NEW YORK — It’s the fifth inning at Citi Field. The Brewers are leading the majors in wins, and they’re leading this particular Tuesday night game against the Mets by a run when Cooper Pratt pops one up to shallow right field. 

Pratt stood in the box and briefly looked up at the ball sailing beyond first base and toward the foul line. After a beat, he jogged to first base. The ball dropped between three Mets fielders, and Pratt took a big turn, thought about going to second, but ultimately stayed put. Behind him, Brewers first base coach Spencer Allen was visibly upset. But as Pratt turned around and stepped on the bag, Brewers skipper Pat Murphy had already sent David Hamilton out to run for him. 

Milwaukee’s rookie shortstop, who recently signed an eight-year contract worth just north of $50 million, was yanked in a one-run game in August. 

“It will never happen again,” Pratt said after the Brewers’ extra-inning loss that he watched from the dugout. “I’ve got to be better. It’s stuff that can’t happen. It’s not winning baseball.”

(Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

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In the third inning, Pratt also twice failed to execute a bunt attempt. So, Murphy’s decision to bench Pratt was supposed to be a lesson about focus. The real lesson might be that Milwaukee has been teaching this same class for a while now. The final exam is still the one they failed last October. 

The Brewers (83-51) have the best record in baseball. Again. They had it last year too, finishing at 97-65, and it meant nothing once the Dodgers swept them out of the NLCS. 

So a 22-year-old shortstop getting benched for not immediately jogging to first and failing a bunt attempt isn’t really about Pratt. It’s a proxy for the heavy expectations that are hanging over a winning organization that’s routinely punching above its weight. It’s about accountability. 

“I’m not trying to be Johnny hard-ass here,” Murphy said. “It’s just, for a young player coming into the league, you have to build habits.”

(Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Does accountability during a Tuesday night in August actually translate into a different result in October? Or are Murphy’s Brewers just doing what Murphy’s Brewers always do, right up until the games matter most?

Ironically, Hamilton – Pratt’s replacement — made a throwing error in the 10th inning that allowed the Mets to walk it off with a victory. So it was the rookie’s replacement who made the costlier mistake. Murphy later said, after watching the video, that Pratt’s lack of hustle on the bloop single wasn’t as egregious as he initially perceived. 

“It’s for the player and the team,” Murphy said. “I love [Pratt] and I believe in the kid immensely. But he’s got to be a player who does those things. He’s not going to hit 30 homers at this point in his career. He’s a great defender and a really capable offensive player, and he can’t have that. It’s just not tolerated by anybody, and it sends a message to everybody else, too. You’ve got to run.”

(Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Murphy has a reputation of benching players or yanking them mid-game to enforce things like hustle and fundamentals. He once benched right fielder Sal Frelick for missing the cutoff man. This year, he pulled left-hander Robert Gasser mid-count after he fell behind against Randy Arozarena. This isn’t new. Murphy has no tolerance for physical or mental lapses. 

Still, Pratt’s benching was received differently than some of the other examples. This isn’t May. It’s August in a division race that’s all but decided. The Brewers are getting prepared to battle in October, aiming to reach the World Series for the first time since their lone appearance in 1982. The conversation in the clubhouse afterward was just that. After Pratt handled his mistake like a pro in front of the cameras, his teammates reiterated that Murphy’s discipline was more about World Series preparation.

“In my personal opinion, I don’t really think it had a whole lot to do with not going to second there,” unofficial Brewers captain Christian Yelich said on Wednesday. “I think it was a culmination of events with a greater goal in mind for six weeks from now, if you want my honest opinion on it.”

Disciplining a lack of hustle and focus earlier in the season is easier to do. But disciplining approach and performance under playoff pressure is much more difficult, and that’s what cost Milwaukee last October.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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The Brewers were bounced in four games by Los Angeles in a painful NLCS sweep last year. There were no signature moments, just a complete absence of the Brewers’ brand of baseball. That typically includes no power, plenty of runs, lots of walks, and a high contact rate. Murphy and the Brew Crew, after being eliminated from the postseason, claimed they were emotionally “zapped” by their dramatic and demanding NLDS against their division-rival Cubs.

“It was a heavy series. It was a long series. It was a hard series,” Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers told me of last year’s NLDS against the Cubs. “We celebrated it hard. And then two days later, we had to play the Dodgers. What I learned, personally, was that we need to treat these games, regardless of who we’re playing, just as games. We can’t lose sight of the ultimate goal. 

“But I think along the way, you kind of get wrapped up in how emotional it was. And then there’s not enough time to recover from that, recharge. So you lose focus a little bit. Once you lose focus in the playoffs, it’s near impossible to recapture that.”

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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The Brewers are doing it again this year. They’re preaching focus and accountability all season, and it’s not clear what will actually stop them from being outclassed by star power and playoff experience in a seven-game series. Hustling out of the box is not the same as hitting home runs off the best rotation in baseball. 

We didn’t get to see Milwaukee stick to their usual winning approach against the reigning champions last year, since they were emotionally drained by the time they faced the Dodgers. If they meet again this October, the Brewers have to demonstrate that grinding out at-bats, being last in home runs, near the top of the league in strikeouts thrown, and their small-ball identity can actually hold up against elite bullpens. We already know their brand of ball works against a random Tuesday rotation arm in August. 

“I don’t think you can prevent it or play any less intensely,” Murphy told me of how the Brewers can avoid being exhausted after the first round of the playoffs. “But I think awareness is big. You don’t plan for it now. It’s just there. So when the time comes, be prepared.”

Are there reasons to believe things will be different this postseason? 

Their pitching staff has remained elite despite trading away a key piece in Freddy Peralta. Emerging arms like NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski have stepped up, and it will be fascinating to see how opposing hitters approach his relentless triple-digit heaters in October. The rotation’s 3.47 ERA is ranked third in the majors behind the Yankees and Tigers. The bullpen’s 3.29 ERA is also ranked third in MLB. 

But when president of baseball operations Matt Arnold had the chance to give the Brewers the undisputed best rotation in baseball by trading for Tarik Skubal, he blew it. Instead of being super aggressive, putting their top farm system to use at the trade deadline, Arnold & Co. settled for right-hander Dustin May, while Skubal went to Hollywood. With Skubal and Misiorowski leading the pitching staff, the Brewers would’ve become the favorites to win the World Series.

(Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

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The organization, at least, is a full year removed from the Dodgers loss, with lessons learned, and Murphy, the back-to-back NL Manager of the Year, has had plenty of time to recalibrate what it means to be playoff-ready. The clubhouse has fully bought in to Murphy’s team culture, evidenced by Pratt’s display of accountability, and his Brewers teammates who spoke to the rookie in the dugout immediately after he was benched. 

“Coming from a guy who’s been benched multiple times by Murph, it’s not always 100 percent directed at the person getting benched, and there’s a thousand different reasons,” Frelick said on Wednesday. “From the past, when I’ve seen guys get benched, including myself, it’s usually when a few days have piled on of not [playing] to that standard. A message needs to be sent. I don’t think anybody was surprised when it happened last night.”

Pratt says it won’t happen again. That’s fine, but the Brewers said something like that about themselves last October too, and it happened again anyway, just in a different form. The only version of this story that matters is the one written in the Fall Classic. Everything before that is just Milwaukee grading its own homework.

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The final week of the NFL preseason is underway, and some quarterbacks are making some strong final impressions before the regular season gets started.

