The Freedom 250 is expected to be a one-and-done unique event. It is the first INDYCAR race (as far as we know) that needed an executive order from the President (of the United States) just to happen.

It is part of the 250th birthday celebration of the United States. The National Mall won’t get shut down for an INDYCAR race every year.

And that’s fine. 

Part of the allure of the Freedom 250 stems from the basis that it will serve as a rare spectacle. If you’re not there to see it, you won’t ever see it.

But that doesn’t mean that is the end of INDYCAR in Washington, D.C.

Crews work near the U.S. Capitol Building to prepare the street course for INDYCAR’s Freedom 250.

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The outgoing mayor loves having sports in her town. She apparently would love to find a way to have an INDYCAR race on the streets of Washington in the future.

Where? 

Maybe near the new football stadium, much like Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington (Texas). The new stadium in the D.C. area opens in 2030. As they continue building it, maybe they can keep thoughts of a course in mind (or at least the back of the head). 

INDYCAR so badly needs more races on the East Coast. 

Will it go to Richmond Raceway as some have thought? The last time INDYCAR raced on the 0.75-mile oval was in 2009, and the races on the track didn’t produce incredible action.

But the current car should race better there. Still, it’s not INDYCAR country, per se, and many feel that it would need NASCAR (not necessarily Cup but at least one of the other national series) to race on the same weekend. NASCAR’s weekend there for next year is set in September, most likely too late for the INDYCAR calendar.

INDYCAR at Watkins Glen would be cool. But it wouldn’t necessarily draw the city audience that would make going to the Northeast worth it. And don’t get me wrong, I’d love an INDYCAR race at Watkins Glen. 

Baltimore? Been there, done that and it left a sour taste (2011-13). Philadelphia? There’s been some chatter but nothing that seems to have picked up much steam.

So why not Washington? 

Not everything needs an executive order to happen. But maybe this race can spark ideas from those in the area that INDYCAR can find a spot in the Mid-Atlantic and relatively soon.

The Freedom 250 should be a cool event. It most likely will be a one-and-done. But it could ignite conversations to imagine future events.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

The inaugural Freedom 250 hits the streets of D.C., on Sunday. Here’s all the details on the one-of-a-kind INDYCAR event.

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FC Barcelona officially announced its signing of 2024 Ballon d’Or winner and 2026 World Cup Golden Ball winner Rodri from Manchester City on Tuesday, and the Spanish midfielder is feeling the love from the fans — at least he would be if he had an Instagram.

Since he doesn’t, Barcelona fans have decided that the next-best thing would be to welcome Rodri in the comments section of superstar singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo’s Instagram.

Aside from the fact that Rodri’s first name, Rodrigo, is the same as three-time Grammy winner’s surname, Rodrigo has ties to Barcelona through their popular jersey collaboration last season.

Barcelona released a special edition jersey with Rodrigo’s famous “OR” logo last season through their jersey sponsorship with Spotify. Rodrigo also released a collection of scarves, t-shirts and an alternate jersey for the club that is rumored to have raised $29 million for the club.

Rodrigo also attended Barcelona’s rival match, “El Clásico,” against Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou in May. Barcelona won 2-0 wearing the Rodrigo jersey.

The result is an unlikely bond between the Catalan club and one of music’s brightest stars. Barcelona opens its season against Elche on Sunday, August 23.

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The Associated Press has had its say. The coaches have had their say.

Now it’s time for me to chime in on the 2026 preseason top 10. 

Last year matters no more. New players. New rosters. New season. If you’re putting Indiana at No. 1 because the Hoosiers won the title last year, you’re doing this all wrong. If you’re putting the Hoosiers at No. 1 because you think IU is the best team in the country in 2026, then that’s fine. 

There’s definitely a stratum for the upcoming season. The top seven seem pretty clear, and one could make the case for any of the top seven to be slotted in any of the seven spots. You wouldn’t get an argument from me. 

Then again, last year at this time, I said Penn State to make the CFP was the safest bet there was, and then by mid-October, James Franklin was fired. So clearly my crystal ball at this time of the season is spot on. 

Anyway, here’s how I see it going into the year. We’ll see what changes we get from one week to the next. And trust me, we’ll get them.

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10.

