Author: Eternity Lab

Let’s get weird. Let’s get spicy. Let’s get bold.

Could this be the year that running backs go off like it’s 1990? Could this finally be the year that the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys stop messing around? Could the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in rebuild mode?

Yes, yes and yes. At least that’s what I think.

I have some bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season. Twelve of them. Let’s talk ball.

1.

There’s just not a lot of buzz around the Chiefs that makes me feel optimistic. The one really positive preseason storyline — rookie receiver Cyrus Allen — has totally died out. The fifth-round pick played deep into the team’s final preseason game, perhaps indicating he’s not as impressive as the hype made him out to be. The team wants more from him. And offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy made it clear that the team needs a whole lot more from WR1 Rashee Rice. 

Wide receiver Cyrus Allen, a fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati, was a preseason darling for the Chiefs before his storyline faded. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

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Patrick Mahomes will probably play Week 1 despite returning (quickly) from his ACL injury, but it remains to be seen whether his offensive line has improved substantially. And that’ll also dictate whether running back Kenneth Walker III will be as explosive as the Chiefs paid the Super Bowl MVP big money to be. Walker has never been a bell cow, but more than that, he’s never really had to run behind a bad offensive line. That concerns me.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City defense will be without cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, safety Bryan Cook and linebacker Leo Chenal. McDuffie was traded to the Rams and the others left in free agency.

I’ll always fear the Chiefs, because of Mahomes and Andy Reid. But logically, this team can’t possibly make the playoffs, can it?

2.

They invested in their defense by trading for three-time Pro Bowl tackle Dexter Lawrence and signing DT Jonathan Allen, edge Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook in free agency. And in a way, that was the Bengals investing in Joe Burrow — because he’s gotten killed trying to keep breakneck pace with his putrid defense (after years of getting killed behind his crappy offensive line).

Now, it feels like the Bengals have finally turned a corner. They kept Burrow’s weapons on offense. They’ve built a half-decent offensive line. And simultaneously, they’ve invested in defensive playmakers.

It seems like Cincinnati might be excellent this year. It seems like Cincinnati can legitimately contend for a Super Bowl for the first time since … well, since the Bengals made the Super Bowl.

3.

The Patriots have heavily favored Brown during training camp practices. Quarterback Drake Maye has a connection with Brown that typically takes years to develop. And this Patriots passing game feels like it’s on the verge of doing remarkable things.

Brown will be at the center of all of it. He got tired of not getting the ball in Philly. The Patriots will make up for it in spades. Maye is going to feed Brown early and often. The three-time All-Pro is 29 and has a knee issue that might impact his explosiveness down the line, which is all the more reason to get him to the top of the receptions category in 2026.

4.

This passing total would put him into contention to lead the league. And it would make him the first Chicago Bears quarterback to top 4,000 passing yards. Ever. 

I’m not sure that Williams is going to be the total package in 2026. I’m not sure we’ll see his playing style align perfectly with coach Ben Johnson’s scheme at all times. But the QB’s completion percentage will rise above 60%, and that, in itself, will generate more yards. 

Then I think young receivers Luther Burden and Rome Odunze will continue their upward growth, with both players taking major leaps forward this year. Second-year pro Colston Loveland will be a total menace in Johnson’s tight-end-friendly offense. 

Caleb Williams (18), Colston Loveland (84) and Cole Kmet are ready to dial it up in coach Ben Johnson’s tight-end-friendly offense. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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There are a few ways all this could go wrong. And one of the most obvious questions is left tackle, where the Bears were hesitant to name a starter. There’s also the matter of the youngsters on offense; fans and media members are prone to assume they’ll get better, but that doesn’t always happen.

Johnson, however, is what makes everything feel reassuring. If he keeps this offense steady, the Bears will see Caleb’s stats go crazy — and Chicago will make the playoffs again.

5.

This one is an easy pick. The Lions struggled last year while dealing with playcalling issues — and, frankly, some bad luck. But they’ve returned their core while addressing some issues, whether it’s right tackle (with rookie Blake Miller) or secondary (safety Chuck Clark and Christian Izien). Even offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is a compelling candidate in his new gig after putting up video-game numbers with the Cardinals’ offense. 

