While Christian Gonzalez will watch Devon Witherspoon and the Seattle Seahawks celebrate their Super Bowl LX victory on Wednesday night, the New England Patriots cornerback will have something else over his counterpart in the NFL’s regular-season opener. 

Gonzalez and the Patriots have agreed to an extension that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, according to multiple reports. Gonzalez will receive a four-year, $135 million deal with $102 million in guaranteed money, ESPN reported late Monday night.

With a $33.75 million average annual salary, Gonzalez slightly bests the contract extension that Witherspoon signed in August that made the Seahawks star the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Witherspoon agreed to a four-year, $132 million extension ($33 million average annual value) with $101 million guaranteed.

Even though Gonzalez still has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract, his contract talks were at the forefront during Patriots training camp. Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in July that the team had made Gonzalez an offer that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, but Gonzalez’s trainer said that the language of the contract was “kind of trash.”

Gonzalez didn’t seem to refute his trainer’s comments when he spoke with reporters when he spoke with reporters last week.

“He can speak his mind. He’s got his thoughts, I’ve got mine,” Gonzalez said, “but I back everything he says. He backs everything I say. That’s kind of our relationship. We talk every day. He’s going to say what he’s going to say.”

Gonzalez added in comments to MassLive that he was “still frustrated” that he and the Patriots had yet to reach an agreement on an extension. 

Now, Gonzalez and the Patriots can shift their attention to the 2026 regular season, which begins Wednesday night in Seattle. As New England was largely dominated in Super Bowl LX, Gonzalez put up an impressive performance in that game. He allowed just one catch on five targets for 16 yards, per Pro Football Focus, as Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba struggled to make an impact. 

That performance capped off a Pro Bowl year for Gonzalez. He didn’t have an interception in the regular season, but he allowed just one touchdown and had the game-sealing interception in the Patriots’ AFC Championship Game win over the Denver Broncos. 

Gonzalez, 24, also earned a second-team All-Pro nod for his play in 2024. The Patriots took Gonzalez with the 16th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. 
 

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The college football season is off and running with bloody noses, one second being put back on clocks and poorly timed firework shows. But that’s why we love this sport — because each week brings unexpected surprises.

As for the results, there was a lot of chalk. The top teams rolled, though there were some nervy moments that Oregon and Michigan would probably prefer not to discuss any further. Transfer quarterbacks like Miami’s Darian Mensah and Indiana’s Josh Hoover didn’t skip a beat in keeping up the winning ways of their predecessors. 

And, we learned that LSU is probably a contender even without professional players, USC might break through this season and that quarterbacks Arch Manning and Julian Sayin look ready for a Texas-Ohio State battle next week.

With that, here are my Week 1 superlatives.

Moment Of The Week: Michigan’s Hail Mary

JJ Buchanan catches Michigan’s game-winning pass with no time left on the clock to beat Western Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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No surprise here, but it’s the fiasco that happened in Ann Arbor on Saturday night. It looked like Western Michigan pulled the upset of the weekend when Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s pass sailed out of the back of the end zone with what appeared to be no time left. Broncos players were celebrating a 12-7 victory and coach Lance Taylor had a smile on his face until officials ruled there was actually one second left.

Underwood took advantage of his second chance, threw another Hail Mary, and JJ Buchanan came down with a 47-yard touchdown, allowing the No. 16 Wolverines to escape with a 13-12 win. There was plenty of controversy surrounding the review. Ultimately, the Big Ten defended the decision in a statement released hours after the game, which accompanied a recording of the replay as it was reviewed by officials and showed there was one second left when the ball hit WMU’s Micah Davis, who had jumped from out of bounds.

Broncos players were in tears after the final whistle as Michigan fans rushed the field in celebration.

Taylor said he thought the clock hit zero before his players touched it, while Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham said he was “pretty sure” there was one second left.

“This game will go down in Michigan history,” Whittingham told reporters after the game. “I don’t know if it’s in a positive way, but it’ll go down in history for certain. We’re 1-0, but the reality is we’ve got a lot to fix, a lot of things to address. 

“There was not a lot of whooping and hollering in the locker room.”

   Game Of The Week: UMass Beats Rutgers

There were only two Big Ten teams to lose games in Week 1. Wisconsin fell to No. 4 Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, but Rutgers didn’t have the same excuse.

The Scarlet Knights were embarrassed by UMass 37-21 in their season opener after being a 29.5-point favorite. Minutemen quarterback William Watson III completed 19 of 22 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, while Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan struggled, completing just 55% of his passes with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

After the loss, Rutgers went viral for proceeding with a pre-planned fireworks show that was supposed to celebrate their team winning. Now, coach Greg Schiano, who returned to Rutgers with the hope of reviving the program, has been unable to do that and is certainly on the hot seat after just Week 1.

Coaching Win Of The Week: Lane Kiffin

This one goes to Lane Kiffin. No. 11 LSU trounced Clemson 51-10 at home in his debut as the Tigers’ head coach. After a week of headlines and court hearings, Kiffin proved that while it would be great to add former NFL players to his team, he doesn’t really need them because his team is stacked with talent.

Lane Kiffin made headlines all last week, too, but this week the focus can be on the team on the field. (Photo by Derick Hingle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 16 of 28 passes for 231 yards with a touchdown and an interception and added 113 rushing yards and two more touchdowns. Running back Dilin Jones also had 113 rushing yards and two scores, while defensive end Jordan Ross returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded a sack.

LSU overcame a weather delay, drama and some early mistakes – Leavitt’s first quarter pick led to a Clemson field goal – to prove that while they have a head coach who isn’t going to shy away from the spotlight, the Tigers seem to be a legitimate contender this season regardless of anything else.