To Make CFP: +200
Title Odds: +3000

Obviously, coaching staff turnover is a big deal, as Charlie Weis Jr. is no longer in Oxford calling the plays. But with Trinidad Chambliss at QB and Kewan Lacy at RB, the Rebels have a chance against anyone.

9.

To Make CFP: +160
Title Odds: +1700

Could swap in a few different teams here, but the talent level at LSU appears to be top 10. I don’t know how it will all work out against this schedule, but at least to start, we’ll slot them here. 

8.

To Make CFP: +210
Title Odds: +3000

The Sooners are this year’s prime candidate as the most likely team where the power rating doesn’t align with the W-L record. The defense should be exceptional, but I still have questions about the offense. The OL and RB need to be better, especially against the ridiculously tough slate of opponents the Sooners have lined up. 

7.

To Make CFP: -240
Title Odds: +850

The run of SEC teams begins here. Georgia is the only SEC team I am confident will win 10 games. The defense should be much improved, the schedule is as favorable as it comes in SEC world and talk is the offense should have some game-breakers at WR. Are the Dawgs national champ quality? Yes. But I still think they are behind a few teams in the pecking order. 

6.

To Make CFP: -350
Title Odds: +900

OK, just hear me out for a second. The Hoosiers did a helluva job reloading in the portal while making their title run last season. They also got a boon in recent weeks with the return of Stephan Daley and Kellan Wyatt per a court ruling. They clearly have one of the top rosters in the country, but here are the questions I would ask: Can every high-leverage play go IU’s way again this year? Literally every play they needed to go their way last year did just that. Will the loss of the JMU vets have a bigger impact than maybe we are expecting? Can Josh Hoover eliminate the turnovers and make the plays Mendoza did? Cignetti has said all the right things about Hoover having a defense and a running game to fall back on, but you just never know. 

5.

To Make CFP: -280
Title Odds: +1000

Two things can be true: Miami is potentially more talented than the team that came up just short last year in the national title game and Miami also might  have trouble replacing the guts of the team in leaders like Keionte Scott, CJ Daniels, Keelan Marion, Francis Mauigoa and Rueben Bain. 

After the late-season drive and coming so close last year, will there be complacency or even more motivation? The Canes are as big of a favorite as there is to win a league. And remember, Miami has never won the ACC. If Miami’s talent and leadership come together, this is a national title contender. But if the LBs struggle or the lethal combo of Bain and Mesidor can’t be replaced or depth behind Mark Fletcher doesn’t perform to expectations, then a season which falls short of expectations could be in the cards. 

Still, I’d expect a return CFP trip. 

4.

To Make CFP: -200
Title Odds: +650

Few teams have been as overrated in the preseason poll lately as Texas. Maybe I’m falling victim to the hype again, but this roster is loaded outside of potential concerns at OL. Although it appears the Longhorns avoided serious injury with Trevor Goosby, they could really use him back for the Ohio State game. The Longhorns added elite players at LB, RB and WR in the portal, and Arch Manning’s growth throughout the 2025 season will serve him and his team well this season. I’m not trying to project a W-L record here, but the Texas schedule is no joke. And I’m curious to see how many losses (if any) the Longhorns find this season and how the CFP will rank them. But it might be fair to ask — if not now, then when for one of CFB’s highest-paid rosters?

3.

To Make CFP: -360
Title Odds: +600

The writers and coaches have the Buckeyes at No. 1, but I’m going to slot Ohio State here instead. Look, Ohio State recruits as well as anyone, but the Buckeyes’ final two games of last season have me slightly concerned. The offensive line was over-matched by two great defensive fronts and QB Julian Sayin did not look good. How will new OC Arthur Smith fit in? What about the massive losses on the defensive side of the ball? Nobody is — or should be — crying for Ohio State and its problems entering the season, but I don’t think the Buckeyes are a CFP cinch as they’ve been the last two years. 

2.

To Make CFP: -320
Title Odds: +750

The Ducks probably have as few questions as anyone entering the season, but a couple of camp injuries might cloud things just a bit early on. Those close to Oregon have been touting 2026 as the year the Ducks finally break down the door of the national title club. It’s hard to argue with that thought process, as Dante Moore returns with a dangerous WR corps and a dominant defensive front. Oregon’s season has ended in ugly fashion each of the last three years and there’s every reason to believe that will not be the case in 2026.