The Lions are angry and hungry. And they’re simply way, way too talented to stay in the basement of the NFC North.

6.

It’s interesting to see a Jalen Hurts replica starting to appear in the NFC South. Shough is sort of Hurts’ reincarnation, via the voodoo of coach Kellen Moore, who used to be the Eagles’ OC. 

Because Shough looked like he was rapidly ascending at the back end of his rookie season — and because the Saints added first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson (out with a hamstring injury to start the season) — I think he can jump into the top 10 in passing stats.

It’s totally doable. Baker Mayfield was the 10th-best passer in 2025 with 3,693 yards. In 2023, Hurts threw for 3,858 yards under Moore.

The NFC South is winnable, as usual. And I think the New Orleans rebuild starts to go exponential this season, in large part because I believe in the way Moore and Shough are clicking.

7.

This team is going to be bad. Like, tremendously terrible. On Monday, the Dolphins claimed seven players off waivers — effectively wiping away 13% of their current roster (players who actually attended their training camp) to bring in new guys who have never worked in the Miami system.

Think about that for a second. They’d prefer to school up those seven players with just 10 days until the season-opener — rather than keep working with the guys who have spent their entire offseason with the team. 

That reflects extremely poorly on the talent that is and was in Miami. (This shouldn’t come as much of a shock either. The joint practices were bloodbaths, with the Dolphins getting dominated by the Giants and Commanders.)

So they’re in a race with the Browns — to the bottom of the NFL.

8.

This might sound really crazy, but hear me out. The Rams have a mind-bogglingly large number of sack artists. Edge Myles Garrett is the obvious candidate to lead the team — and the league — in sacks. But before last season, when he set the record with 23, he’d had two consecutive seasons of 14 sacks. 

I think it’s possible that’s where he lands in 2025. It might even land lower, given that Rams edge Byron Young had 12 sacks last year. If teams are double-teaming Garrett, which would be reasonable, then that could open up things for Donald. He’s fresh after two seasons in retirement. He’s probably going to play in a pass-rushing-specific role.

It’s reasonable to think he could get 14 sacks this year. And if that’s the case, he could also lead a deep group of L.A. sack artists.

9.

Here’s my list: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, James Cook, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor and either Christian McCaffrey, De’Von Achane or Javonte Williams.

Last year, it was just Cook, Henry and Taylor.

But given how much we’ve seen teams invest in their running backs — with new contracts for Robinson, Gibbs, Achane and Cook — I think they’re going to do what they can to help them succeed. Barkley will be back to being an offensive centerpiece for the Eagles in 2026. And don’t count out second-year Cowboys back Williams, who will likely be the uncontested RB1 on what I expect to be the NFL’s most explosive offense.

10.

I really liked Eagles first-round receiver Makai Lemon to win OROY, but a lingering hamstring issue sidelined him for most of camp, so I’m concerned about how immediately he’ll produce. 

Price, the final pick of the first round, will split touches with George Holani in Seattle’s backfield to start the year because Zach Charbonnet will miss at least the first four games after tearing his ACL in January. And though Charbonnet (and Holani) will probably steal touchdowns, Price is likely to rack up major yardage totals. That should be enough for him to edge any of the receivers and/or No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, whom the Raiders insist they plan to sit behind veteran QB Kirk Cousins this season.

11.

The Raiders will spend this season playing from behind, but I sense that the aborted trade of Crosby to Baltimore in March shifted something in his brain. He seems to have a newfound fire. He might even get traded again before the deadline. 

With ample opportunities and increased intensity, Crosby should be able to tee off on quarterbacks and land at the top of the leaderboard for sacks.

12.

I want to go absolutely nuts and pick the Cowboys for a Super Bowl. But I’m apprehensive about doing that, given how little we know about this defense. We know that Jerry Jones did what he implied he was going to do. He split up the money that he was going to give to Micah Parsons and completely rebuilt the appalling unit using some of the picks he got by trading Parsons.

But I’m not certain that the rebuild on that side of the ball is complete.

I am certain, however, that the Dallas offense is going to be incredible again. And if the defense is even middling, the Cowboys will probably feel some pressure to put up points and yardage totals. It’s going to be fun to watch. They’re going to make the playoffs. And when that happens, Prescott’s numbers and win totals will put him in the MVP race.