Both Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson and Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel had standout showings, while Las Vegas Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza didn’t have as great a night. Beyond the gridiron, there were multiple deals done on Thursday in the NFC West as the Rams and the Seattle Seahawks prepare for the year ahead. 

Here are the headlines you need to know from Thursday around the NFL. 

After plenty of speculation and criticism surrounding his selection at No. 13 overall, quarterback Ty Simpson continued his strong preseason on Thursday.

Simpson led the Rams to three scoring drives against the Los Angeles Chargers, completing 18 of 23 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown while adding 11 yards on the ground.

Head coach Sean McVay still hasn’t officially named a backup quarterback behind MVP Matthew Stafford. Stetson Bennett has been in the system for a few years, but with Simpson continuing to impress, he’s certainly made a case for himself to be considered for the job. 

The Las Vegas Raiders played their starters against the San Francisco 49ers, and veteran Kirk Cousins once again looked every bit the part.

However, the story was completely different for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. For the second consecutive week, the former Indiana star and Heisman Trophy winner struggled on the field, throwing another interception.

Mendoza took over late in the first quarter and played into the third. He completed just 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards and a pick. 

Head coach Klint Kubiak has been on record all offseason favoring a redshirt year for Mendoza to learn behind Kirk Cousins. So, Thursday’s performance might not mean much for Mendoza in the long run.

The Cleveland Browns named veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson their Week 1 starter earlier this week, with Shedeur Sanders winning the backup job. With the top two spots solidified, former third-round pick Dillon Gabriel had a clear runway to show he’s worthy of being Cleveland’s third-string quarterback.

Gabriel completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns against the New England Patriots on Thursday night. It’s unclear if head coach Todd Monken plans to carry three quarterbacks this season, leaving both Gabriel’s roster spot and the future of Arkansas rookie Taylen Green up in the air.

If Gabriel wanted to establish himself as a viable option at some point this season, he certainly proved it. If he’s not in the long-term plans for the Browns, he might have put enough on film to show the other 31 teams in the league that he’s worth a serious look ahead of final roster cuts.

The Seattle Seahawks agreed to a three-year, $90 million contract extension with defensive lineman Leonard Williams on Thursday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $30 million, tying Williams with Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea for fifth-highest among interior defensive linemen. Williams was entering the final year of a three-year, $64.5 million contract.

The 32-year-old earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025 after recording seven sacks, 62 combined tackles, and 58 quarterback pressures. 

Originally selected sixth overall by the New York Jets in the 2015 NFL Draft, Williams was acquired by Seattle from the New York Giants during the 2023 season. The extension follows major offseason deals by Seattle for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

The Miami Dolphins agreed to trade wide receiver Tutu Atwell back to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for running back Jarquez Hunter on Thursday. 

The move reunites Atwell with the Rams five months after he departed Los Angeles in free agency to sign a one-year contract with Miami in March.

Atwell was originally selected by the Rams in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and appeared in 64 games over four seasons with the franchise. He rejoins head coach Sean McVay’s offense to complement a receiving room featuring Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. 

Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round pick out of Auburn who appeared in five games as a rookie, joins Miami to provide depth in the backfield. The Rams open their regular season against San Francisco on Sept. 10, while Miami opens against Las Vegas on Sept. 13.

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are both navigating contract standoffs with their young star cornerbacks ahead of the regular season, according to ESPN.

The Patriots and cornerback Christian Gonzalez remain far apart in negotiations despite early optimism, ESPN reported Thursday. Patriots owner Robert Kraft previously said the team offered a deal to make Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in team history, but Devon Witherspoon’s four-year, $132 million contract extension with Seattle raised the market benchmark. 

Gonzalez admitted this week that the process has been “frustrating.” He has two years remaining on his rookie deal. 

Meanwhile, the Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter do not appear close to a contract extension either, according to ESPN. Porter remains on Pittsburgh’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a back injury as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. 

Injury News & Notes

• Tennessee Titans wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson is being evaluated for a concussion after what head coach Robert Saleh labeled a “cheap” hit during a joint practice with the Chicago Bears.
• Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played against the Rams during Thursday night’s preseason finale. He led a scoring drive on his only series of action, completing a 65-yard touchdown to wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
• Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters that wide receiver Keenan Allen and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner will play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
• The Colts are officially activating wide receiver Alec Pierce from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.

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The Cincinnati Reds visit the San Francisco Giants on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. PT from Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA.

The San Francisco Giants enter at 52-78 (.400), while the Cincinnati Reds sit at 62-69 (.473). Carson Whisenhunt (3-4, 7.03 ERA in 32 innings) takes the mound for the Giants, opposed by Chase Burns (14-2, 2.52 ERA in 136 innings).

Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch Reds vs. Giants

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• When: Monday, August 24, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. PT
• Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
• TV: FS1
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOX Sports

Players to Watch

The Reds have a clear advantage on the mound with Chase Burns. The projected starter enters at 14-2 with a 2.52 ERA, 159 strikeouts over 136 innings, a 1.11 WHIP and a .208 opponent batting average. He has also delivered 11 quality starts.

Burns will face a Giants lineup that ranks 10th in batting average at .247 but owns an MLB-low .305 on-base percentage. If he attacks the strike zone and gets ahead early, San Francisco could have a difficult time building sustained offense. Another strong start would give Cincinnati a chance to take control from the opening innings.

Elly De La Cruz can take over a game with his power, speed or both. He is batting .262 with 21 home runs, 58 RBI and 22 stolen bases this season. He also enters the matchup with momentum after going 4-for-6 with a homer, a double and four runs scored Saturday against Arizona.

De La Cruz draws a favorable matchup against projected Giants starter Carson Whisenhunt, who has allowed opponents to bat .300 while posting a 1.84 WHIP over 32 innings. San Francisco has also surrendered 105 stolen bases this season. If De La Cruz reaches base, the pressure starts immediately.

Rafael Devers remains San Francisco’s biggest threat in the middle of the order. He leads the club with 26 home runs and 70 RBI—production the Giants badly need from a lineup that ranks 27th in the majors in RBI. With Bryce Eldridge expected to miss the series, even more of the offensive responsibility falls on Devers.

The challenge is significant against Burns, who has consistently limited damage. But Devers gives the Giants their best chance to change the game with one swing. If he can punish an early mistake or force Burns to work deep into counts, San Francisco has a chance to keep things close.

The game could turn quickly depending on how Carson Whisenhunt handles Cincinnati’s lineup. The projected starter is 3-4 with a 7.03 ERA, 23 strikeouts over 32 innings, a 1.84 WHIP and a .300 opponent batting average. He is still searching for his first quality start.

Cincinnati can attack in several ways. The Reds rank sixth in the majors with 169 home runs and have added 89 stolen bases, giving them the power and speed to capitalize on nearly any mistake. Whisenhunt must limit traffic, navigate the top of the order and keep the ball in the park. If he does, the Giants can stay within striking distance.

Reds vs. Giants Odds

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Two weeks of preseason games are in the books, and we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

This past week’s slate of preseason games, plus joint practices, brought us more glimpses of what we could expect to see in the regular season. But it brought some drama, too. Deshaun Watson was named the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback on Monday after making pointed remarks to the team’s fans following his lackluster performance on Saturday. There’s also an unusual storyline developing with players who might wind up playing college football in the next couple of weeks. 

So, with only one more preseason week to go, here are our takeaways from the latest slate of preseason games. 

