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What do the Chiefs, Bengals and Josh Allen have in common? They look scary good right now.

You know who’s not scaring anyone right now? The Dolphins. 

After the second week of NFL action in the 2026 season, I’m back with my best and worst superlatives, focusing on three categories: team developments, offensive performances and overall squad quality: 

Best Development For A Team This Week: Kenneth Walker’s Fit In The Chiefs’ Offense

The reigning Super Bowl MVP’s integration into the Chiefs’ offense is going as well as Kansas City could have possibly imagined, and the rest of the NFL should be concerned. Very concerned. 

Walker had 178 scrimmage yards on 30 touches in Kansas City’s overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night — 24 carries for 117 yards and six receptions for 61 yards. He had five touches on the team’s seven-play, game-winning field goal drive, including two first-down conversions (one on the ground, one as a pass-catcher). 

Ahead of Monday Night Football, the former Seahawk led the league in carries (47), rushing yards (290), touches (56) and scrimmage yards (369). He’s forced 29 missed tackles (!) through two weeks, according to Next Gen Stats. 

The start of the Patrick Mahomes era in Kansas City was defined by a prolific aerial attack. Then the Chiefs morphed into a defense-led team. And now, even though it’s still very early, we could be entering the ground-and-pound iteration of these Chiefs — with Walker as the focal point. He’s the most dynamic skill player they’ve had in Mahomes’ supporting cast since star receiver Tyreek Hill and the franchise’s best running back since prime Jamaal Charles (2009-14). 

For years, we’ve spent a lot of time wondering who’ll emerge as the Chiefs’ 1A receiver post-Hill. Rashee Rice has been that in flashes, but he hasn’t been on the field enough to show he’s dependable. With Walker, they may not need one. The attention he draws in the box opens up one-on-one opportunities downfield for speedsters like Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton, both of whom can take the top off of a defense. 

   Worst Development For Two Teams This Week: The Caleb Williams And Jayden Daniels Injuries

The top two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft suffered injuries within hours of each other on Sunday. 

First it was Bears QB Caleb Williams, sustaining a hamstring injury in Chicago’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota that required him to be carted to the locker room from the sideline. Then Commanders QB Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow — the same one he dislocated last season — in the second quarter of Washington’s 37-20 loss to Dallas. He was carted to the locker room as well. Both players were quickly ruled out. 

While Williams apparently avoided anything serious, the NFL world still awaits word on how long Daniels will be sidelined. 

Commanders HC Dan Quinn shares an update on QB Jayden Daniels, recaps loss to the Cowboys

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This may be jumping the gun a bit, but what first comes to mind in the wake of Daniels’ latest injury is what contract negotiations could look like between the quarterback and the Commanders this offseason, when he becomes extension eligible for the first time. 

Even if he’s not out for the year, Daniels missing a significant amount of time for the second straight season could make Washington hesitant about giving him a long-term commitment — or at least one near the top of the quarterback market. Daniels’ argument would be what has happened when he’s been healthy — the NFC Championship Game appearance when he was a rookie, for example — and how Washington has struggled when he’s not on the field. 

The best-case scenario may be picking up the fifth-year option in his rookie contract in the spring, and revisiting the extension conversation after the 2027 season. That’s the approach that C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans have taken this year.  

 

The Bills erupted for 41 points in their Week 2 victory over the Detroit Lions, with Allen registering five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing). Buffalo went 9-of-12 (75%) on third down and had 446 yards of offense, including more than 200 through the air and the ground. The Bills scored six touchdowns on their first eight possessions. It was a balanced, dominant attack for Buffalo, which leads the NFL in scoring through two weeks (pending MNF).  

The Bills’ offense is unstoppable right now because of Allen, who’s the best quarterback on the planet at the moment. If you’re not impressed by what he did against the Lions, who have a shaky defense, he did essentially the same thing in Buffalo’s season opener against the Texans, who have arguably the best defense in the NFL. 

Allen has nine total touchdowns (five passing, four rushing) and a 125.8 passer rating through two games. He’s in a flow state with new head coach Joe Brady, who’s been Buffalo’s offensive playcaller since midway through 2023. 

This is the version of Allen that can get the Bills to the mountaintop. And with Brady bringing a fresh approach as head coach, plus the addition of wide receiver DJ Moore, Buffalo may finally have what it needs to reach the Super Bowl.

Worst Offense This Week: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons’ quarterback hell took another turn in Atlanta’s embarrassing 34-3 home loss to Carolina. 

Making his second straight start with Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa inactive due to injuries, backup Cooper Rush lost a fumble on the Falcons’ first play from scrimmage. He also threw two interceptions. It was so bad for the Falcons offensively that their fans were booing six minutes into the game. 

And believe it or not, it kept getting worse. Undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Strand got an ovation when he checked into the game late in the third quarter, but his first career pass resulted in a pick-six. Strand also lost a fumble on Atlanta’s final drive. 

The only reason for hope for the Falcons right now is Penix’s reported Thursday return from last season’s torn ACL, and that’s just because we haven’t seen what he looks like in 2026. The results may not be any better than what Atlanta has gotten at the quarterback position to this point.