NFL Related Stories

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The doubleheader at The Milwaukee Mile was certainly unique.

INDYCAR started a race on Saturday but then had to suspend it because of rain. It then conducted an entire race early Sunday afternoon before finishing the Saturday race in the early evening … on Sunday.

And also unique — Pato O’Ward won both races. That vaulted him back into these power rankings, an indication of how much his season has been a disappointment.

Alex Palou clinched the INDYCAR title to add to his collection of four titles he had earned in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. So you can imagine where he remains in these power rankings.

Here are my power rankings going into the season finale Sunday at Laguna Seca, a road course in Monterey, Calif.

Dropped out: Kyffin Simpson (Last Week: 8)

On the verge: Scott Dixon, Louis Foster, Kyffin Simpson

10.

Power did not have a good day at Milwaukee, as he had a pit-road speeding penalty in the Sunday race and then wrecked when trying to get by Nolan Siegel in the finale Sunday night. 

9.

Newgarden wrecked in the Sunday race and then rebounded to finish seventh in the finale Sunday evening. He had hoped for more at a short oval but he was never all that happy with the car.

8.

Ericsson, who had a win and a fourth in his last two starts, had a ninth and an eighth in the two Milwaukee races. It wasn’t great, but it was a pair of respectable days. It also helps that he was the best Andretti Global car in the finale. 

7.

VeeKay enjoyed his first podium on an oval. He finished third on Sunday evening, which was a great result and not a total surprise after he finished seventh — and led 25 laps — in the race Sunday afternoon.

6.

What a weekend for O’Ward. He swept Milwaukee and became the first driver to win two races in one day since 1981. That was back when the series had some regularly scheduled “twin” sprint races. He had four finishes outside the top 10 in his last seven starts before Milwaukee.

5.

Following his victory at Washington, Kirkwood’s weekend got off to a sour start with a wreck with Christian Rasmussen in practice Friday. He was sixth and 15th, dropping to third in the standings.

4.

Malukas had a solid weekend with a fourth and a second, but the second was a disappointment when he lost the lead in the finale on the last restart. But that gives him eight top-five finishes in the 17 races this year.

3.

McLaughlin also had a second and a fourth in the two Milwaukee events. For a driver who hasn’t won in two years, it’s good to know you are knocking on the door. He has six top-five finishes this year.

2.

Lundgaard had a third and a sixth in the Milwaukee races. Quite good for someone who has had his oval performance questioned. 

1.

Does it matter where he finished at Milwaukee? A fifth and 10th were high enough for him to clinch his fourth consecutive crown and his fifth in the last six years. One day, he won’t be No. 1 at the end of a season, but it’s hard to see when that day will come. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Àlex Palou has officially secured the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, locking up the Astor Challenge Cup in the final leg of a Sunday doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are slowly getting back to full strength.

The Dodgers announced on Tuesday afternoon that they’ve activated catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and left-hander Justin Wrobleski from the injured list. They also added infielder Alex Freeland to the MLB roster.

To make room on the roster for the aforementioned returnees, the Dodgers sent outfielder Alek Thomas and catcher Ben Rortvedt — whom they acquired from the New York Mets before the MLB trade deadline — to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Smith, an All-Star in each of the last three complete seasons (2023-25), hasn’t played for the Dodgers since June 5 due to a neck injury. Over the 52 games Smith has appeared in this season, he has totaled six home runs, 23 RBIs and a 101 OPS+, while sporting a .249/.338/.382 slash line.

Rushing, who took Smith’s place as the team’s everyday catcher in the wake of his neck injury, hasn’t played since Aug. 1 due to an arm injury. Across 74 games, Rushing has logged 12 home runs, 36 RBIs, a 123 OPS+ and 1.4 wins above replacement, while possessing a .253/.335/.475 slash line.

Wrobleski hasn’t made a start for the Dodgers since Aug. 15, as he dealt with a forearm injury. The left-hander was an All-Star this year and boasted a 2.62 ERA entering his July 28 outing before posting a combined 8.69 ERA over his ensuing four starts, with a stint on the 15-day injured list following. In all, Wrobleski has recorded a 3.56 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, a 114 ERA+ and two wins above replacement across 126 ⅓ innings pitched (20 starts/21 appearances).