1. Deshaun Watson Didn’t Deserve The Starting Job In Cleveland. He Got It Anyway.

Deshaun Watson was booed after completing just 5 of 12 passes in the Browns’ preseason game against the Bills on Saturday. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

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Ralph Vacchiano: Deshaun Watson showed everyone on Saturday why he shouldn’t be the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, with a terrible on-field performance and an even worse one off the field.

Then, Todd Monken gave him the job anyway. 

Maybe that’s a sign that the new Browns coach had nothing but bad options in his quarterback competition, but his choice still couldn’t have been any worse. He went with a 30-year-old who’ll surely be an ex-Brown next season over a somewhat promising young quarterback, Shedeur Sanders. And he did it two days after Watson was terrible in a preseason game against the Bills (5 of 12 for 36 yards and an interception) and then showed an incredible lack of self-awareness (and an abundance of immaturity) when he whined about being booed.

“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do with the performance,” Watson said. “It’s a little more personal than that. So, I think that’s a disrespectful thing.”

OK, that’s a little rich and a lot outrageous, coming from the man who got the biggest fully-guaranteed contract in NFL history from the Browns in 2022 (five years, $230 million) even though he hadn’t played in two years and was accused of sexual misconduct by 27 women. He then rewarded that startling generosity by only being healthy enough to play in 19 games over the last four seasons — and not particularly well, either.

Even without that bad moment, though, Monken still made the wrong choice. The coach had been leaning this way, multiple team sources told me, in part because the Browns’ early schedule is overloaded with road games (their first two and six of their first nine), and Monken thought Watson’s veteran presence would help his young team. But Watson’s play didn’t warrant that faith. He was just 16 of 27 for 162 yards and an interception in two preseason games. His passer rating of 61.0 was even a notch below Sanders’ 65.2.

So while it’s true that there was no good option here, it’s also true that really is no upside to Watson, who is understandably reviled by what seems to be a majority of the Browns’ fan base. Starting Sanders at least would’ve given them hope that he can get better, something to look forward to other than the QB-rich 2027 draft.

Instead, Monken latched on to the anchor that has been scraping the Browns along rock bottom for the last five years. Sanders will surely get a shot later this season. But as usual in Cleveland, any hope for the future is delayed.

2. Yes, The Pipeline To The Pros Goes Both Ways

Jack Pyburn, who is on the Buccaneers, is one of a handful of NFL players who are in college football’s transfer portal. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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Greg Auman: The most backwards trend of the NFL preseason? Marginal players testing the waters of playing in NFL preseason games and  … going back to college.

It seems impossible, but these days, if you can get a judge to rule the right way, traditional lines of amateurism and eligibility can disappear. The NCAA’s shift to a five-year eligibility model wasn’t intended to be backdated for athletes who had exhausted their window – and signed a pro contract, gotten paid and even played for NFL teams.

But that’s really happening, leaving general managers to wonder if they’ll lose players off their roster to the allure of NIL money from colleges. Tight end Dae’Quan Wright, an undrafted rookie with the Browns, put his name in the transfer portal. Cleveland has since waived him, setting him up to play for LSU this fall.

“Man, ain’t this s— crazy?” Browns coach Todd Monken said. “I mean, I don’t even know what to say … I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out a week ago. Now I know. I didn’t call him back, guess I should have.”

Speaking of LSU, consider Tampa Bay Buccaneers undrafted rookie linebacker Jack Pyburn, who had two sacks in Tampa Bay’s preseason opener. He’s also one of the players granted a temporary restraining order that could allow him to return to college football. He played at LSU last year, and that sets up the man-bites-dog possibility of an NFL player leaving early for college.

The fall semester at LSU started on Monday, and NFL rosters will be cut from 90 players to 53 by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. It’s unlikely the Bucs will keep Pyburn for their 53, but he has (had?) a good shot at their practice squad. That pays $247,500 for a full season, and Pyburn could make three or four times that much on the Van Wilder go-back-to-college route.

Pyburn said after Saturday’s preseason game that his agents had told the Bucs that college was a potential “backup plan,” but when pressed as to what he might decide if choosing between an NFL practice squad and going back to college, he was noncommittal.

“Ultimately, that’s a decision I’m going to have to make with my family, talk to my agents and see what’s the best business decision and what’s the best option for me and my future career,” he said.

Yes, it’s NFL “respect my decision” season.

Players would have to repay their NFL employers to regain college eligibility. Pyburn got a $15,000 bonus and $100,000 in guaranteed salary, but it’s possible that college NIL payments could also be covered by “offset” language standard in such contracts, normally intended so if NFL Team B pays a player to be on their practice squad, that subtracts from the money NFL Team A was on the hook for by their guarantee.

The league will have to sort out the ramifications. Can a player already passed over once in the draft get another shot, like baseball players do? This was already happening with basketball and G League players showing up on college rosters, but for NFL teams, it’s made roster-building even more complicated by the idea that players can make more money playing football at a lower level.

3. Stetson Bennett Commands Offense, Cements Role As Rams’ Backup QB

Stetson Bennett threw for 181 yards and led the Rams to a score in four of the five drives he played on Saturday. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

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Eric D. Williams: With Jimmy Garoppolo no longer on the roster, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay’s search for someone to fill that void, should reigning MVP Matthew Stafford suffer an injury during the regular season, appears to be over. In the battle between Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett, the Alabama product cracked the door open with a sparkling performance in a Week 1 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

But Bennett may have closed the door by playing well in a 34-0 victory over the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. The Georgia product finished with two rushing touchdowns in the first half, leading the Rams to scoring drives on four of his five possessions. Bennett finished 19 of 31 for 181 yards, with no touchdown passes and no interceptions for a 77.5 passer rating. 

Ty Simpson also played solidly, finishing 8 of 12 for 73 yards in the second half. Simpson led the offense on one scoring drive. However, Bennett impressed McVay by the way he led the offense, with quarterbacks coach and associated offensive coordinator Dave Ragone calling the plays – although he didn’t like Bennett reaching for the pylon with the ball on his first rushing touchdown.

“I loved the fact that he used his legs,” McVay said. “We’ll learn from reaching the ball into the end zone, even though I challenged that and we were successful. We don’t want to leave ourselves susceptible to losing the ball out of the end zone where it goes for a touchback.

“But he did a great job. I thought he got an opportunity to really showcase a lot of his skills.”

4. Daniel Jones Primed To Pick Up From Where He Left Off Last Season

Daniel Jones is practicing in full just less than a year after his Achilles tear. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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Ben Arthur: Watching the Indianapolis Colts quarterback at Wednesday’s joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons, it was impossible for me to tell that he tore his Achilles just eight months ago.

Everything you want your passer to do — drop back, scramble, throw on the move, evade pressure — Jones looked normal in doing so. Oh, and he was carving up the Falcons’ secondary as well. With Indianapolis’ rushing attack struggling, Jones was near perfect in the pass game, targeting various receivers. 

We still need to see Jones move and perform in games. But all the early signs suggest that he can pick up from last season, when he was playing the best ball of his career before a broken leg slowed him down and the Achilles injury ended his season. 

“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 said Wednesday. “I feel really good and there’s nothing I don’t feel good doing.”

The Colts’ pass-catching situation around Jones is a bit shaky at the moment, given star tight end Tyler Warren (groin) and wide receiver Alec Pierce (offseason ankle surgery) are currently sidelined. But when they return, they’ll add to a group that features one of the league’s best slot receivers in Josh Downs and recent signee Keenan Allen, who’s been a dominant force on third down. 

That’s a cast of receivers Jones can find success with. 