Player Of The Week: Malachi Toney

Miami receiver Malachi Toney set a school-record with 234 yards receiving and No. 7 Miami rolled Stanford 45-6 on the road on Friday night. Toney connected with Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah for three touchdowns, including on the Hurricanes’ first two drives. His third came on a 47-yard bomb in the third quarter, which is the play that ultimately gave Toney the record.

Mensah, meanwhile, was practically perfect, completing 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns.

Malachi Toney played his way right into early Heisman conversations with his Week 1 performance. (Photo by Michael Pimentel/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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It’s clear this duo is going to have a tremendous impact this season as the Hurricanes try to get back to the national championship game. And add Toney to the Heisman Trophy conversation. Entering the season, the award was mostly stacked with quarterback candidates as well as Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. But Toney should be part of the conversation, too. 

CFP Impact Game Of The Week: Oregon Over Boise State

Oregon got what coach Dan Lanning described as a “wake-up call” when his second-ranked team was nearly upset by Boise State at home in Week 1. The Ducks won 34-27, but didn’t look the part of a national championship contender as they got off to a slow start and struggled to get into a rhythm. 

Quarterback Dante Moore helped lead Oregon to victory, but more will be needed against tougher opponents than Boise State. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)

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Expectations are high in Eugene this season with quarterback Dante Moore leading an uber-talented roster that’s made consecutive CFP appearances. Moore completed 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns in the win, but both he and Lanning were critical of their team post-game. They have things to fix as tougher opponents loom, including a late-September conference game against USC on the road before facing Ohio State, Michigan and Washington in November.

This result against Boise will be talked about by the CFP committee later on in the season for sure, but if the Ducks can handle the rest of their opponents, then it won’t matter. On the flip side, if the Broncos become the Group of Six leader, then this result might end up looking pretty good for both teams.

   Biggest Storyline Into Week 2: Conference Supremacy

Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood passes the ball against Oklahoma in 2025. (Photo by Chad Hamilton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The spotlight will be on two SEC-Big Ten matchups. Week 2 features No. 1 Ohio State traveling to No. 5 Texas as well as No. 10 Oklahoma heading to No. 16 Michigan. It’s rivals playing rivals!

Last year, the Buckeyes beat the Longhorns 14-7 in Columbus, and it was both Manning and Sayin’s first starts. Sayin went on to lead the country in completing 77% of his passes, while Manning was a bit more up and down before finding his stride later in the year. Both quarterbacks are in the Heisman discussion this year, and this matchup — the teams’ third meeting since January 2025 — will be an early indicator of who has a leg up in the CFP race.

The Sooners and Wolverines also played last year, with Oklahoma winning 24-13 in Norman. Michigan will be desperate to show they’re not the team that nearly lost to Western Michigan in Week 1, while Oklahoma hopes to move itself up the standings of SEC powers with a strong non-conference victory.

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Mike Pereira explains controversial decision to add one second back at end of Michigan game Joel Klatt Show

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The long, hot summer is finally over, and it hasn’t gone well for everyone. Some teams were hit by injuries, others by looming suspensions, and a few got to see just how bad they really were.

Meanwhile, Aaron Donald officially returned to the Los Angeles Rams — as if they needed any more help.

 Anyway, the prelude is over, and the NFL Kickoff Game is almost here. Here are my Power Rankings as the 2026 season begins.

*Super Bowl odds courtesy of DraftKings

Super Bowl odds: +35000

It’s a good thing there are other things to do in South Florida during the fall, because watching the Dolphins is going to be painful. One practice a few weeks ago was more than enough to convince me they’re the worst team in the league.

Super Bowl odds: +50000

They have so many young, exciting skill players, but still no QB to make it all work. And now RB Jeremiyah Love has an ankle injury that could keep him out of the opener, too.

With one year left on his deal with Cleveland, can Deshaun Watson reclaim his Texans form. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +20000

So, Deshaun Watson “won” the QB battle over Shedeur Sanders and everyone in Cleveland seems unhappy about it. Wait until they see him play in the regular season.

Super Bowl odds: +15000

The ankle injury to RB Ashton Jeanty is bad news for a team that didn’t have many weapons to begin with. Starting veteran QB Kirk Cousins will bring early stability. But this season is all about letting rookie Fernando Mendoza eventually play and grow.

Super Bowl odds: +20000

There are a lot of things to like about the Jets, including a veteran defense, a strong offensive line, and a handful of talented skill players. If only they had a QB to go with them. Geno Smith is the anchor on this promising ship.

Super Bowl odds: +13000

QB Cam Ward has had a very uneven summer, which isn’t a good sign. If OC Brian Daboll can get him pointed in the right direction, there’s enough around him for the Titans to be a hard team to beat. But right now, that’s a big “if.”

Super Bowl odds: +6000

They are putting absolutely everything on QB Jayden Daniels and the hope that he’ll recapture his rookie magic. The problem, though, is the offensive line may not be able to properly protect him.

Super Bowl odds: +9000

I was starting to believe in the Saints as a surprise playoff contender and was ready to move them atop the other pretenders in the NFC South. But the hamstring injury that will keep promising rookie WR Jordyn Tyson out until mid-October has shaken my faith.

Will Tua Tagovailoa make the most of his second chance with the Falcons? (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +13000

Yikes, what a quarterback mess in Atlanta. Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t been very good and Michael Penix Jr. isn’t fully healthy yet. Tua got the Week 1 nod, but neither seems like a viable option right now.

Super Bowl odds: +7000

Odell Beckham is back, but a fourth WR doesn’t move the needle much. I’m still waiting to see how back WR Malik Nabers and RB Cam Skattebo really are. They could make the Giants a surprise team, especially with a defense that could end up in the top 10.