1.

To Make CFP: -800
Title Odds: +600

One could nitpick about replacing Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, or who will be the deep threat at WR, but this Irish team is loaded. Residing in South Bend is one of the best — if not the best — defenses in the country, along with one of the top QBs in the country in CJ Carr. The Irish missed the Playoff last year in a season where they were power rated as a playoff team. Now, the hunger, drive and motivation to get back to the national title game, as they did in 2024 (and win it), is evident. The Irish are No. 1 until they show me they aren’t. 

Source

United States men’s national team forward Haji Wright will reportedly miss up to 12 weeks of the Premier League season due to a quad injury. 

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard confirmed the timeline ahead of the club’s match against Arsenal.

“He won’t be available for a little while; he’s got a very serious quad injury which is disappointing for Haji and for us,” Lampard said. “It’s certainly going to be a number of weeks, could even be up to 12 weeks.”

(Photo by James Holyoak/MB Media/Getty Images)

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Wright helped Coventry City secure Premier League promotion last season as the club finished at the top of the Championship. He scored 17 league goals in over 2,500 minutes of play. This injury delays his debut in the Premier League. 

Coventry City signed forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Sidiki Cherif during the summer transfer window.

The injury hurts Wright’s availability for the United States in the upcoming international break.

Wright will miss four international friendlies in September and October, including a match against Mexico. He may also miss the Concacaf Nations League matches in November. 

Wright appeared in the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. He played short minutes in 2026 under manager Mauricio Pochettino, appearing as a substitute against Australia and Belgium.

Pochettino should be able to call up forwards Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Brian White, and Julian Hall Zakrzewski during this window, should they all remain healthy. Patrick Agyemang is scheduled to return from injury during the winter.

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NFL Preseason Week 2 gives bettors another opportunity to evaluate rookies and young players before the regular season begins.

The No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, leads the Las Vegas Raiders in his second NFL start after making his preseason debut with 97 yards and a touchdown.

The other first-round quarterback, Ty Simpson, was impressive in his NFL debut. Simpson went 21-for-25 for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

The Jets and Steelers meet on Friday, featuring another rookie quarterback who put on a show in his debut. Pittsburgh’s Drew Allar threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Allar also ran for another touchdown.

DraftKings, FanDuel and other sportsbooks offer preseason markets that can include moneylines, spreads, totals and player props. With 16 games across Preseason Week 2, bettors have plenty of opportunities to find value by focusing on rookies and young players fighting for a spot on the team.

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NFL Preseason Week 2

*Odds may differ each site*

Tomorrow — Aug. 20

• Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans — Raiders +1.5 (-120), O37.5 (-110), Raiders -105
• San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers — 49ers -1.5 (-108), O38.5 (-110), 49ers -125

Friday – Aug. 21

• New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers — Jets -1.5 (-112), O36.5 (-110), Jets -135
• Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars — Panthers -1.5 (-110), O37.5 (-112), Panthers -135
• Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos — Packers +6 (-112), O41.5 (-108), Packers +200

Saturday — Aug. 22

• Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions — Commanders +4.5 (-115), O37.5 (-108), Commanders +160
• Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns — Bills +3 (-112), O36.5 (-118), Bills +136
• Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings — Ravens +3.5 (-110), O36.5 (-118), Ravens +145

Sunday — Aug. 23

• Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans — Seahawks +4.5 (-115), O38.5 (-105), Seahawks +180

DraftKings

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Rams vs. Saints

*Odds may differ each site*

NO Saints	-3 (-112)	O 37.5 (-105)	-162
LA Rams	+3 (-108)	U 37.5 (-115)	+136

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Eagles vs. Patriots

*Odds may differ each site*

PHI Eagles	-2.5 (-108)	O 36.5 (-112)	-135
NE Patriots	+2.5 (-112)	U 36.5 (-108)	+114

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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. 

New users on Polymarket can enter promo code FOX to unlock a $20 bonus when trading on sports markets. Tennis and soccer fans have plenty to follow right now, with the Cincinnati Open deep into its tournament schedule and FC Cincinnati competing near the top of the MLS Eastern Conference.