“I think it could be really special, to be honest,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said of the pass-catching group. “Alec (Pierce) obviously is a hell of a football player, which you guys know. [Josh] Downs, Tyler [Warren], and then adding Keenan [Allen] to the fold. I think we can do a lot with those guys and move bodies around and find matchups.” 

5. Let’s Have A Conversation About Chiefs Breakout Rookie WR Cyrus Allen

Cyrus Allen has been one of the hiefs’ most productive receivers in training cmap. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

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Henry McKenna: If you’ve been following training camp for Kansas City, you’ve heard of Allen. If you’re the type who combs X for potential breakout stars in fantasy football, you’ve heard of Allen. If you’re obsessed with NFL rookies and the draft, you’ve heard of Allen. 

His training camp highlights have been crazy. And Andy Reid didn’t slow the hype’s momentum.

“He’s done a nice job,” Reid said of Allen. “The quarterback trusts him.”

This was the first week of training camp. Allen was a sixth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech.

It felt like a big proclamation, particularly given that Rashee Rice has a history of missing time due to injuries and suspensions and Xavier Worthy has failed to live up to his first-round hype. 

Since then, Allen has played well — steadily doing what he could to move up the depth chart. That included scoring touchdowns with the first-team when paired with Patrick Mahomes. That also included beating first-round cornerback Mansoor Delane in 1-on-1s and team drills (7×7 and 11×11), per reporters on the scene.

But here’s the truth for anyone expecting the second coming of Tyreek Hill. The folks at Arrowhead Pride broke it down with depth. But it’s likely — perhaps even overly optimistic — to project 60 for Allen. And only six receivers converted 60 targets into 500+ receiving yards in 2025.

But before he wows in the box score, he’ll need to land in the WR3 spot. Given that he was playing behind Tyquan Thornton and Jaylen Royals in the second preseason game, Allen appears to be WR5. For what it’s worth, Hill had 83 targets, 61 catches, 593 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season. That would be a great year for Allen.

So keep an eye on him. He’s a real playmaker. But let’s stay reasonable for a rookie in a Chiefs’ offense that has a lot of mouths to feed.

6. De’Zhaun Stribling Shows Kyle Shanahan Knows How To Evaluate WRs

De’Zhaun Stribling had four receptions for 46 yards in the 49ers’ preseason win over the Chargers. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

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Williams: NFL draft analysts were up in arms over the San Francisco 49ers taking Ole Miss product De’Zhaun Stribling in the second round, believing the organization had reached for a player that some consensus draft boards had going later in the draft.

However, through two weeks of preseason play, Stribling has acquitted himself nicely. Stribling is tied for the league lead with 11 catches for 109 yards, with a long of 32 yards. He finished with four catches for 46 yards in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers this week. 

I had a chance to watch Stribling in a joint practice at the Chargers’ facility. At 6-2 and 210 pounds, Stribling is an easy mover with suction-cup hands that can make contested catches in congested areas.

Along with that, Stribling has the potential for explosive playmaking ability to do something after the catch, a key attribute in Shanahan’s offense. With Ricky Pearsall out for the year and Brandon Ayiuk no longer on the roster, Stribling should find a significant role in San Francisco’s offense this season.

“I love how he handles himself,” Shanahan said about Stribling. “He takes coaching well and never seems to take anything personally. He’s been a real fun guy to coach so far.”

7. Bills’ Thin WR Corps May Be More Of A Problem Than Ever

Khalil Shakir missed practice time and the Bills’ preseason game against the Browns this past week. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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Vacchiano: One great NFL mystery of this generation will surely be why the Buffalo Bills, with arguably the best quarterback in the league in Josh Allen, keep failing to surround him with top-end receivers. And once again, heading towards a season they hope will end in a Super Bowl, that failure is being exposed.

Though they are getting a solid performance this summer from D.J. Moore, the veteran “No. 1” wideout they acquired from the Chicago Bears, the rest of the corps is falling apart. Keon Coleman, their second-best receiver last season (38 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns), is nursing a concerning sprained toe. Khalil Shakir, last season’s top wideout (72 receptions for 719 yards and four touchdowns), missed the joint practices and preseason game against the Browns last week with an undisclosed injury. And rookie Skyler Bell, their fourth-round pick, has missed two weeks with a groin injury.

That leaves Allen right now with Moore, who cost the Bills a second-round pick in March, Joshua Palmer (22 receptions for 303 yards and zero touchdowns) last season, and … not much else.

That, of course, is not how the Bills see it. One team source told me their belief is that Allen can win with almost anyone around him, and that he can take what looks like a below-average group and make them much better. They are also convinced that Moore, at age 29, can reverse his steep, two-year decline simply by playing with an elite quarterback.

It’s a gamble, of course, because otherwise all the pieces are in place in Buffalo: A powerful running game led by James Cook, a top offensive line, a top-10 defense that gets a boost from the addition of edge rusher Bradley Chubb. And of course, the brilliance of Allen will always give them a shot.

Still, it’s hard not to imagine what this team would look like with just one elite receiver by Allen’s side. It would make their path to Buffalo’s first Super Bowl in 33 years look a lot easier than it currently is.

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Welcome to the only college football betting guide you’ll need this season, whether you’re a first-time bettor or a seasoned veteran.

From national championship and Heisman futures, to season win totals and weekly betting opportunities, this guide features our top wagers across every market, detailed breakdowns of several teams, CFP contenders, and much more to prepare you for the 2026 season.

To Win National Championship | Conference Winners | Over/Under Win Totals | Heisman Trophy | To Make College Football Playoff 

To Win National Championship

Oregon +750

• This is the year Oregon finally gets over the hump. Over the last two seasons, the Ducks have gone 26-3, with all three losses coming against the eventual national champion (Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana twice in 2025). Despite reaching the CFP quarterfinals and semifinals, the narrative that Oregon can’t win the biggest games still lingers. But with what is arguably Dan Lanning’s most talented roster yet, led by quarterback Dante Moore and star receiver Dakorien Moore, the Ducks have everything they need to finally break through and contend for a national championship. Under Dan Lanning, Oregon is 31-0 when holding opponents under 20 points, and they’ve gone 17-1 in Big Ten conference play since 2024. Additionally, in 2025, the Ducks were tied for the second most road wins in the entire country, which could prove invaluable against USC and Ohio State this season.

Miami +1000

• Coming off a remarkable 2025 season that ended with a trip to the National Championship Game, Miami has reloaded for another title run in 2026. The Hurricanes added former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah to lead the offense alongside running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and 18-year-old phenom Malachi Toney. Despite losing some major talent to the NFL, Miami is expected to have five former five-star recruits on both sides of the ball. Its dominance in the trenches should remain a major strength, and the experience gained from last year’s deep CFP run could be the difference. On paper, the Hurricanes have the talent to be even better than they were a season ago.

Conference Winners

• As stated above, we believe the Ducks are going to have a huge year, and their first step toward a potential national title is winning the Big Ten. Oregon won the conference in 2024 and went 8-1 in Big Ten play last season. Take the value here at +260.

• In Jedd Fisch’s second season at Washington, the Huskies won nine games, improving by three victories from the previous year. Fisch also improved Arizona’s win total in each of his three seasons there, and that trend should continue in Seattle. After an eventful offseason, Washington retained star quarterback Demond Williams, one of the top QBs in the country. The schedule also breaks in the Huskies’ favor, with every major game outside of Oregon being played at home. Washington has gone 25-2 in its last 27 home games, the sixth-best home record of any FBS team since 2022.