Super Bowl odds: +5500

Health and Baker Mayfield’s contract distraction were my biggest concerns in the previous rankings. The latter has finally been resolved, but WRs Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan are still battling summer injuries.

Super Bowl odds: +9000

This whole division is ranked low, because … well, let’s face it, the division is lousy. Someone will eventually emerge, but it’s really a big toss-up. The Panthers are a top candidate as the defending “champs.” But it all depends on the lagging growth of QB Bryce Young.

Super Bowl odds: +5000

The second of my underrated teams, I liked what I saw out of them in my visit to Latrobe, Pa. Aaron Rodgers still looks old, but he also looks sharp, and the front office has put a nice array of weapons around him. The Steelers’ ceiling is a little lower, though, because the division has improved.

Super Bowl odds: +6000

There are two teams I fear I have vastly underrated in my preseason Power Rankings, and the Colts are one of them. I still have my doubts about Daniel Jones’ ability to bounce back from a major injury again. But so far, so good for him.

Will Kyler Murray be rejuvenated by playing for a playoff contender again? (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +5000

QB Kyler Murray was fine this summer, but it’ll take a lot more than that to make me believe he can lead this decent Vikings team in a brutally tough division. It’s possible, though. Kevin O’Connell only has to turn back the clock to 2024.

Super Bowl odds: +2500

A lot of people around the NFL like what the Cowboys have done to fix their shoddy defense this offseason. It definitely should be improved, but enough to make them a contender? Their elite offense still may have to do most of the work.

Super Bowl odds: +2000

I think the whole state of Wisconsin is mad at me for this, but I’m leaving the Packers here for two main reasons: Micah Parsons’ continuing recovery (torn ACL) and RB Josh Jacobs’ placement on the Commissioner Exempt List.

Super Bowl odds: +1600

Patrick Mahomes may be on track to start the season opener, but will he be the same old superstar? The Chiefs have the chance to rise or fall quickly in these rankings based on the early answer to that.

Super Bowl odds: +1700

New OC Mike McDaniel seems to have injected a bolt of energy (no pun intended) into a team that desperately needed it. If that mixes with his offensive brilliance, this might be the rare Chargers team that exceeds its potential.

Super Bowl odds: +1900

I was all ready to move the Lions up even further, but the back injury to No. 2 RB Isaiah Pachecho has made me hesitate. Looks like Jahmyr Gibbs will have to earn his three-year, $67.5 million extension from the start.

Will Trevor Lawrence finally emerge as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL? (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +3000

The entire receiving corps was banged up in the preseason, and the RB room was questionable to begin with. Really, the only reason to have faith in this team at all is the wizardry of head coach Liam Coen.

Super Bowl odds: +1800

They had hope that WR Jayden Higgins would emerge as a much-needed No. 2 WR, but a torn ACL ruined that. Their league-best defense is going to have to do a lot of the heavy lifting again.

Super Bowl odds: +1900

Outside the season-ending injury to WR Ricky Pearsall, it looks like all their pieces will be in place for Week 1. So consider the Niners a provisional entry in the top 10, but keep the duct tape handy just in case.

Super Bowl odds: +1700

Summer hamstring injuries to DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon were a reminder of just how big a gamble it was to trade A.J. Brown. Lane Johnson’s extended absence was a reminder of the offensive line’s age. But the injury to edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is the real concern.

Super Bowl odds: +1800

I waffle on the Bengals because they really could go either way. With Joe Burrow back, surrounded by an elite set of skill players and an improved defense, they could be a Super Bowl contender. Or they could start slow again, and Zac Taylor could be gone by mid-October. It’s a coin flip.

How will Josh Allen fare with a new head coach? (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +1000

Summer injuries to WRs Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir were a dangerous reminder that receiver is still a problem for this team. Man, if they can properly address that position, look out.

Super Bowl odds: +2400

Maybe I’ve got too much faith in Ben Johnson and QB Caleb Williams. Maybe I’m just ignoring the concerning knee injury suffered by RB Kyle Monangai. Or maybe the Bears really are ready to pop.

Super Bowl odds: +1800

A much-harder schedule still looms large over their heads. But QB Drake Maye was nearly the MVP last season without an elite receiver. Now he’s got a new No. 1 in still-elite A.J. Brown.

Super Bowl odds: +1200

If the reports out of Seattle are right, they are prepared to prove me wrong. Rookie RB Jadarian Price has gotten rave reviews for his elusiveness this summer. Maybe he can replace Kenneth Walker III and step in for the injured Zach Charbonnet. Maybe.

Super Bowl odds: +1000

New coach Jesse Minter has a lot to prove, but at least he has the Big 3 of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers to help him prove it. And don’t rule out help from rookie WR Ja’Kobi Lane, a third-round pick who had a big summer.

Can Bo Nix take a leap in Year 3? (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Super Bowl odds: +2000

Sean Payton knows there’s unfinished business after QB Bo Nix’s injury was probably all that stood between the Broncos and the Super Bowl last year. And now Nix is healthy and has a new shiny toy in WR Jaylen Waddle.
 

Super Bowl odds: +500

Hey, Aaron Donald’s back! So the rich get richer. Summer injuries to DE Myles Garrett (knee) and WR Puka Nacua (groin) were a reminder that things can change. But Donald’s return strengthens their grip on the top.

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Will we see Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani take the mound again this season?

“Most likely, no,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton when asked about pitching again this season following the team’s Monday night win at home over the Cincinnati Reds, per MLB.com. “I’m going to be focusing on hitting moving forward.”

Ohtani’s Monday night presence in the Dodgers’ lineup marked the end of a four-game absence, as the four-time MVP has been dealing with knee inflammation, right biceps discomfort and neck discomfort, among other issues. While he has consistently been in the Dodgers’ lineup as the team’s designated hitter, Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3.