Tommy Paul delivered one of the biggest upsets in the ATP Cincinnati when defeating top-seeded Alexander Zverev. These matches give traders opportunities to follow individual matches and player markets as the tournament approaches its conclusion.

With FC Cincinnati among the teams near the top of the Eastern Conference in the MLS, fans have a lot to trade on in MLS action. Evander has been a key contributor for Cincinnati, leading the club in both goals and assists.

Enter Polymarket promo code FOX to unlock a $20 bonus and start trading on ATP Cincinnati, MLS soccer and other sports markets.

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FC Cincinnati vs. NYC FC

*Probability is subject to change*

Moneyline	49¢	29¢
Spreads 1.5	28¢	73¢
Totals 3.5	Over: 45¢	Under: 56¢
Both Teams to Score?	Yes: 67¢	No: 34¢

Cincinatti Open Winner

*Probability is subject to change*

Felix Auger-Aliassime	14%	14.9¢	87.7¢
Nuno Borges	2%	4.1¢	99.9¢
Flavio Cobolli	13%	20.0¢	92.9¢

More markets available on Polymarket.

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What began with a summer trade request has ended in a high-stakes compromise, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star defensive tackle Vita Vea finally put their contract standoff to rest.

The two sides reached an agreement on a one-year, $30 million extension, ESPN first reported on Wednesday afternoon. The deal keeps Vea under contract for the next two seasons while giving him a $6 million raise for this year, increasing his 2026 salary to $24 million.

The $30 million extension is fully guaranteed, locking in $48 million for Vea over the next two seasons.

According to Spotrac, his $24 million average salary ties him with Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown as the league’s 13th highest-paid defensive lineman. This will also place him in the same tier as several Pro Bowl defensive linemen.

If Vea set out to prove his worth to the Buccaneers, he can consider the mission accomplished.

The short-term extension now reinforces Vea’s status as one of the most respected interior linemen in the league. With his future secured in Tampa Bay for the next two years, all eyes now shift to how he can elevate head coach Todd Bowles’ run defense this season.

Vea has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier interior defensive linemen and a two-time Pro Bowler. After playing a pivotal role in the Buccaneers Super Bowl LV win, his presence in the trenches continues to anchor one of the league’s top run defenses.

Behind the 347-pound Vea, the Buccaneers ranked in the top three in total defense from 2019 to 2021 before regaining top-five status in 2023. Over that span, Vea anchored a unit that surrendered just 92.6 rushing yards per game.

Through eight seasons with the Buccaneers, Vea has logged 256 total tackles, 35 sacks, and three forced fumbles. With his contract security locked in, Vea and the Buccaneers can now turn their full attention to Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

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An iconic college football rivalry has officially brought back an old tradition; Alabama and Tennessee are both slated to wear home jerseys for their 2026 and 2027 matchups. 

The Crimson Tide and the Volunteers’ tradition started in its first meeting in 1928. However, ahead of the 1971 season, the SEC implemented a rule that the visiting teams were required to wear white uniforms, pausing the double-home jersey tradition. 

Tennessee and Alabama are heading into their 109th year in the rivalry, which formally took the name “third Saturday in October” to pair with the game’s scheduled date. Alabama currently leads the rivalry with an all-time 61-40-7 record. 

Next to Alabama and Tennessee, UCLA and USC are the only other rivalry to wear both home jerseys. 

After a 37-20 home win for the Crimson Tide last season, both teams bring in new faces at quarterback for a preseason top 25 matchup. 

Following the departure of star quarterback Ty Simpson, No. 13 Alabama has yet to name a new starter, but will likely turn to Keelon Russell. Russell, the sophomore from Duncanville, Texas, was the No. 2 ranked quarterback, per 247Sports, in the 2025 class. The Tide also returns star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and running back Daniel Hill to their offense. Alabama will look to return to the CFP after their first-ever appearance last season under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

For No. 20 Tennessee, head coach Josh Heupel has a brewing quarterback competition between five-star freshman Faizon Brandon and redshirt freshman George MacIntyre. Notably, Heupel also returns star running back DeSean Bishop and wide receiver Braylon Staley.  After the Volunteers finished the season 8-5 (4-4 in SEC play) overall, Tennessee is due for a solid 2026 campaign.