The Dodgers could soon have their full starting rotation. Fellow left-hander Blake Snell is four starts back from elbow surgery, and right-hander Tyler Glasnow was activated last week after back spasms kept him off the mound for manager Dave Roberts for roughly 15 weeks.

The next piece in the puzzle for the Dodgers’ rotation could be Shohei Ohtani, as the two-way superstar hasn’t pitched since July 3 due to knee inflammation and is also dealing with a biceps issue. Granted, Ohtani has continued to be the team’s primary designated hitter.

Los Angeles is the No. 2 seed in the National League at 82-55, good for a half-game lead on the Atlanta Braves (82-56) for the second wild-card round bye and good for being 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (85-53) for the best record in the NL. The Dodgers also hold a 9.5-game lead on the San Diego Padres (73-65) for first place in the NL West.

Los Angeles opens a three-game series at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

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Who has the best chance to win the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series title?

Welcome to the FOX Sports Contender Rankings. Now that the regular season is over, the focus is on the 16 drivers in The Chase.

I have ranked the top-10 contenders based on what I believe their chances are to win the title and will update each week with a short outlook to the upcoming track.

On The Verge (Alphabetical Order):

Chris Buescher (RFK Racing No. 17 Ford, -70 points behind leader): He’s too inconsistent. He nearly won at Darlington in 2024 but has just one top five there in Next Gen era.

William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, -85): He just hasn’t had the pace this year. Maybe Darlington, where he won in May 2023, will be the place he finds it.

Austin Cindric (Team Penske 2 Ford, -95): His fifth place at Darlington earlier this year was his first top 10, so if he can get off to a good start, maybe he can be a factor.

Ryan Preece (RFK Racing No. 60 Ford, -100): He vaulted himself into The Chase but does that make him a contender? He has never had a top 10 in Darlington.

Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevy, -75): He only has seven top 10s this year and will need more than that over the next 10 races to win the title (and has just two career top 10s at Darlington).

Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing No. 23 Toyota, -90): He has been so up and down, so who knows? He has potential at Darlington with five top 10s.

Contender Rankings

10.

Hocevar could just as easily finish in the top five in the standings as he could 16th. He has speed and an aggressive attitude, which pays dividends but can also be costly. He has a ninth and a fourth in his last two Darlington starts.

9.

Logano is a three-time Cup champion and knows how to handle the pressure. The question is whether he has enough speed. He won the first Next Gen race at Darlington in 2022 but has only one top 10 in his last eight starts there and was awful there in April.

8.

Elliott has led laps in just three of the last nine races, and that likely won’t be enough to be a threat. He doesn’t have a top five in Darlington in his last eight starts, so getting off to a good start in the Chase could be a challenge.

7.

Larson’s winless streak has reached 50 races. What’s wild is he has led 659 laps this year without a victory. He will likely need some fortune and others to have some misfortune to have a shot at the title, but his resume includes wins at eight of the 10 Chase tracks. He won at Darlington in 2023, but it’s also a place where he’s visited the medical center a little more than he would like.

6.

Gibbs just probably needs a little more experience and a little more polish to challenge for The Chase title. He was second at Darlington in May 2024 and was sixth in April, so if he can start off strong, he could be more of a factor.

5.

Briscoe tends to hang around to give himself a chance, and this JGR No. 19 team is well tested in the postseason. He has won the last two Southern 500s, although he was 12th at this track in the spring. 

4.

Reddick is a two-time O’Reilly Series champion, so he is used to performing under pressure. The question is can he regain the momentum he had when he won the first three races of 2026 and then added two more to give him five wins in the first nine events. One of those was Darlington, so he has to feel good with The Chase starting there.

3.

The 2023 Cup champion has consistently been the best Ford this year with three victories. He was third at Darlington in the spring for his best finish ever at the track. His pit crew has not always performed to a championship level, and that could be the key. He also needs to keep earning stage points, as he has earned the most of any driver in the regular season.

2.

Bell doesn’t have a win this year but he already has a career-best 11 top-five finishes — including seven second-place finishes this year. He has been more consistent in racking up the stage points as of late, and he will need to continue to do that in The Chase. He has mixed results at Darlington, where he finished third in the 2024 Southern 500.