Across the 14 starts he has made this year, Ohtani boasts a 1.79 ERA, an 0.95 WHIP and a 231 ERA+, while totaling 95 strikeouts and three wins above replacement in 85 ⅔ innings pitched.

“I’m confident that my overall performance should be better moving forward,” Ohtani said. “I think the thing that I was more focused on was making sure that the pitching wouldn’t cause the worst-case scenario, which was for me to not be able to play at all.”

Ohtani finished the 6-3 win on Monday night 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts.

“We’ve put a pin in throwing and just having him focus on the hitting, the running, keeping his legs good and doing whatever it takes to help us win,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about Ohtani in a pregame press conference on Monday night.

Ohtani didn’t pitch for the Dodgers in his debut season with the franchise in 2024, as he recovered from a torn UCL suffered in Aug. 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels, but the six-time All-Star went on to have the first 50-50 season (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases) in MLB history.

Ohtani made 14 starts for the Dodgers in the 2025 regular season, gradually working his way back to being a starting pitcher, and was part of the team’s postseason starting rotation en route to Los Angeles repeating as World Series champions.

As for his work with the bat, Ohtani has recorded 30 home runs, 80 RBIs, a 148 OPS+ and 3.5 wins above replacement, while sporting a .277/.380/.522 slash line.

Los Angeles has won five consecutive games (87-57) and has a two-game lead on the Atlanta Braves for the No. 2 seed in the National League playoffs. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are 1.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top seed in the NL.

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Twenty days left. The margin for error is gone. It’s time to drill down on the teams in playoff contention. 

For the purposes of this exercise, we’re including only those teams within five games of a playoff spot as of Tuesday morning. In future iterations, teams will be added and subtracted as they move into and out of the playoff picture. 

Here are our latest contender rankings, along with one X-factor on each team who could help swing the playoff races. 

A 68-76 record would rank last in the NL Central. Lucky for the Twins, they’re in the AL Central. And while a lot of the attention is on recent outfield call-up Walker Jenkins, it’s shortstop Kaelen Culpepper who has been the team’s standout rookie so far. 

Shortstop Kaelen Culpepper is stealing the rookie show in Minnesota. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

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Just when it seemed like we might have to start taking the Orioles more seriously, they went and lost six straight games, including two to the Rockies and four to the division-rival Red Sox. Utility man Coby Mayo, however, helped snap the skid with a two-homer game and is emerging as an important power threat as Pete Alonso cools off.

Cal Quantrill has a 1.18 ERA in six starts (seven appearances) since the beginning of August. It’s the lowest mark among all qualified MLB starters over that stretch, and it comes at an important time for the Rangers with Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter injured. 

It was pretty much home run or bust for Cardinals prospect Joshua Báez in August, but he’s demonstrating more than that to start September. The rookie outfielder has hits in each of his first seven games of the month, including two homers and two doubles. 

Joshua Báez started his big-league career with a homer binge and is now starting to hit more consistently. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images)

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With second baseman Xavier Edwards hurt and All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez slowing down, Javier Sanoja has risen to the occasion. Sanoja is tied for the MLB lead in hits through the first week of September and has been on base a ton lately. He just … has to stay on base. 

The Blue Jays hoped the additions of pitchers José Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti might help offset the departure of Kevin Gausman as they looked toward the future at the deadline. But it’s one of the prospects they got from the Cubs for Gausman who is making the biggest impact on the team’s late-season playoff push. Since outfielder Brett Bateman was called up on Aug. 7, he leads the team in hits, batting average, runs scored and fWAR. 

For all the talk about rookies Parker Messick and Travis Bazzana in Cleveland, I’m not sure outfielder/DH Chase DeLauter has gotten his full due. He has been the Guardians’ best hitter since the start of August — he’s slashing .357/.427/.541 over that time with an OPS over 1.000 in his past 20 games — so his recent wrist sprain is worth monitoring. The Guardians can ill afford to have DeLauter on the IL. 

With a dearth of starting options in Houston, Hayden Wesneski’s return from Tommy John surgery has brought a needed boost. Since the beginning of August, Wesneski has the lowest ERA in the Astros’ rotation. 

Hayden Wesneski has given the Astros a boost since his return from Tommy John surgery. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)

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In his first game back from a flexor strain, starter Nick Pivetta fired five scoreless innings on Monday. That’s a great sign for the rotation, which hasn’t gotten consistent production from deadline additions Casey Mize and Robbie Ray. 

While we’re talking significant pitching boosts, Corbin Burnes is expected to make his 2026 debut on Tuesday. The four-time All-Star hasn’t pitched since June 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery just 11 starts into his six-year, $210 million contract with Arizona. 

The addition of Luis Castillo at the deadline has not provided much for a White Sox rotation that ranks 26th in MLB in ERA. That’s why the return of Davis Martin, one of the biggest All-Star snubs, could be huge if he can recapture his early-season form. Martin fired 5.2 scoreless innings last Wednesday in his first start back from a blister issue. 

Adley Rutschman and Roman Anthony both get a mention here. After a dreadfully slow start to his Boston tenure, Rutschman has homered three times in his last four games. Meanwhile, Anthony was on fire in his first five games back from the IL (10-for-22, five XBH) before cooling off in Baltimore. Still, the Red Sox have won five straight, and they’re going to be tough to slow down if they can get both players going at the same time. 

You could count the entire Cubs pitching staff as X-factors, but after adding starters Clay Holmes and Kevin Gausman at the deadline, the biggest question in Chicago is high-leverage relief. Who are the arms the Cubs will trust late in games when it matters most? And could injured pitchers Justin Steele or Edward Cabrera figure into that mix before year’s end? The team has three more weeks to sort that out. 