Alabama and Tennessee will debut its home jerseys in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17. 

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — If you didn’t know Daniel Jones was coming off a major injury, there’s nothing that would’ve told you otherwise. 

That was my big takeaway watching the Colts quarterback at training camp Wednesday, when Indianapolis hosted the first of two joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons. Whether it was dropping back in individual drills or taking snaps under center or in the shotgun in team periods, Jones looked normal. 

For a quarterback coming off an Achilles tear, the true test of health is scrambling and throwing on the move and evading pressure. Running the ball is a big part of Jones’ game, too. And the 29-year-old checked all those boxes as well. 

Granted, he didn’t need to move around too much Wednesday against what’s expected to be a bad Falcons pass rush (Jalon Walker is out for the season, and James Pearce Jr. is suspended for the first eight games). Jones looked quite comfortable in the pocket, but he moved around with no issues when he needed to. 

Daniel Jones throws a pass during the joint practice against the Falcons at Grand Park Sports Campus on Wednesday. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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It confirmed what I’d been hearing around the team about Jones, who’s looking to pick up from what was a spectacular 2025 — for him and the Colts — before his devastating right Achilles tear Dec. 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

He’s been impressive throughout training camp. The Colts had issues on the ground on Wednesday, but Jones and the pass game were on fire against an above-average Falcons secondary in team drills. He was feasting in the intermediate portion of the field, hitting receivers Josh Downs and Ashton Dulin often. 

“I think with any major rehab process, you’re always kind of progressing and getting back and getting used to doing everything, building up the reps on it, building up just your conditioning level,” Jones explained post-practice. “I feel really good and there’s nothing I don’t feel good doing.”

And for 2026, that means building off what the Colts were last season when he was healthy. 

Through 10 weeks in 2025, Indianapolis’ offense led the league in yards, scoring, EPA per play, success rate and DVOA. The Colts boasted a plus-115 point differential, and had four wins of 21-plus points.

“I think the offense is very versatile,” Jones told me. “There’s a lot of different components to it. I think we’re able to run the ball well. I think we’re good in the RPO game. We’re good throwing it quick. We can throw the ball down the field.” 

Other Notes From Colts-Falcons Joint Practice: 

Good Thing The Falcons Have Drake London And Bijan Robinson

Falcons standout receiver Drake London had one of the best plays from Wednesday’s practice. 

On what was by far quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s longest completion of the day, the fifth-year pro Mossed Colts cornerback Justin Walley down the left sideline in team drills. It was an underthrown ball from Tagovailoa, but London managed to stretch out his arms over Walley’s shoulders for the insane grab. 

Speaking of insane grabs, Robinson had one too. In the full team period at the end of practice, the superstar running back made a one-handed catch with his left hand in stride. It was a low pass that would’ve been incomplete in most situations, but Robinson made the snag near his ankles. It was all the more impressive considering how easy he made it look.

The Falcons are going to need a lot of that from Robinson and Drake London this season, as well as from All-Pro tight end Kyle Pitts. 

Atlanta’s quarterback play is a major concern. Tagovailoa is currently in the lead in the team’s QB competition by default, due to the fact that Michael Penix Jr. has not yet been cleared for 11-on-11 work after his ACL injury last season. And the former Dolphins starter has been uninspiring through two outings against other teams. He looked uncomfortable in last week’s preseason opener against the Denver Broncos. 

In Wednesday’s practice against the Colts, he had just one long completion (the aforementioned London play) and threw a pick-six to Walley. He lived off check downs and bubble screens.

The more touches the likes of Robinson, London and Pitts can get, the better the outlook for the Falcons’ offense this season. Because Atlanta won’t be winning games on the back of its quarterback play. 

Excitement For Keenan Allen In Indy

Newly signed Colts receiver Keenan Allen didn’t practice Wednesday. He spent his first official day with Indianapolis in shorts and a T-shirt, watching the offense intently and chopping it up with new teammates.

But the Colts are already envisioning how the 13-year veteran can help. 

“He’s been productive every single year he’s been in the league,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “So obviously, we want him to be productive again this year.”