• BYU’s only two losses in 2025 came against Texas Tech, as the Big 12 was essentially a two-team race for most of the season. The Red Raiders lost significant talent to the NFL, and their quarterback situation has become much more uncertain following the Brendan Sorsby saga. BYU, meanwhile, brings back quarterback Bear Bachmeier, it has one of the conference’s top defenses, along with a manageable conference schedule. BYU is 5-0 in games decided by three points or fewer over the last two seasons, and it had the 11th best fourth-quarter point differential in 2025. The Cougars have been one of the Big 12’s most consistent programs under Kalani Sitake, and with an experienced team returning, +550 is an appealing price to win the conference.

• A new era has begun in Stillwater. Oklahoma State hired Eric Morris from North Texas and completely reshaped its roster after last season’s 1-11 finish, bringing in nearly 90 transfers. The Cowboys’ rebuild is headlined by quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who followed Morris after leading the nation with 4,379 passing yards while throwing 34 touchdowns and completing 68.9% of his passes. Standout running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young also transferred from North Texas, giving Morris a strong offensive foundation as he looks to engineer a major turnaround.

• After starting last season 3-2, Texas won four straight games before it lost to Georgia 35-10 in a game that was much closer than the final score suggested. From there, the Longhorns finished the season with three straight wins, including against Texas A&M, who was undefeated (11-0) at the time. It was also a tale of two seasons for Arch Manning, who came into the season with massive expectations after taking over for Quinn Ewers. After a slow start to the season, Manning found his rhythm down the stretch. From Week 9 on, he ranked seventh in the country with 12 touchdown passes and 10th with 1,493 passing yards, leading the SEC in both categories over that span. Manning and the Longhorns should build that late-season momentum in 2025 to a big run at the SEC title.

• Don’t fear, Lane Kiffin is here. Kiffin won at least 10 games in each of his final four seasons at Ole Miss and now takes over at LSU with a roster built to compete immediately. Quarterback Sam Leavitt will lead the offense, and LSU assembled the nation’s No. 1 transfer portal class for 2026, adding 41 players, including three five-stars and 17 four-stars. Getting the Tigers at +900 is a steal.

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Over/Under Win Totals

Ohio State Over 9.5 Wins

• Since 2016, Ohio State has won at least 10 regular-season games every year, excluding the shortened 2020 COVID season when it went 5-0. With Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith returning, plus the addition of five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr., it’s hard to see the Buckeyes taking a step back.

UCLA Over 6.5 Wins

• UCLA arguably made the best coaching hire of the offseason by bringing in Bob Chesney, who led James Madison to the College Football Playoff last season. Following the blueprint Curt Cignetti used to jump from JMU to the Big Ten, Chesney brings a proven winning culture to Westwood. Chesney led the Dukes to a perfect 8-0 Sun Belt regular season in 2025 and his offenses have scored 50+ points six times in the 28 FBS games he has coached. With quarterback Nico Iamaleava and a very strong transfer portal class, the Bruins should take a significant step forward in 2026.

Wisconsin Over 6.5 Wins

• Luke Fickell has gone just 10-17 in Big Ten play through his first three seasons at Wisconsin, making his tenure a disappointment by almost any measure. However, injuries at quarterback have played a major role, as the Badgers have yet to have a healthy starting quarterback for a full season under Fickell. This offseason might have been his best yet. Wisconsin added more than 30 players through the transfer portal, headlined by highly regarded quarterback Colton Joseph. With one of the easiest conference schedules avoiding Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, Washington and Michigan, the Badgers are primed to win at least seven games.

Michigan State Over 3.5 Wins

• MSU has not won more than five games in their last four seasons. However, Sparty has brought in Pat Fitzgerald as their head coach. Fitzgerald is the winningest head coach in Northwestern history and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2018. While the roster lacks major talent, Fitzgerald’s experience within the conference is enough to get Michigan State over its low win total.

Georgia Over 9.5 Wins

• With the second-most returning starters (14) in the country, eighth-most returning production and Kirby Smart leading the charge, the Bulldogs are set up for another year of dominance. Georgia went 11-1 in the regular season last year, and has an even easier schedule in 2026. The Dawgs are ranked 20th in strength of schedule in the country, which is dead last in the SEC, and Kirby has led Georgia to 11 or more wins every year except his first year, 2024, and the COVID-year. The back-to-back SEC champions are not only set up for a deep playoff run, but will also hit their Over 9.5 wins with ease.

South Florida Over 8.5 Wins

• South Florida hired one of the most respected recruiters in the country in Brian Hartline to be its head coach. His recruiting expertise came along with him to USF, helping the Bulls pull in the top transfer class in the American conference. At Ohio State, Hartline had a huge impact in recruiting top prospects like Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and many others. Along with that top class and the easiest strength of schedule in the AAC, South Florida and Hartline can surpass expectations and make a big statement in his first year.

Fresno State Over 6.5 Wins

• Matt Entz took over the head coaching job in 2025. In his first season, he led the Bulldogs to a nine-win season. That was in the Mountain West, but now, the Bulldogs will play in a revived Pac-12 conference in 2026. That doesn’t change a thing for Entz and the Bulldogs. They were a defensive nightmare in the Mountain West, finishing with the conference’s No. 1 defense while forcing 26 turnovers, tied for the seventh-most in the nation. Along with having the third-weakest strength of schedule in the Pac-12, Fresno State can easily follow up their nine-win season with seven wins, even in a more difficult conference.

Michigan Under 8.5 Wins

• Year 2 of the Bryce Underwood era will be exciting for Wolverines fans, but it will come with some challenges. The Wolverines hired Kyle Whittingham from Utah to take over the head-coaching duties this offseason. Whittingham can undoubtedly coach and get the job done at Michigan, but in his first year, they will face the reigning national champions Indiana, along with Oregon and their biggest rival, Ohio State. To add to this gauntlet, they will also face Oklahoma, which had one of the top defenses last year and also beat the Wolverines a season ago. In 2025, Michigan ranked a lackluster 54th in total offense, as the Wolverines only averaged 24.6 points per game in conference play, which was eighth in the Big Ten. In his first season, Whittingham will have his hands full with the second-hardest strength of schedule in the Big Ten. Take the Under.

Nebraska Under 6.5 Wins

• In 2025, Nebraska went 7-5 in the regular season. From Week 8 on, Nebraska only won two games and averaged 17.5 points per game, which was 14th in the Big Ten in that span. Now, heading into 2026, the Cornhuskers lost quarterback Dylan Raiola to Oregon and running back Emmett Johnson to the NFL. With a schedule that features Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon, take Nebraska’s Under.

Notre Dame Under 11.5 Wins

• Notre Dame arguably has the most talented team in the entire country. But Vegas setting this line at 11.5 is asking a lot. That number gives the Irish no room for error. ND plays a Miami team that beat them a season ago and BYU in a hostile road environment in Provo. Take the Under.

Heisman Trophy

• Many thought that Dante Moore would declare for the NFL after Oregon’s CFP semifinal loss to Indiana. However, Moore opted to stay with the Ducks for one last dance. In 2025, the star QB threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions, while completing 71.8% of his passes. Moore ranked fifth nationally in completion percentage and led all Power 4 quarterbacks with 64 completions of 20 yards or more. There is no reason why Moore should not be the preseason favorite, and at third on the oddsboard (+1100), we love the play.

• In 2025, Darian Mensah led Duke to an ACC Championship, throwing 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He was second in the entire country in passing yards, only trailing Drew Mestemaker. Now, Mensah has transferred to be Miami’s QB1 after the Hurricanes’ national championship run. If Mensah’s numbers were like that at Duke, imagine the boost he is going to get with playmakers like Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. beside him?