The Phillies decided against adding a fifth starter at the deadline, despite Andrew Painter holding an ERA over 6.00 at the time. Since then, Painter has a 3.15 ERA over his past six starts. The second-half improvements of both Painter and Aaron Nola (who has a 2.31 ERA over his past eight starts) have helped ease the concern about the depth of this rotation. 

We all know Aaron Judge’s health matters more than anything else for the Yankees going forward. But as the Yankees welcome their captain back, he’s going to need some help to get this offense back above league average. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been a lot more productive over his past 15 games, and if he can keep that going, that might take some pressure off of Judge. 

Has Freddy Peralta started to figure things out? After an inauspicious start to his Rays tenure, Peralta has allowed just one run over his past two starts. He has another test Tuesday, but he’s trending in the right direction. 

The Dodgers have received little production from their corner outfielders this year, but Teoscar Hernandez seems to be turning a corner. He has 13 hits, including five extra-base hits, over his last eight games, and he just launched a three-run homer at 112.6 mph off the bat on Monday. Seven of his nine hardest-hit balls this season have come in September. 

Which qualified NL starter has the lowest ERA since the trade deadline? That would be Tyler Mahle, who has a 1.24 ERA in six starts since joining Atlanta and is quieting the criticism the Braves received for their quiet deadline. The Braves lack depth in the rotation behind ace Chris Sale, so it’ll be interesting to see if Mahle can keep this going into October. 

Tyler Mahle wasn’t a big-name deadline addition for the Braves, but he has provided big production since his arrival in Atlanta. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

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With Kyle Harrison looking more vulnerable of late, who else in the Brewers’ rotation might step up as a potential Game 2 starter behind ace Jacob Misiorowski? The answer appears to be Logan Henderson, who has a 1.67 ERA over his last four starts and a 2.20 ERA over his last 11 starts. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his 15 starts this season, and he’s showing why the Brewers made him off limits at the deadline. 

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Derrick Henry wants something to do in February.

“I want to win a Super Bowl. That’s a big motivation. I just want to be able to feel that feeling. I’m tired of watching. Every year, I’m tired of being at home on the couch watching,” the Baltimore Ravens star running back said in an appearance on “The Lounge” podcast.

“I want to be a part of it. That’s what’s motivating me right now. I’m going to keep going until we get to that point. We have the 2026 season to get that accomplished.”

Last season (2024), Henry, a 2020 All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler, rushed for 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry. Meanwhile, he led the NFL with 17 carries of 20-plus yards and has finished second in rushing yards in each of his two seasons with the Ravens (2024-25).

All that said, Baltimore missed the playoffs at 8-9 last year and fired head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons in favor of former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator and former Ravens assistant coach Jesse Minter. In Henry’s first season in Baltimore (2024), the Ravens were eliminated by the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round.

“It would be crazy for me to say I played with Lamar Jackson, and we didn’t win any championships,” Henry said. “I cannot have that. I do not want that to be a thing. We’ve got to do it.”

Henry has led the NFL in rushing touchdowns three times (2019, 2020 and 2024) and rushing touchdowns twice (2019 and 2020), including rushing for 2,027 yards in 2020 with the Tennessee Titans, with whom he played the first eight seasons of his career (2016-23). The 32-year-old back is one of just nine players to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season.

Moreover, Henry is fourth in NFL history with 122 rushing touchdowns and 10th with 13,018 rushing yards. Should Henry continue to produce at or near the rate he has put forth since 2022 (1,555.3 rushing yards and 14.3 rushing touchdowns per year) this season, he’ll become third all-time in rushing scores and sixth in rushing yards.

As for Henry’s backfield companion, Jackson, the 2019 and 2023 NFL MVP, missed four starts last year due to hamstring and back injuries, respectively. Jackson recorded a 103.8 passer rating, marking the third consecutive season that the superstar quarterback posted a passer rating north of 100.

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On Monday against the Brewers, Pete Crow-Armstrong stole bases 34 and 35 of the season in a 4-3 loss for the Cubs. While Chicago’s fans can’t be thrilled about taking the L against their rivals from Milwaukee, PCA’s thievery put him into rare territory: that second steal made Pete Crow-Armstrong just the 19th member of the 35 home run, 35 steals club.

It’s the 25th such player season with at least 35 homers and 35 bags, as five players have pulled it off twice — Willie Mays, Bobby Bonds, Barry Bonds, Alfonso Soriano and Ronald Acuña Jr. — while Soriano actually managed it on three occasions, in 2002, 2003 and then 2006. 

Here is the complete list of 35/35 players and seasons:

Player	Season	Team	Home Runs	Stolen Bases
Ken Williams	1922	Orioles	39	37
Willie Mays	1956	Giants	36	40
Willie Mays	1957	Giants	35	38
Bobby Bonds	1973	Giants	39	43
Bobby Bonds	1977	Angels	37	41
Eric Davis	1987	Reds	37	50
Darry Strawberry	1987	Mets	39	36
José Canseco	1988	Athletics	42	40
Howard Johnson	1989	Mets	36	41
Barry Bonds	1996	Giants	42	40
Barry Bonds	1997	Giants	42	37
Shawn Green	1998	Blue Jays	35	35
Alex Rodriguez	1998	Mariners	42	46
Vladimir Guerrero	2002	Nationals	39	40
Alfonso Soriano	2002	Yankees	39	41
Alfonso Soriano	2003	Yankees	38	35
Carlos Beltran	2004	Royals/Astros	38	34
Alfonso Soriano	2006	Nationals	46	41
Matt Kemp	2011	Dodgers	39	40
Ronald Acuña Jr.	2019	Braves	41	37
Ronald Acuña Jr.	2023	Braves	41	73
Shohei Ohtani	2024	Dodgers	54	59
José Ramírez	2025	Guardians	39	41
Juan Soto	2025	Mets	43	38
Pete Crow-Armstrong	2026	Cubs	41	35