1.

Hamlin saw his 89-point regular-season lead on Ryan Blaney cut to 25 as part of The Chase reset and that was after having at least a 250-point gap on all but Blaney, Reddick and Gibbs. So he is the favorite going into The Chase. Hamlin has a win and three top fives in the Next Gen era at Darlington. He has won at all of The Chase tracks in his career. 

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The Los Angeles Rams have had just about the perfect offseason.

After coming up just short in a heartbreaking NFC Championship Game loss to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks, the Rams have gone all in once again.

Los Angeles acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade that sent Jared Verse and three draft picks to Cleveland. The Rams then acquired Super Bowl-winning cornerback Trent McDuffie for their 2026 first-round pick, before capping off the offseason by bringing franchise sack leader Aaron Donald back from retirement.

Sheesh. 

And it’s not like the Rams were far away before those additions. Los Angeles was arguably the second-best team in the NFL last season, losing twice in Seattle by a combined five points. The Rams also had one of the league’s most dominant offenses, leading the NFL in scoring (30.5 PPG), total offense (394.6 YPG), net passing offense (268.1 YPG), passing touchdowns (46), total first downs (396) and fewest sacks allowed (23). 

They also ranked seventh in rushing offense (126.6 YPG, 4.63 YPC) and fourth in fewest giveaways (15).

Now, that team adds arguably the best defensive player in football in Garrett, one of the league’s top cornerbacks in McDuffie, and one of the greatest defensive players of the past decade in Donald, who helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl title four years ago.

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With a loaded roster comes massive expectations, and the betting market has taken notice.

Heading into Week 1, the Rams are clear favorites at +500 to lift the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium in February. The Seahawks and Bills have the next-best odds at +1100, a remarkably wide gap considering the regular season hasn’t even begun.

That should be a great sign for a Los Angeles team that has gone all in, right?

Well, history tells a much different story.

According to senior sports betting analyst Ben Fawkes, over the past 30 years, the preseason Super Bowl favorite has entered the season at +500 or shorter odds 20 times.

Those teams went 0-for-20.

According to Sports Odds History, here’s the full list:

2024: KC +500
2021: KC +450
2020: KC +450
2019: NE +400
2017: NE +275
2015: SEA +450
2014: SEA +450
2011: NE +500
2009: NE +450
2008: NE +350
2007: NE +250
2005: IND/NE/PHI +500
2004: PHI +500
2002: STL +350
2001: STL +400
2000: STL +300
1999: MIN +450
1998: GB +250
1997: GB +250
1996: SF +250

The Rams certainly look like a Super Bowl favorite on paper, but if they are going to finish the job in 2026, they’ll have to buck a betting trend that has held up for three decades.

So, can Los Angeles finally break the curse?

Let’s check out the Rams’ full 2026 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 1.

To Win Super Bowl: +500

To Win NFC: +290

To Make Playoffs: -460

Over/Under Win Total: 11.5

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College football kicked off last weekend with Bill Belichick and North Carolina surprising TCU as 9-point underdogs, winning in Ireland in the first game of the 2026 season. 

With the focus of this column once a week being on dangerous underdogs who have a chance to defy the odds and get a win, perhaps another ACC team can follow suit and surprise their favored opponent this weekend. 

On Sunday night, No. 24 Louisville is a 7-point underdog for its opener, as the Cardinals take on No. 9 Ole Miss in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Let’s get into my pick.

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  No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss

Ole Miss returns star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy from last year’s College Football Playoff semifinals, as the Rebs eye a return to the CFP.

However, playing into January once again will not be an easy task for Ole Miss. 

A rigorous 2026 schedule awaits the team, starting with this clash against a Louisville team that has a chance to possibly flirt with a trip of its own to the Playoff.

Louisville will turn to Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz at quarterback, a dual-threat player who finally gets an opportunity to start after throwing just 36 passes in his career so far. The former four-star recruit getting his chance provides some reason for optimism for Louisville, but it’s Kienholz’s coach that points me to the underdog here. 

Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm is 37-15 against the spread (ATS) in his career when his team is an underdog, as it will be Sunday night. He will also have the experience edge over his counterpart on the opposing sidelines, as Ole Miss’ coach Pete Golding took over for Lane Kiffin just last December after Kiffin left to coach LSU. 

