to be required to be committed to it, all while going to the bank big time.”

With the league dangling the expansion to an 18-game season, the move to mandatory grass fields could be used as a bargaining chip by players. But one league source I spoke with doesn’t see the push for grass fields as a galvanizing issue for NFL players.

“I don’t think a half-hearted NFLPA social media campaign will do much,” the league source told me. “Elite players will need to lobby their respective teams, eye-to-eye and face-to-face, for change to actually happen.

“And free agents will have to stay away from field turf teams/divisions for anything to really change.”

 

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Just when the Chicago Bears got their first injured player of training camp back to the practice field on Monday, they had a second injury on their first day in pads.

Running back Kyle Monangai returned to practice briefly after missing three straight workouts with a soft tissue injury, but starting safety Coby Bryant went out during one-on-one drills with an apparent leg injury and left the field in a cart.

Bryant is expected to miss eight-to-10 weeks with a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture, ESPN reported Monday. He reportedly won’t need surgery, though. 

If Bryant is out for at least eight weeks, that could rule him out for Chicago’s first four regular-season matchups. The Bears face the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets in the first four weeks of the season.  

Bryant, the former Seahawks player who was acquired in free agency, was working against tight end Cole Kmet in one-on-one drills and clutched his left leg near the knee. He was able to get in the cart on his own power, but the scene was scary for the Bears, who are depending on Bryant’s speed in a revamped starting secondary.

“You know, it always sucks to see,” tight end Colston Loveland said of the injury. “That’s part of it. You know, he’s tough, he’s a dog. He’s going to be fine.

“We’re not worried about it but I don’t know. We’ll leave that [prognosis] to coach Johnson.”

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson described Bryant’s value as more than just speed in the secondary.

“He’s come in with the juice,” cornerback Tyrique Stevenson said. “Obviously from practice, when he’s coming out in the middle of the field to make PBUs, he’s just a spark plug.

“He’s bringing that energy every day and he done won it at the highest level so he’s not letting nobody slip under the standard.”

Bryant was replaced at safety by both Cam Lewis and Gervarrius Owens. His role is also critical because he is a veteran playing alongside rookie starter Dillon Thieneman at the other safety spot.

The Bears signed Lewis as a free agent from Buffalo, while Owens was on Chicago’s practice squad last season.

Monangai had been out from Day 2 of training camp and was able to get back on the field for the individual drills. He left when the team went to scrimmage.

Monangai ran for 783 yards on 169 carries with five touchdowns last season as the No. 2 back behind starter D’Andre Swift. He provides the power punch to Swift’s speed in Johnson’s attack.

It could be soon when Monangai is able to rejoin full practices.

“We’re taking it day-by-day right now,” Johnson said of Monangai. “We’re working through it. He’s working hard with his rehab and it should be on the shorter side here.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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