• In 2025, Williams threw for 3,065 yards with 25 touchdowns and only eight interceptions on a 69.5% completion rate, while also rushing for 611 yards and six touchdowns. The dual-threat QB is primed for a big junior campaign and offers great value at +5500.

To Make College Football Playoff

LSU +160

• LSU has reached the CFP just once since the Playoff format debut in 2014. It might not feel that way because of the Tigers’ dominant 2019 championship run, but that title season remains their lone CFP appearance. Lane Kiffin will change that. Take LSU to return to the Playoff in his first season in Baton Rouge.

BYU +330

• BYU has never made the CFP in its school history. Its closest chance was last year as it just needed to win the Big 12 title game to make it. The Cougars can build off last season and make history in 2026 at +330.

Washington +400

• A 10-2 record would likely get the Huskies into the Playoff. Washington gets Iowa, Penn State and Indiana, three of its toughest conference games, at home. And at +400, this wager offers incredible value.

Arizona +1000

• Arizona quietly went 9-4 in 2025, and the Wildcats have a chance to take another step forward in 2026. Noah Fifita returns for his fourth season as the starting QB, giving Arizona one of the most experienced signal-callers in the country. The schedule sets up well, too. If Arizona can win one of its two toughest road games, at BYU or at Texas Tech, it should have a legitimate path to the Big 12 Championship Game. And if the Wildcats reach that game, their +1000 odds to make the College Football Playoff could offer tremendous value.

UCLA +3000

• Again, Bob Chesney was a massive get for the Bruins. We love the longshot value here at 30-1. We’re high on UCLA overall in 2026.

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The San Francisco 49ers enter the upcoming regular season with expectations to remain competitive within arguably the best division in football while battling early injuries, older franchise mainstays returning from surgeries, and, most recently, off-field news involving the team’s owner. 

That doesn’t seem to be a recipe for success, and Colin Cowherd agrees. During Monday’s edition of The Herd, Cowherd questioned whether San Francisco can maintain its position among the elite teams in the conference.

“I tend to think the Niners are very close to pulling a Thelma and Louise and driving off the cliff here,” Cowherd said, comparing the 49ers to the hit ’90s movie.

On paper, the 49ers have reloaded with talent. They signed star wide receiver Mike Evans to beef up their wide receiver room and brought back Dre Greenlaw to solidify what they have at linebacker. 

However, tight end George Kittle continues working back from Achilles surgery with a chance to play in Week 1, and running back Christian McCaffrey remains on a planned load management schedule during practice reps. 

With that in mind, Cowherd pointed out that age and recovery timelines across essential positions present distinct hurdles for San Francisco when compared to younger rosters across the league. The roster remains heavily reliant on a core group of established veterans, several of which are returning from surgical procedures.

Christian McCaffrey continues to manage his workload at practice coming off a 2025 season where he led the NFL with 413 total touches for 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns.(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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“This is an old, old team, oldest roster in the NFL, and almost all their old guys are coming off serious surgeries,” Cowherd said. “They are really dependent on five older players: Trent Williams, left tackle, he’s 38. Kittle, going to be a hall of farmer, coming off surgery. Nick Bosa, coming off his second surgery. Christian McCaffrey led the NFL in touches. Mike Evans, who is often banged up, though I love him and Fred Warner off a surgery as well.”

San Francisco’s depth issues have been compounded by injuries to recent high draft selections.

“Don’t forget their last two first-round picks: Ricky Pearsall, out for the year, injured. … Mykel Williams, who is a great young talent, he’s banged up and won’t be there for Week 1,” Cowherd added. “They are hanging on by peptides and a prayer.”

Compared to the recent success NFC West rivals the Seahawks and Rams have had in the draft, the Niners will have their work cut out for them.

“The Seahawks and the Rams have drafted so brilliantly over the last three years, very few misses. … Those are four games the Niners go in as an underdog,” Cowherd said.

San Francisco receives early scheduling relief to begin the regular season. Following their trip to Australia, the team returns home for consecutive games against the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals before entering a more challenging stretch that includes matchups against the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.

Despite the favorable early home slate, Cowherd expressed skepticism regarding San Francisco’s postseason prospects over a full 17-game schedule.

“I don’t think they’re a playoff team,” Cowherd said. “I love the coach. I love McCaffrey. I love the organization. I think they’re heading right for a cliff.”

NFL Related Stories

Source

Former Astros general manager Dana Brown was a lame duck this season, working under the final year of the contract he signed in January 2023. After missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016, Brown’s fourth season at the helm took the organization backwards. 

Sure, the Astros entered Monday in a tie for first place in the AL West. If the regular season ended today, Houston would make the playoffs while being one game below .500. It’s just that, that’s not saying much. The AL West is noncompetitive. All five clubs in the division own losing records. 

In the end, Brown’s inability to build a winning pitching staff — despite adding six pitchers to major-league deals this past winter, with the biggest disappointment of them all being Tatsuya Imai — became a stain on his Astros tenure. It will go down as one of his biggest flops. 

This week, on the heels of Houston’s disappointing 3-6 homestand against divisional bottom feeders, it was a stain that, apparently, forced Astros owner Jim Crane to act immediately. So, on Monday, he fired Brown.

How else would he keep up the infamous reputation that he’s built? Since Crane bought the Astros for $680 million in 2011, Houston has been a high-pressure, highly results-driven hierarchy. Crane’s management style is hands-on, for better or worse, underlined by swift changes when those high expectations are not met. There is arguably no MLB owner more involved in day-to-day decisions than Crane.

Which is why we shouldn’t be all that surprised at the timing of Monday’s abrupt dismissal. Now that the draft and trade deadline were over, there wasn’t much for a GM like Brown to do. Waiting until the offseason to part ways with Houston’s front-office leader was expecting too much from Crane. The responsibilities that are left, Crane figured, could be handled by a front-office committee. 

So who’s leading their baseball operations now? 

Crane, of course. 

Who else?

Since Jim Crane bought the Houston Astros for $680 million in 2011, Houston has been a high-pressure, highly results-driven hierarchy. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

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In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the Astros said, “Brown’s responsibilities will be transitioned to the Astros assistant general managers Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey, and Connor Huff, and to senior advisor Jeff Bagwell. Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane will oversee baseball operations through the transition period as the team continues to focus on the American League West division race.”

Brown’s dismissal isn’t even half as stunning as when Crane fired former GM James Click a week after the Astros won the 2022 World Series. The collapse of that partnership also had a lot to do with Crane’s level of involvement in baseball operations. Crane and Click were in a very obvious public feud in his final season as GM. Crane and Bagwell, Hall of Famer and longtime senior advisor to the owner, led the front office for the majority of that offseason, until he hired Brown from the Braves to fill the role of GM. 

In Atlanta, Brown was the vice president of scouting. He was hired by Crane to help rebuild a farm system that had been weakened in recent years, dating back to when the Astros lost their first and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 drafts as a penalty for their 2017 sign-stealing scandal. Throughout Brown’s tenure in Houston, the Astros’ farm system consistently hovered around the worst in MLB.

Brown came to Houston with an aggressive agenda to pursue long-term contracts for young, talented players. That was a change of pace for the Astros, as Crane has historically refrained from handing out extended deals. At the time, Crane called Brown, “The perfect fit for us.”

HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 23: Cristian Javier’s performance has regressed tremendously since he signed a five-year $64 Million extension. (Photo by Kairi Mano/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Jump forward to now, when Brown was roughly five weeks shy of completing his fourth season as Astros GM, and homegrown shortstop Jeremy Peña remains unsigned to a contract extension. Peña is set to enter free agency after the 2027 season. One of Brown’s first moves as GM was signing pitcher Cristian Javier to a five-year, $64 million extension. Javier’s performance has regressed tremendously since that signing. 

Brown also intended to keep former franchise cornerstone Alex Bregman in orange and blue, saying in February 2022 that the third baseman “should be a Houston Astro for life” alongside second baseman Jose Altuve. In Feb. 2025, Bregman signed with the Red Sox, though much of that decision fell on Crane’s shoulders at the time. The tandem of Crane and Brown also oversaw the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs before the 2025 season.

So, as much as Brown will be faulted for taking the organization backwards during his first time leading a baseball operations department, it’s impossible to separate Crane’s involvement in all of it. 

It was Crane, after all, who meddled and signed first baseman Jose Abreu to a three-year, $60 million albatross contract in 2023 that Brown inherited, and later expunged. Abreu was ultimately released with more than half of the money on his contract still owed. 

It was also Crane who personally pushed for one of the worst deals in the franchise’s history when he re-signed pitcher Rafael Montero to a three-year, $34.5 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. Both decisions to sign Abreu and Montero were made under the Crane-Bagwell front-office duo after Click was fired and before Brown was hired. 

In the six weeks that the Astros did not have a baseball operations leader, Crane managed to set the organization back with dreadfully expensive signings that directly impacted their apparent inability to offer contract extensions to stars like Bregman and Tucker. Crane is an exceptionally successful billionaire business executive, and the valuation of the Astros franchise has nearly quadrupled since he bought it, so these financial restrictions are largely self-imposed. And there is no reason to believe things will be different this time.

Once again, Crane is in the driver’s seat for the foreseeable future. Once again, Crane will rely on Bagwell, whose involvement in personnel decisions seems to increase every year, playing a sizable part in the friction of the Astros’ unstable front-office environment. 

Brown was never going to be in the picture after this season ended. But the decision to axe him now, with weeks left to play and qualifying for the playoffs very much on the table, points to the sorry post-championship state of these Astros. Their window has long closed after their 2022 World Series title. Players aged, moved on, were injured, or traded. That’s part of it. 

But the other, much more egregious part is who these Astros will be as long as Crane is poking his nose in the day-to-day operations.

Dysfunctional.

MLB Related Stories

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MLB’s Monday slate gives baseball fans plenty of markets to trade on, and new Kalshi users can use promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock a $25 bonus. One of the biggest matchups comes later tonight when the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Seattle Mariners.

The Phillies enter on a nine-game winning streak and are led by Kyle Schwarber, who has an MLB-best 39 home runs. Zack Wheeler gets the start against Seattle’s Logan Gilbert in a matchup featuring two 10-game winners.

There are several other intriguing markets, including Cubs vs. Diamondbacks and Reds vs. Giants. Chase Burns, who owns a 14-2 record and 2.51 ERA, takes the mound for Cincinnati against San Francisco.

Use Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS to trade on Monday’s MLB action and unlock the $25 bonus.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page.

How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus

1. Click this ‘Claim Now’ link to visit Kalshi and start the signup process.
2. Create a new Kalshi account using your email address and basic registration details.
3. Enter Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS during signup, so the welcome offer is attached to your account.
4. Complete identity verification, which Kalshi requires before users can deposit and trade.
5. Deposit funds and trade at least $25 in prediction markets to receive up to $25 in trading credit.

MLB: Reds vs. Giants

*Probability is subject to change*

Cincinnati Reds	61%	62¢	39¢
San Francisco Giants	39%	39¢	62¢

MLB: Phillies vs. Mariners

*Probability is subject to change*

Philadelphia Phillies	51%	52¢	48¢
Seattle Mariners	49%	49¢	52¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

Matchup: Philadelphia Phillies at Seattle Mariners (9:40 PM ET)

• Storyline: Can anyone stop Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies? Philadelphia arrives in Seattle riding an incredible nine-game winning streak, capped by an insane 9th-inning, 6-run rally yesterday that featured a walk-off bomb from Schwarber (who leads MLB with 39 homers). 
• Tonight features an elite pitching matchup as Phillies ace Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.92 ERA) squares off against the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert (10-7, 3.35 ERA). Seattle is trying to protect their razor-thin edge in an incredibly tight, chaotic AL West race. 

Matchup: Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants (9:45 PM ET, FS1)

• Storyline: Massive attention shifts to Reds rookie sensation Chase Burns, who enters the game with an electric 14-2 record and a dominant 2.51 ERA. He will match up against Giants left-handed prospect Carson Whisenhunt. 

Matchup: Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 PM ET)

• Storyline: Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has lit up August with six home runs in his last seven games. He brings his hot bat and MLB-best +24 fielding run value to Arizona to face Merrill Kelly, while Kevin Gausman goes to the bump for Chicago.

Rest of MLB Schedule Today

Away Team	Home Team	Time (ET) / TV	Starting Pitchers
Cleveland Guardians	LA Angels	9:38 PM	Parker Messick (9-8) vs George Klassen (2-1)
Minnesota Twins	Athletics	9:40 PM	Zebby Matthews (7-8) vs Jeffrey Springs (3-11)
Philadelphia Phillies	Seattle Mariners	9:40 PM	Zack Wheeler (10-4) vs Logan Gilbert (10-7)
Pittsburgh Pirates	San Diego Padres	9:40 PM	Braxton Ashcraft (13-5) vs Robbie Ray (1-1)
Chicago Cubs	Arizona Diamondbacks	9:40 PM	Kevin Gausman (1-1) vs Merrill Kelly (8-11)
Cincinnati Reds	SF Giants	9:45 PM (FS1)	Chase Burns (14-2) vs Carson Whisenhunt (3-4)

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The final week of the NFL preseason is upon us, which means it’s decision week for all 32 teams around the league.

The Cleveland Browns made the biggest decision on Monday. They named Deshaun Watson their Week 1 starter, giving him the honor over Shedeur Sanders after his polarizing comments toward the fanbase. 

That decision is one of many that will be made throughout the week as teams need to trim their rosters down to 53 players by Sunday evening. The Houston Texans and New England Patriots also made decisions on Monday, agreeing to a rare player swap in a trade that landed Houston a wide receiver. 

As we’re just over two weeks away from the start of the regular season, here’s what you need to know from Monday’s news around the NFL. 

The Cleveland Browns officially have a starting quarterback for the upcoming season. 

Head coach Todd Monken officially announced on Monday morning that Deshaun Watson will be the team’s Week 1 starting quarterback. Following a competitive camp battle with second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Monken chose to give the nod to the veteran signal-caller.

“I took in the full body of work over the course of the offseason to training camp to the games, the joint practice, and ultimately felt like to start the season on the road, Deshaun [Watson] gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points,” Monken told reporters. “I mean, that’s really what it’s about.”

While highlighting the team’s ongoing belief in Sanders, Monken stressed that the choice was strictly about immediate offensive production. 

“I think Shedeur [Sanders] has done a great job,” Monken told reporters. “Come a long way and we’re excited about his future, but this is not a week-to-week decision.”

Watson hasn’t played a full season since 2020 and has logged only 19 starts in a Browns uniform. In those starts, his play has been mediocre at best, falling drastically short of the massive three-first-round-pick haul Cleveland traded to bring him in.