Louisville has a solid running back in Isaac Brown, who topped 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2024 and likely would have eclipsed that mark in 2025 if not for injuries. The Cardinals also scooped up some offensive line help in the transfer portal. It’s a new group that brings with it 142 combined career starts.

Overall, it’s a new-look Louisville roster, but with the players the Cardinals added and a coach who thrives as an underdog, I like Louisville to make an early statement Sunday night against a very talented Ole Miss squad.

Hill’s Pick: Louisville (+7) to lose by fewer than 7 points or win outright

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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs still has the support of his coach and general manager, who remain optimistic the three-time Pro Bowl selection will come off the commissioner’s exempt list, where he was placed after being charged with two misdemeanors, and play sometime this season.

“There were many conversations obviously and certainly don’t know all the details, but what he tells me, I believe him and I trust him,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday. “I’m going to do that until proven otherwise.”

General manager Brian Gutekunst said he is hopeful the running back will return before the end of the season. “But we’re going to let this process play out, and we’ll be prepared either way,” Gutekunst said.

Gutekunst said he hasn’t seen the video that the Brown County (Wisconsin) District Attorney’s office says it has as evidence corroborating statements made by Jacobs’ girlfriend regarding their May 23 altercation. Jacobs, who was arrested May 26, faces misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property in that incident.

District Attorney David Lasee announced last Thursday that the charges were being filed. Three days later, the NFL put Jacobs on the commissioner’s list, which prevents him from playing or practicing but allows him to keep receiving a paycheck.

Upon request and with the club’s permission, Jacobs may be allowed at the club’s facility for meetings, individual workouts, therapy and rehabilitation and other permitted non-football activities.

Jacobs is on the list while the NFL investigates his situation and he could face a suspension by the league. Any games he misses while on the exempt list would count toward his suspension, but he would also have to repay the money he earned while on the exempt list

LaFleur said the Packers were prepared for the possibility Jacobs might get placed on the list.

“I’ve seen this guy,” LaFleur said. “I’ve got a love and care and respect for how he is as a person, who he is as a teammate. Obviously a very unfortunate situation, but one that we have to deal with.”

Jacobs’ lawyers — David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III — have noted that the move to the commissioner’s exempt list is an administrative decision made while a matter is under review and “is not a final determination.” They added that Jacobs “looks forward to his return to the team and the NFL.”

Hobart-Lawrence police officers who responded to the May 23 call said Jacobs’ girlfriend told them she had a lump on her head as a result of Jacobs’ actions.

Police said the woman said she had been looking through Jacobs’ phone and saw he was talking to other women, and that she threw the phone in anger without breaking it. She told police that Jacobs had her phone and she told him he could look through it.

According to police, the woman indicated she tried to retrieve her phone from Jacobs, but he didn’t return it and instead grabbed her arm and began a struggle that lasted several minutes. They then left the home in separate vehicles before eventually returning.

Police said the woman was trying to exit a garage door to get outside when Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground, causing her to hit her head. Police said Jacobs also took the phone from her while she was on the ground.

According to the criminal complaint filed last week, surveillance footage from the camera system in the garage backed up the woman’s statement.

“We have not seen the video,” Gutekunst said. “Those are legal things going on right now, so we’ll let those play out. … But in the appropriate times, if those things become available, we’ll figure that stuff out when that time comes.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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The Houston Texans won’t extend current contract negotiations with quarterback C.J. Stroud into the season. 

General manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday that if the club can’t reach an agreement with Stroud before the Sept. 13 opener against Buffalo that it will pause all talks until next offseason. Houston has already picked up Stroud’s fifth-year option, meaning it has him under team control through 2027.

Caserio said at the start of training camp in late July that there was a chance the sides could come to terms on an extension but no deal appears to be imminent. Stroud is 28-18 and led the Texans to the playoffs in each of the three seasons since Houston took him No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft. 

The AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 completed a career-best 64% of his passes in 2025 as Houston went 12-5 and advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs. Stroud struggled in a postseason loss in New England, throwing four interceptions in a 28-16 defeat.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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As an Argentine international, this may be the end for Lionel Messi — and I say “may be” because he has retired in the past, but this seems to be much more of a true retirement from Argentina.