After all, it was Penix’s health concerns and inconsistent play that led to the offseason signing of veteran QB Tagovailoa, who had been given the starting job entering the season because Penix hadn’t been cleared for full practices until late August. Tagovailoa, who struggled in training camp and the preseason, has been sidelined the first two games because of an oblique injury suffered in practice in Week 1. 

Best Overall Team This Week: Cincinnati Bengals

We know what the Bengals are capable of offensively with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase & Co. — Chase’s spectacular touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone against tight coverage from All-Pro Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is Exhibit A. 

So this is really a testament to what Cincinnati is showing us on defense. 

The Texans on Sunday played without their top weapon in star receiver Nico Collins, but what the Bengals accomplished defensively was still very impressive. Cincinnati held Houston to 0-for-4 on fourth down and in the red zone, and kept the Texans to just 60 yards on 3.3 yards per carry. The Bengals generated 27 pressures on 62 Texans’ dropbacks and didn’t allow a touchdown for the first time since Week 3 of the 2022 season, according to Next Gen Stats. In its season opener, Cincinnati forced four turnovers against Tampa Bay. 

The Bengals have an argument as the NFL’s scariest team right now, given their ability to dominate on both sides of the ball. 

Worst Overall Team This Week: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are turning out to be just as bad as we all thought. They dropped to 0-2 with their 35-13 loss Sunday to the 49ers. 

Miami gave up touchdowns on San Francisco’s first five drives, and the Dolphins didn’t reach the end zone until the 2:30 mark of the fourth quarter, when quarterback Malik Willis connected with wide receiver Ryan Miller for a 77-yard touchdown in garbage time. It was a truly complete loss by Miami, which has been outscored 62-26 through two games. 

New Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley is looking for something on his call sheet that will work for his offensively-challenged team. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The only hope for the Dolphins comes in looking toward 2027, when they could secure the quarterback of the future through the draft and see growth from their young players. In Week 1, Miami had the most snaps played by rookies across the league (439), according to Next Gen Stats. 

NFL Related Stories

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Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald expects Sam Darnold to return to practice this week, but the quarterback’s status for this weekend’s game against the Washington Commanders remains uncertain.

Darnold sustained a glute injury in the first series of Seattle’s season opener against the New England Patriots. Drew Lock took over and helped the Seahawks to a 13-10 victory, then started Sunday’s 31-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

There was no timeline announced for Darnold’s return, but it appeared he could be back soon.

“Right now, the plan is for him to be out there in some capacity, and we’ll go from there,” Macdonald said Monday. “How much? We’ll see from here to Wednesday what that number is, but right now that’s the goal.”

Lock completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns — all to star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba — against the Cardinals.

Sam Darnold was a Pro Bowler in both 2024 and 2025. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)

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As of Monday, the Seahawks hadn’t determined how much work Darnold would get in practice ahead of the game at Washington.

“Obviously, this week is a little bit different with Sam’s situation being a little more up in the air going throughout the week,” Macdonald said. “So this is a little different approach in terms of our process about how we’ll handle our preparation throughout the week.”

In the opener, Lock went 16 of 22 for 187 yards and a touchdown, also to Smith-Njigba. Lock has not committed a turnover.

Macdonald said the transition to Lock has been smooth. The 29-year-old has mostly served as a backup since 2021 and saw little action last season as Darnold led Seattle to the Super Bowl title.

“I didn’t sense much difference in the attitude or the emotion of the team last week, which is a tremendous compliment to Drew. The things he’s been able to do, day-in and day-out, the types of practices and type of football he’s played out on the practice field throughout training camp, throughout his opportunities in the preseason, I sense a lot of confidence in what he brings to the table,” Macdonald said.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Paul Skenes is still Paul Skenes, but the Pittsburgh Pirates superstar right-hander is having a down year by his standards.

What’s the core reason for Skenes’ 2026 performance? Well, the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner thinks the 2026 World Baseball Classic “definitely affected the year” and “was kind of the root” of his struggles.

“Usually, that time of year [early March], you’re kind of ramping up and it’s a little bit slow. You can kind of get onto the slope and find your body. One live [batting practice], you’re topping at 97 [mph], and then the next you’re 98, 99. And that wasn’t the case this year. … Looking back, I don’t think that really helped,” Skenes said in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Skenes found success in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which took place from early-to-mid March. Over two starts for Team USA, he recorded a 1.08 ERA, an 0.96 WHIP and nine strikeouts over 8 ⅓ innings pitched, holding opponents to a .226 batting average.

Among the talking points surrounding Skenes this season has been his slight dip in velocity. Granted, his four-seam fastball is still registering in the mid-to-high 90s on the radar gun.

“When you go outing to outing, you don’t really see the big picture sometimes. And I think looking back, I can kind of see it now,” Skenes said. “Because early in the season, you can get away with stuff mechanically, or you might not be moving perfectly, but you’re fresh and the velocity is there because you’re feeling good. … You can’t get away with that in July and August and September.”