Crow-Armstrong was close to making it in 2025, when he hit 31 homers with 35 steals, but a second-half slump kept him from getting any closer: PCA batted .265/.302/.544 with 25 homers and 27 steals before the All-Star break in ‘25, but then hit a dismal .216/.262/.372 with just six more homers and eight more steals in the second half. While his 2026 started similarly slow, a switch flipped before May ended: on May 30, he went yard for the seventh time and pushed his OPS over .700 to stay, and has batted an absurd .316/.412/.707 since with 35 dingers and 23 steals.

He’s now leading the National League in slugging percentage (.577) and OPS (.953), while his 41 homers put him second in the majors behind Phillies’ DH Kyle Schwarber, who has 43. Thanks to his defense, Crow-Armstrong is leading the majors in wins above replacement, and has a genuine shot at the National League MVP award thanks to not just his incredible play, but the fact that Dodgers’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3. 

The Cubs lost, but Pete Crow-Armstrong made history with a pair of steals, anyway. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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The result of this sustained success — the likes of which PCA had never seen in his pro career before — is becoming a 35/35 player, which is a rarity unto itself. Even the 30/30 club isn’t a constant: there have been just 51 instances of a 30/30 season in MLB’s lengthy history, with 19 players managing the feat more than once — PCA being the most recent to do so. It follows that 35 homers and 35 steals is rarer than 30 of each, but rarer still is the 40/40 club. There are just six members of that one, and not one of them has repeated the trick. Pete Crow-Armstrong has 17 games left to get five steals to become the seventh 40/40 player in MLB history.

Each of the players who have managed 40/40 seasons are also included in the 35/35 list above: José Canseco pulled it off in 1988 for the first time in MLB history; Barry Bonds followed in 1996 with the second 40-steal season of his career; Alex Rodriguez made it in 1998 with his only 40-steal season and first of what would be eight campaigns with at least 40 dingers; Alfonso Soriano, after a near miss in ‘02 when he fell one long ball short, got there in 2006; Ronald Acuña Jr. was three steals shy of 40/40 in 2019, but blew by the mark with 73 thefts in 2023; Shohei Ohtani didn’t just become the sixth member of the 40/40 club, but stands alone as the only 50/50 member thanks to 54 homers and 59 steals in 2024.

PCA isn’t there yet, but he not only has the chance to join the 40/40 club, but could also have produced its best season to date. Shohei Ohtani’s wins above replacement in 2024 were 8.9 and 9.0, from FanGraphs and Baseball Reference, respectively — not playing the field, and not pitching, means he had no additional value beyond his admittedly exceptional offense. Acuña was worth 9.1 fWAR and 8.4 bWAR in ‘23, Soriano’s 2006 had him at just 5.4 and 6.1 — offensive levels were higher league-wide then — and Rodriguez posted 7.9 and a league-leading 8.5, respectively, in 1998, but it was also just the fifth-best season of his career by WAR. A-Rod had a pretty great career. Canseco in ‘88, well, he wasn’t exactly known for his defense, so as good as his bat was, he wrapped the year with a career-best 7.6 fWAR and 7.3 bWAR.

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Then there’s Barry Bonds in 1996. Bonds is basically the final boss of most offensive stats, so it makes sense that he’s the one player standing in Pete Crow-Armstrong’s way right now. Bonds produced 9.2 wins above replacement by FanGraphs’ calculations, but 9.9 via Baseball Reference — PCA, with 17 games left to go, is already ahead of Bonds in fWAR at 9.9, and real close in bWAR, at 9.5. If Crow-Armstrong is able to secure another five steals and pick up another bit of wins above replacement before the season ends, then it’s going to be easy to argue — at least from this particular point of view — that we just witnessed the best overall 40/40 season in MLB history.

And if PCA falls just short of 40/40, or remains behind Bonds instead of ahead of him in both WAR calculations, well. This is still a ridiculous campaign worth remembering — at least he made it so far as 35/35, which is rare enough as it is.

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The days of young quarterbacks patiently waiting for their turn to take over after they learn the NFL game are mostly a thing of the past.

That’s what made the Las Vegas Raiders ‘ decision to keep No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza on the bench to start the season behind Kirk Cousins a little unusual, even if it was telegraphed from the moment he was picked.

Mendoza is the first quarterback taken No. 1 overall to start his career on the bench since Baker Mayfield in 2018, with the last six since then earning Week 1 starts. Mayfield came in as a reserve for Cleveland in Week 3 that season and made his first start the following week. When Mendoza does it remains to be seen.

But with Mendoza and No. 13 pick Ty Simpson of the Los Angeles Rams starting the season as reserves, this marks just the second time in the last 19 seasons that no rookie quarterback will start the season opener. It also happened in 2022, when Kenny Pickett was the only QB taken in the first round when he went 20th to Pittsburgh.

Before that, it hadn’t happened since 2007 when JaMarcus Russell was drafted first overall by the Raiders. He held out that summer and didn’t sign a contract until after the opener. He didn’t start that season until the final game.

There were three rookie quarterbacks starting the opener in three of the previous five seasons as teams have become quicker to turn over the reins as the differences between the college and pro games have lessened.

That’s been especially true of No. 1 picks for a long time. Mendoza is the 30th quarterback taken first overall since the start of the common draft era in 1967. 