One of the best players in Chargers history, Allen adds much-needed depth to what’s currently a thin wide receiver room for Indianapolis. With Michael Pittman Jr. out of the picture (traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers) and new WR1 Alec Pierce sidelined following offseason ankle injury, Josh Downs had been the team’s only proven, starting-caliber wide receiver. 

Allen, who has familiarity with Steichen from their time together with the Chargers, figures to be a tremendous boost for the Colts as a possession receiver, despite his age (34). The six-time Pro Bowler had a league-high 29 first down conversions on third down last season. Overall, Allen caught 81 passes for 777 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. 

“Danny’s [Daniel Jones] is a guy who is getting better every year,” Allen said. “Last year he was on a big roll, and I want to be part of that and help him be the safety blanket that I am.”

Brian Robinson Drops The Hammer

In the last team period, Falcons backup running back Brian Robinson trucked Colts defensive back Jonathan Owens at the end of a nice run down the left side of the field. It happened right in front of Atlanta’s sideline, so naturally the Falcons were amped. 

A Significant Colts’ Injury To Monitor

Colts star tight end Tyler Warren, who’s been excellent in training camp, sustained a groin injury early in team drills Wednesday and didn’t rejoin practice. After initially leaving the field with trainers, he returned to the sidelines with a wrap around his right thigh. Steichen had no details on the severity of the injury in the immediate aftermath of practice. 

Indianapolis cannot afford another significant injury to a pass-catcher. With Pierce already sidelined, Jones’ list of primary targets is shrinking for the time being. It makes the Allen signing all the more timely. 

Quote Of The Day

Courtesy of Keenan Allen, speaking about Colts coach Steichen: “Genius. He knows what he’s doing and he knows what he’s looking at. He doesn’t just have a coach mindset so to speak. He sees it from a player perspective, from a quarterback perspective.”

NFL Related Stories

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Wednesday in the NFL brought us a little bit of everything. 

Vita Vea and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended their contract dilemma, agreeing to a deal that will make the defensive tackle among the highest-paid players at his position. In terms of on-field matters, the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots had a competitive joint practice just months after the teams agreed to the A.J. Brown trade. 

There’s also plenty of injury news around the league, with the Houston Texans losing a key contributor on offense for the rest of the season. Here’s what you should know about what happened around the NFL on Wednesday. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star defensive tackle Vita Vea reached an agreement on a one-year, $30 million extension, our Greg Auman confirmed on Wednesday.

The deal keeps the two-time Pro Bowler under contract for the next two seasons while giving him a $6 million raise for 2026, boosting his salary to $24 million this year. The extension is fully guaranteed, locking in $48 million over the next two seasons. 

Vea had demanded a trade at the onset of training camp, believing he and the Buccaneers were far off from agreeing to an extension. However, Tampa Bay reportedly had no desire to trade him and now has him under contract as it seeks to make the postseason after falling short last season. 

Vea has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier interior defensive linemen and the centerpiece of head coach Todd Bowles’ defense. Through eight seasons with Tampa Bay, the 347-pound nose tackle has logged 256 total tackles, 35 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He anchored a defense that ranked top-three in total yards allowed from 2019 to 2021 while surrendering just 92.6 rushing yards per game, playing a pivotal role in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had himself a day against the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. Maye reportedly finished the day 16 of 19 and completed 13 consecutive passes.

Maye reportedly spread the ball amongst his receivers, with receptions from Pop Douglas, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, and top offseason acquisition A.J. Brown before orchestrating a crisp two-minute drill that set up a 52-yard field goal from Andy Borregales.

Hurts reportedly went 19 of 27 through the air and threw three interceptions and one of those picks was returned for a touchdown by the Patriots’ defense, according to reporters in attendance. 

Hurts enters a pivotal 2026 season adjusting to offensive coordinator Sean Mannion — his seventh playcaller in seven pro seasons. The quarterback contrast was compounded by Brown, who caught seven total passes from Maye in his first action against his former team. 

Brown also revealed to reporters following Wednesday’s practice that he hasn’t spoken to Hurts, who is the godfather to his daughter, since he was traded to New England in June. 

The Seattle Seahawks secondary added more depth on Wednesday. The Seahawks locked in former All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs on a one-year deal, first reported by ESPN, giving their defense a high-upside playmaker.