Over three seasons in Cleveland, Watson has posted a 9–10 record while completing 61.2% of his passes for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. With the decision now behind the Browns and Watson, all eyes shift towards Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Houston Texans agreed to acquire wide receiver Kayshon Boutte from the New England Patriots on Monday in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick. 

The Texans made the move to bolster their wide receiver depth following a season-ending ACL injury to Jayden Higgins during joint practice last week. Boutte will join Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones as new additions to the receiving room.

Boutte recorded 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns for the Patriots last season, but became expendable after the team traded for Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown. They also signed former Green Bay Packers pass catcher Romeo Doubs this offseason.

Boutte addressed the trade speculation surrounding him during training camp last week.

“I’m just blocking out the noise,” Boutte told reporters. “That’s the main thing. We all hear the stuff that’s going on. But like I always said, I’m where I’m at. My feet are here, so I’m not worried about what’s next or what’s behind me. Just being present.”

Boutte joins a Houston receiving group that features Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell.

The Carolina Panthers received positive news on running back Chuba Hubbard on Monday morning. Head coach Dave Canales announced that Hubbard is on track to be ready for the Week 1 opener against the Chicago Bears.

Hubbard strained his hamstring earlier this month in training camp and still has yet to play in any of the Panthers’ preseason games while working his way back to full strength.

“He’s expected to be ready for Week 1,” Canales told reporters. “He hit over 20 miles per hour the other day, but that is on a controlled setting and right now we don’t want to put him back out there for someone to pull on his jersey and for him to have to pull his way through that. He’s ahead of schedule and he’s doing a great job.”

Hubbard is looking to bounce back after a frustrating and regressive 2025 season plagued by a calf injury. The injury opened the door for Rico Dowdle, who took over the starting job from Hubbard before signing a free-agent deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.

Not only is Hubbard expected to suit up for the opener against the Bears, but Canales revealed the Panthers plan to ease him in with a shared backfield. Former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks is set to share carries as part of a committee approach to start the season.

If Hubbard struggles once again this season, Brooks has a genuine path to take over the backfield. The second-round pick out of Texas has shown promise this preseason and possesses the talent to develop into a primary starter as long as he can find a way to stay healthy.

All offseason long, eyes have been on New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers and his knee recovery. Now, Nabers seems to be heading in the right direction to play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. 

While head coach John Harbaugh refrained from making any blanket statements on Nabers’ timeline, he told reporters that “it’s reasonable to assume” the receiver will be ready for the start of the regular season.

Jaxson Dart is set for a big season, but a lot of that could depend on the availability of Nabers. Once Nabers is officially back on the field, he’ll join a balanced group that includes Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Darius Slayton and Odell Beckham Jr.

Nabers only played in four games last season, but when he was on the field, he was one of the most explosive receivers in the league. Across those four contests, he hauled in 18 receptions for 271 yards (15.1 yards per catch) and two touchdowns.

The Dart and Nabers connection was put on hold in Week 4 when Nabers suffered a season-ending ACL and meniscus tear against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Injury News & Notes

• New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson left practice early after slipping during a cut and had his right leg and ankle looked at, ESPN reported.
• Former Cincinnati Bengals tight end CJ Uzomah officially announced his retirement from the NFL.
• The Arizona Cardinals officially activated edge rusher Josh Sweat from the PUP list, first reported by ESPN.
• The Cardinals waived injured RB Trey Benson, per ESPN.
• Mike McCarthy told reporters that the Pittsburgh Steelers are at an “impasse” with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. as he remains sidelined on the physically unable to perform list.
• Miami Dolphins third-round pick WR Chris Bell (knee) practiced without a red non-contact jersey Monday, per the Sun Sentinel.

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After a stop in the NFL, former Mississippi tight end Dae’Quan Wright could be heading to LSU thanks to a court order that is creating havoc throughout college sports by allowing Wright and others an unexpected fifth year of eligibility.

Wright’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told The Associated Press on Monday that the tight end had been waived by the Cleveland Browns and, if he clears waivers, will join Lane Kiffin’s roster at No. 11 LSU.

If he joins the Tigers, Wright would be the first known player to return to college after playing in the NFL. He may not be the last.

At a news conference Monday, Kiffin declined to discuss any specific players, but he did say of the players in the lawsuit: “They’re available to recruit. So, ourselves, like many places around the country, are recruiting them.”

Not doing so, Kiffin said, could lead to a situation where “we may end up playing against them.”

Wright signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted rookie following the draft. After Philly released him on Aug. 11, the Browns signed him. Wright didn’t play in Cleveland’s two preseason games. Wright played two seasons for Kiffin at Ole Miss. Last year, he caught 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns for the Rebels.

Wright was among a group of players who sued in a Louisiana court, saying a new NCAA rule granting five years of eligibility to most athletes should apply to him and others who were not “grandfathered” into the rule, which did not include those who graduated high school in 2022.

In a statement released Monday evening, the Southeastern Conference said it firmly opposes professional athletes returning to play college sports.

“College athletes, not professional athletes, have been at the heart of the Southeastern Conference,” the statement said. “Individuals who choose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition. Allowing that to occur will blur the line between college and professional sports, create significant competitive equity concerns and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes.”

The SEC concluded its statement by calling on Congress to pass a bill regulating college sports.

Wright and two others who played for Kiffin at Ole Miss — former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and Arizona Cardinals safety Wydett Williams — were among those granted a temporary restraining order last week. Former LSU and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Jack Pyburn also was among the plaintiffs.

The players can regain their college eligibility if they terminate their pro contracts and repay any pro earnings. Pyburn’s deal with the Bucs guaranteed him $115,000, including a $15,000 signing bonus.

“I’m just trying to maximize myself as a player and as a person and play my best football, wherever that is,” Pyburn told The Athletic last week.

A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31 in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The SEC has its own rule barring transfers inside the conference beyond a designated window in January. Commissioner Greg Sankey sent the schools a reminder about that rule earlier this month, though there’s no certainty on how it would play into Wright’s move to LSU in the wake of the court order.

The judge in Louisiana allowed for the fifth year and also ordered the football transfer portal, normally open only in January, to reopen for a week for the players in the lawsuit.

“In my opinion, knowing the information, it’s really wrong to be critical of these kids,” said Kiffin, whose move from Ole Miss to LSU last season also created tension between the SEC schools. “They were granted a fifth year by a judge, saying they were wronged by the NCAA. … It’s simply that a judge decided they should have a fifth year, like everyone moving forward will have.”

Kiffin suggested that the current recruiting by colleges of NFL rookies is a “totally unique circumstance that came about because of the five-for-five (ruling), and players feeling like they should have known about it before, and because of all the cases around the country. I don’t think we’ll have this (situation) again.”

Other coaches, though, have been less supportive.

“I think there’s a lot of negatives that are involved around this,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “Once you go to the NFL, to me, you’re in the NFL. You don’t get the opportunity to come back.”

Added Florida coach Jon Sumrall: “What I really struggle with is the rules are changing so daily based upon a court ruling, or what happens in a court in Colorado, or a court here, a court in Louisiana. We need to have some continuity and some consistency across the board.”

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel also made his feelings known Monday when asked to compare the two-game suspension given to Volunteers linebacker Arion Carter over a $427 plane ticket for a trip to an NFL training facility during the pre-draft process before he returned to college.

“You guys certainly have a clear picture of how I feel about that entire situation to begin with, even before some of the madness that is college football and rosters,” Heupel said.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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