Twenty of those QBs started the season opener as rookies and all but one made at least one start in their first year, with only Carson Palmer in 2003 missing out. Palmer didn’t play at all that season for Cincinnati before taking over in 2004.

Three others made their first starts early with Tim Couch (Game 2), Mayfield and Alex Smith (Game 5) getting the chance in the opening weeks. Michael Vick made his first start in the eighth game in 2001, while Eli Manning (Game 10), Jared Goff (Game 10), Vinny Testaverde (Game 12) and Russell didn’t get the chance until late in their rookie seasons.

The Raiders also will tie a record by having a different head coach and different starting quarterback for the opener in four straight seasons. The streak started in 2023 with coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, followed by Antonio Pierce and Gardner Minshew in 2024, Pete Carroll and Geno Smith in 2025 and now Klint Kubiak and Cousins.

The only other team to do that was the Houston Texans from 2020-23, with coach Bill O’Brien and Deshaun Watson the first year, followed by David Culley and Tyrod Taylor, Lovie Smith and Davis Mills, and DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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While we’re all making our final preseason predictions before the start of the 2026 NFL regular season, there’s something else I want to do before the year gets going: plant the flag. 

Before the games get going, I’m planting the flag on some players (and an assistant coach) to exceed expectations and dominate headlines this season. That includes a pair of veterans looking to bounce back after relatively down seasons, and a pair of second-year pros who are ready to make the leap in 2026. I’m also buying stock in a first-year defensive coordinator with a bright future in coaching and could be a name to know in the next head coaching cycle. 

So, let’s plant the flag.

A reminder: A.J. Brown is just 28. You wouldn’t know it based on the offseason conversation surrounding Drake Maye’s new weapon. You’d think he was a 30-something receiver coming off an unproductive season and not one who’s still in the prime of his career and coming off yet another 1,000-yard campaign, despite playing in the league’s most dysfunctional passing game. 

The “washed up” talk is a bit premature, and I firmly believe that Brown is about to remind the NFL that he’s still one of the league’s scariest receivers. 

Even during a frustrating season, Brown showed why defenses fear him. He destroys press-man coverage and will dunk on a cornerback in one-on-one situations downfield. Only Tee Higgins and George Pickens tallied more receiving yards against press coverage in 2025, according to Next Gen Stats. And while Brown has lost some speed — he hasn’t hit 20 mph on a play in nearly two seasons — he can still create quick separation on short routes with physicality and sharp route running. 

Brown has mastered the art of pushing off right at the edge of the five-yard mark, when hand fighting is still legal. 

Opposing defenses were still treating Brown like a star last season. He’d routinely get extra attention in obvious passing situations, whether it was a safety over the top to prevent vertical shots or bracket coverage on short in-breaking routes. 

Brown remains a monster at the catch point, but in 2025, the quality and quantity of his tight-window targets dipped. Jalen Hurts targeted him on just 41 tight-window throws, the lowest mark of Brown’s four-year stint in Philadelphia, and his expected catch rate was just 53.5%, per Next Gen Stats. He still managed to haul in over 60% of those passes, showing his contested catch prowess. 

And that’s why I’m so bullish on Brown in 2026. Maye was the league’s best quarterback on tight-window throws, leading the NFL in both expected points added (EPA) and completion percentage over expected (CPOE) by a wide margin. He accomplished that with Stefon Diggs, who’s certainly past his prime, as his go-to target in those situations. Now that he has the league’s preeminent 50/50 ball winner out there with him, Maye will feel even more free to let it rip on those tight window throws. 

This is really a vote of confidence for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, whose reputation as a quarterback whisperer took a hit after J.J. McCarthy’s short-lived stint as Minnesota’s quarterback of the future. McCarthy’s play was so poor it obscured the improvement elsewhere along the offense. The Vikings’ offense went from bad in 2024 to above average last season; the offensive line allowed fewer pressures and O’Connell’s play designs kept getting receivers open. 

McCarthy just couldn’t make the plays that were there to be made. He finished dead last in accurate throw rate, per Pro Football Focus. McCarthy also finished last in completion percentage over expected on attempts, with a completion probability over 75%, per Next Gen Stats. He couldn’t even hit the layups O’Connell set up for him. 

Kyler Murray started five games for the Cardinals last season before suffering a season-ending foot injury. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

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In 2024, Murray finished sixth in that same stat. The ability to hit the gimme throws will be a big boon to the Vikings’ passing game. And Murray’s play under pressure should also raise the bar quite a bit. McCarthy struggled to extend plays in the face of pressure and had one of the higher pressure-to-sack rates in the league. Murray will take his fair share of sacks, but he looks like Tom Brady in the pocket compared to his younger backup. 

Murray’s presence in the backfield should also boost Minnesota’s run game. Defenses have to account for him pulling the ball on option runs, which was less of a concern with McCarthy under center.

But let’s be honest: Murray’s performance this season won’t be measured by comparisons to McCarthy’s 2025 campaign. Sam Darnold’s run in 2024 will be the point of comparison. We haven’t seen much of Murray over the past year, so it’s difficult to say if he’s still a better quarterback than Darnold in a vacuum, but we can say this: Murray is stepping into a more balanced offense, and all the key contributors who helped Darnold get his career back on track are still around. 

Murray putting up a top-10 season would not surprise me. 

With George Kittle nearing the end of his prime and Travis Kelce nearly at the end of his career, the “best tight end in the league” title belt is up for grabs, and Chicago’s Colston Loveland is my pick to snatch it this season. 

I don’t even know where to start. Loveland is everything you want in a tight end. He’s a massive human being who can box out smaller defensive backs in the red zone. He’s got enough wiggle to skate past linebackers who dare to cover him. And while he isn’t a burner, he gets down the seam in a hurry and can go outside of his frame to haul in passes. 