Heading into his age-28 season, Diggs is set to play for his third team in less than a year. After spending his first six years with the Dallas Cowboys, Diggs made a brief late-season pit stop with the Green Bay Packers before officially signing with the Seahawks.

The Seahawks also reportedly agreed to a deal to add former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, though the move is on hold. Arnold is expected to head straight for the commissioner’s exempt list since he faces eight felony counts of armed robbery and kidnapping.

Diggs joins a defense already stacked with talent, pairing him with All-Pro Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe at cornerback, while Julian Love and Nick Emmanwori hold down the safety position. His versatility gives them an adaptable weapon to move around the secondary.

The Seahawks aren’t new to building their roster around familiar connections and established culture. 

Diggs was teammates in Dallas with DeMarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler Jr., and Noah Igbinoghene, and he also shared a secondary at Alabama with Jobe under defensive backs coach Karl Scott. It seems that familiarity played a key role in Diggs’ decision to sign.

Under head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks could be the ideal landing spot to revitalize Diggs’ career. He hasn’t reached the same heights since his standout 2021 season with the Cowboys, when he led the league with 11 interceptions.

The Houston Texans’ offense was dealt a tough blow on Wednesday. Tests confirmed that wide receiver Jayden Higgins tore his ACL in Tuesday’s joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders, ending his 2026 season, according to NFL Network.

Higgins’ season-ending injury leaves a gaping hole in the Texans’ passing attack as Tank Dell continues to work his way back to full health. Without Higgins, the team will lean heavily on Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins alongside Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel.

The Texans’ 2025 second-round pick put together a strong rookie season. Higgins hauled in 41 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns while proving to be a consistent playmaker in the offense.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won’t have their projected starting quarterbacks take the field against the New York Jets in their upcoming preseason game. Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph will sit out Friday’s matchup. 

Instead, quarterbacks Will Howard and third-round pick Drew Allar will get the nod against the Jets. Howard is set to start before giving way to Allar as the two battle for the third-string spot and one of them potentially battling for the backup job down the line.

Allar is coming off a strong preseason debut against the Green Bay Packers. After entering in the second half, he completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns, highlighted by a 74-yard strike to Kaden Wetjen.

Howard, a 2025 sixth-round pick out of Ohio State, finds himself in a tight battle to make the final 53-man roster. Allar has a chance to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback as early as next season and McCarthy has been on record calling Allar a first-round talent.

The New Orleans Saints were already signaling a changing of the guard by signing free-agent running back Travis Etienne this offseason. Now, Alvin Kamara is sidelined after suffering an MCL sprain during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, ESPN reported.

Kamara is expected to miss at least a month, putting his status for the start of the season in serious doubt. While Etienne steps into the undisputed lead role, Kamara was still expected to play a role in the Saints’ offense. The five-time Pro Bowler has seen his production dip in New Orleans over recent seasons. In 11 games last season, Kamara posted 471 rushing yards and a single touchdown, adding 33 receptions for 186 receiving yards.

Kamara’s 3.6 yards per carry last season was the lowest mark of his career. Surprisingly, he has never recorded a 1,000-yard rushing season, which is something Etienne has already accomplished in three of his four years in the league.

With Kamara and No. 8 overall pick in wide receiver Jordyn Tyson out to start the year, Chris Olave and Etienne will have to shoulder the load offensively. Head coach Kellen Moore and second-year quarterback Tyler Shough certainly have their work cut out for them.

Injury News & Notes

• Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren left Wednesday’s joint practice early after sustaining an apparent groin injury, head coach Shane Steichen announced.
• Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced that quarterback Bo Nix will play in the team’s preseason Friday against the Green Bay Packers.
• The Indianapolis Colts officially announced the signing of veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen.
• With Christian McCaffrey sidelined for the San Francisco 49ers, third-round Indiana running back Kaelon Black has been taking first-team reps, The Athletic reported.
• Los Angeles Chargers center Tyler Biadasz suffered ACL damage and additional left knee injuries during Tuesday’s joint practice with the 49ers and is out indefinitely, ESPN reported.
• Baltimore Ravens’ potential starting center Danny Pinter was carted off at the joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday morning, per NFL Network.

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