There are so many different directions and so many different questions that come up when it comes to what Messi did specifically for Argentina.

At the beginning of his career, yes, he was there, but it was always in the context of Diego Maradona — comparing and contrasting, and all of that. Now, in the eyes of many and certainly in younger generations, he has gone to be the GOAT — not just the GOAT of Argentina, but the GOAT in general, and I think it’s completely fair to argue that.

Which brings up question after question of: Will we ever see someone like this again? And the answer to that, very simply, is: Yes, we will.

(Photo by Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Messi, in 207 games, scored 125 goals, including 21 goals in the World Cup, which is second all-time to Kylian Mbappé. So, in that sense, we already have seen someone prolific, in terms of scoring goals.

But the impact and legendary status because of what he did, especially looking like a guy you would see just walking down the street and yet being this larger than life type of figure, I don’t know when we’ll see someone exactly like him, in the way that he plays and what he has done,

If time is the same as any test, yes, someone will come and do things that we didn’t dream were possible in the way that Messi did, or in a different way.

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Joey Porter Jr.’s balky back felt good enough to return to practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday.

At the moment, his health appears to be the least of his concerns.

The fourth-year cornerback didn’t commit to playing in Pittsburgh’s season opener against Atlanta on Sept. 13 if he and the team can’t come to terms on a new contract.

“I don’t know,” Porter said. “I’ve got to talk to (the front office) and my agents about that one.”

The 26-year-old is entering the final season of the rookie contract he signed after being selected with the first pick of the second round in 2023. He said during minicamp in June that he believes he’s one of the best defensive backs in the league and is confident that he’ll be compensated that way.

Three months later, Porter has yet to put pen to paper.

While general manager Omar Khan said Monday he wants Porter — the son of former Steelers linebacker and coach Joey Porter Sr. — to be in Pittsburgh for the entirety of his career, it doesn’t feel as if the two sides are particularly close.

Porter, who hasn’t allowed a touchdown pass while being the primary defender since his rookie season, essentially grew up in the Steelers locker room. His ties to the organization are deep, which has made the process of separating the business side of things difficult.

“It’s been tough, I’m not going to lie, and it’s my first go-around with this,” Porter said. “But I mean, it’s been also great because I have all my guys with me, all the coaches and players really are on my side.”

Veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey recently said it was time for the Steelers to pay Porter, though first-year coach Mike McCarthy described the two sides as at an impasse.

Asked if he hopes something gets done with the opener less than two weeks away, Porter shrugged.

“I could hope and think all day, but it’s really, it’s up to (the front office) and what they want to do with this team,” he said. “So all I can do is just show up every day to work and be prepared.”

Pittsburgh has already handed out new deals to several other members of the 2023 draft class, including linebacker Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington. Porter said he’s happy for his teammates and has no issue with the team taking care of them.

“Those are my guys,” Porter said. “So I was ecstatic that they got paid.”

The Steelers have a long-held policy of not negotiating once the regular season begins, meaning there is a firm deadline in place.

It’s not unusual for Pittsburgh to put things together at the last minute. Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt agreed to terms less than 72 hours before the opening kickoff in Week 1 of the 2021 season.

“Things carry out a long time,” Porter said. “I know T.J. went through this. Cam Heyward went through this as well. So I never really had a clock on it. If it gets done, it gets done. If it don’t, it don’t.”

Heyward said his advice to Porter was “don’t take it personal, but you will.” Though the seven-time Pro Bowler added he is not worried about the contract being an issue whenever Porter takes the field.

“I think every player in there says Joey’s got to do what’s best for him and Joey’s got to be ready for Week 1, and hopefully we can celebrate a new contract for him,” Heyward said.

Though he’s been limited by a back issue that cropped up during a mobility test when the team reported to training camp in late July, Porter has been in the classroom studying up on first-year defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s approach.

Porter stressed the injury was the sole reason for his absence during camp, and Heyward believes whenever Porter gets out there he’ll be ready to continue on the trajectory that’s made him one of the better man-to-man defenders in the league.

“We’re expecting him to be the Joey of usual,” Heyward said. “I don’t think there’s going to be a drop-off. I think we’ve all got to be ready to welcome him back.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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