Loveland can line up out wide, in the slot, or attached to the offensive line like a traditional tight end. And he’s already a solid in-line blocker in the run game and can hold his own against defensive ends in pass protection. 

He got off to a quiet start in his rookie season, but he became a key figure in the Bears’ passing attack down the stretch, getting double-digit targets in each of Chicago’s last four games. Expect that to carry over into the 2026 season. While Loveland will draw more attention from defenses, Bears coach Ben Johnson makes it hard to hone in on his second-year star by moving him all over the formation, letting him pick out matchups he wants to exploit. Loveland’s versatility makes it all possible.  

Arizona’s Trey McBride is another candidate to take the TE1 mantle, if he hasn’t already taken it. But McBride’s in a far worse situation, with questions at quarterback and an inexperienced head coach. The same goes for Brock Bowers in Las Vegas. 

The race for the first-team All-Pro spot at tight end will likely come down to Loveland and those two, and I’ve got the Bears tight end narrowly beating them out. 

I cannot wait to watch this Chargers’ offense now that Mike McDaniel is coordinating it. While the prospect of Justin Herbert slinging the ball downfield is the main attraction, second-year running back Omarion Hampton, the team’s 2025 first-round pick, will be the player who benefits most from McDaniel’s arrival. 

Miami’s passing game may have crumbled in McDaniel’s final season, but his run game was as explosive as ever. Without the threat of Tyreek Hill blowing the top off the secondary, defenses could pack the box with run defenders with more confidence, forcing McDaniel to devise more creative ways to get Devon Achane out to the edge of the defense. He came up with some wild ideas, using wonky motions and backfield formations to set up advantageous blocking angles and give Achane a straight-line path to the second level as he built up speed. 

Watch how fullback Alex Ingold, who followed McDaniel to the Chargers, toys with the Bills linebacker and eventually creates a rushing lane for Achane. 

Achane hit 15 mph on 70 run attempts in 2025, which easily led the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. His average speed when he crossed the line of scrimmage ranked second behind Seattle’s Kenneth Walker. At times, it looked as if McDaniel was firing Achane out of a cannon, right into an open rush lane. 

If McDaniel can do the same for Hampton, he should be in for a monster season. Hampton doesn’t have Achane’s speed, but he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and can be a nightmare to bring down in the open field due to his size. We didn’t see his top-end speed often in 2025, though. Hampton was hit behind the line of scrimmage on 53% of his attempts, trailing only Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren, per Next Gen Stats. Despite L.A.’s run-blocking issues, Hampton maintained a 4.4-yard rushing average and a solid 41.9% success rate. 

Expect a big increase in both stats now that McDaniel is dialing up plays for him. 

Listen to a Christian Parker press conference, and you’ll understand why folks in Dallas are excited about the new Cowboys defensive coordinator. The 34-year-old is a sharp football mind who can explain high-level concepts clearly and concisely. 

Parker also has an impressive coaching lineage, having worked under Vic Fangio and Vance Joseph, two of the sport’s best defensive coordinators. But Parker has never called plays, and we’ve seen plenty of coaches who can win a press conference but can’t coordinate a defense on game day. He still has plenty to prove. 

Given the state of the Cowboys defense, which is solid along the front seven despite lacking talent in the secondary, expectations for what constitutes a successful season for Parker have to be adjusted. Unless the first-year coordinator is a miracle worker, this won’t be a top-10 unit. Even an above-average finish would be considered a significant accomplishment. 

Parker’s primary task will be cutting down Dallas’s explosive play rate. No defense allowed more explosive plays last season, and the Cowboys were susceptible to big plays against both the run and the pass. 

Parker has harped on improving the team’s communication, which played a major role in the defensive breakdowns, especially in the secondary. Opponents racked up 483 yards on passes to deep targets to “open” receivers, per Next Gen Stats. No team was within 100 yards of them in that stat. Coverage busts like this were an all too familiar sight in Dallas last season. 

Parker’s former team, Philadelphia, ranked fourth-best in that same metric. If Parker can just solve that issue for Dallas, the defense should make the leap from “awful” to “mediocre.” That may not feel like much of an upgrade, but with one of the league’s best offenses on the other side of the ball, it would be enough to get the Cowboys back into the playoffs and push Parker up the list of head coaching candidates ahead of next year’s hiring cycle. 

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For the second time in two years, long-time Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Brandon Graham is hanging up his cleats.

Graham took center stage at a Jefferson Health event in Philadelphia to announce his retirement in person. This is the second time he has stepped away, having previously un-retired to rejoin the team last October.

At 38 years old, Graham leaves behind a respectable NFL résumé after entering the league in 2010 as the No. 13 overall pick out of Michigan. During his 16 seasons in the league, Graham earned two Super Bowl rings, a Pro Bowl nod and a Second-Team All-Pro selection.

The defining moment of Graham’s career came against the New England Patriots in the high-scoring shootout of Super Bowl LII, when he strip-sacked quarterback Tom Brady late in the fourth quarter.

The forced fumble set up a late field goal for Jake Elliott to extend the Eagles lead to eight points, effectively sealing the 41-33 victory. While his career had a quiet start, Graham grew into one of the most durable and impactful pass rushers in Eagles history.

Graham spent all 16 of his NFL seasons in Philadelphia, setting a franchise record with 215 games played. Over his career, Graham was able to produce 493 tackles, 79.5 sacks, 23 forced fumbles with 83.5 stuffs and tackles for loss.

With Graham now retired, the Eagles’ new-look pass rush takes over. 

General manager Howie Roseman traded for former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard this offseason to replace Brandon Graham’s production. Alongside Greenard’s arrival, expectations remain high for former 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith.

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