Through 31 starts, Skenes has recorded a 3.91 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP and a 114 ERA+, while totaling 192 strikeouts and 3.1 wins above replacement over 168.0 innings pitched.

For context, Skenes posted an NL-best 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 226 ERA+ last year, while totaling 216 strikeouts and eight wins above replacement. In 2025, Skenes gave up 11 home runs. This year, he has surrendered 19 home runs.

Paul Skenes has been an All-Star in each of his three seasons in the sport. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Moreover, Skenes posted a 1.96 ERA, an 0.95 WHIP and a 211 ERA+ over 23 starts in his 2024 rookie campaign (133.0 innings pitched), while racking up 170 strikeouts, 5.8 wins above replacement and finishing third in NL Cy Young Award voting.

“Stuff changes over the course of the season and from outing to outing. With that said, there’s been a lot more changes, outing to outing this year, that I kind of just don’t have an answer for body-wise,” Skenes expressed.

Skenes and the Pirates are 79-77. While eliminated from playoff contention, Pittsburgh has the chance to post its first winning season since 2018.

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Leave it to Matthew Stafford to buck the trend of a league-wide scoring collapse.

While most teams saw their scoring totals decline (and I’m looking at you, Chicago), the Los Angeles Rams and Stafford had an incredible bounce-back week against the New York Giants. His four touchdown passes Monday night put him sixth on two all-time lists: career passing TDs and games with at least four passing TDs. Stafford is already back to the guy that we thought he’d be.

He’s not the only one. (Looking at you, Patrick Mahomes.)

So let’s get into it. Welcome back to the QB Stock Market.

This isn’t your typical QB rankings. I’m focused on monitoring the fluctuations of starters’ performances throughout the season. No one — not even Josh Allen — is safe at the top. No one — not even Cooper Rush — is stuck at the bottom. There is room for quick ascent — and rapid decline. One question holds most important: What have you done for your team lately?

Previous: Offseason | Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2

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Is there any chance of the Steelers benching Aaron Rodgers in his final season? (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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Here’s what I can say for Cam Ward in Week 2 versus the Eagles: He didn’t make any egregious mistakes. 

That’s progress. It’s what you want from Ward in these circumstances.

Granted, he made plenty of mistakes, with a long list of off-target passes, but he didn’t commit any turnovers. In a game like Sunday’s, which was a one-possession contest for all 60 minutes, that’s a big deal for a young QB.

It’s a sign of maturity. He understood that a turnover would effectively ruin the Titans’ chances.

Ward found several open receivers in the Eagles’ secondary, and I’m 99% sure that he went so far as to complete a no-look pass. His third-quarter scoring drive, which concluded with his rushing touchdown, was one of the more complete series that I’ve seen him play, especially given that it came against the Eagles’ defense. Maybe they’re not all-world, like last year. But they’re still stellar.

Alas, this is still Ward we’re talking about, too. He will regularly surprise you with a throw that’s completely off target. He did that when missing receiver Elic Ayomanor in the end zone during the first quarter. It should’ve been an easy touchdown. Ward’s throw was, frankly, awful. Some might say this is catchable. But it was a fastball behind the receiver — that’s about as hard as an “on target” ball can get.

Ward’s game remains uneven — perhaps even jagged — in his second year. There’s so much talent to shape into an elite quarterback. But there’s so, so, so much work for him and the Titans’ coaching staff to undergo together. 

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Last year, it was easy enough to make sense of Justin Herbert’s play, because he was holding up the whole offense — basically on his own. Even as it crumbled around him. 

We’re seeing more of that this year. But it also seems like Herbert is buckling under the pressure. And it’s almost hard not to blame the guy after seeing the abomination of an offense he’s running. Here are some of the miscues.

1. The Chargers fumbled the ball six times in this game, miraculously losing just one.
2. Herbert threw two interceptions. One was flagrantly his fault in the fourth quarter, floating the ball to where a Raiders defender easily made the play. The other was a cartoonish play, in which tight end David Njoku almost caught the ball, only to fall and send the ball flying into the air for an easy pick.
3. The Chargers allowed 17 pressures, good (or bad) for 54.8% of Herbert’s dropbacks.
4. And in one case, it legitimately looked like a Chargers receiver broke up a pass for his teammate. It was the type of play we grew accustomed to seeing last year, but thought — finally — we would not see this year.

Worst of all, I didn’t see Herbert look resilient or determined in the adversity this week. I saw him grow frustrated and, on that last pick, I can’t help but wonder if there weren’t hints of resignation with that second interception at the end of the game. 

It makes some sense. Like the rest of us, Herbert had been led to believe this year would be different for L.A. But the Chargers continue to Charger.

It’s now just Week 3. But it’s hard to believe Herbert and Co. can turn this around. They travel to Buffalo and then Seattle. In Week 5, they host the Broncos before travelling to Kansas City. And then it’s an “away” game against the Rams.

I don’t see the Chargers winning any of the games.

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Did Bo Nix and new offensive coordinator Davis Webb unlock something in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars? (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

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Tyler Shough refused to take negative plays against the Ravens. And not in the foolish ways that plagued him in Week 1, where that refusal made bad plays worse. No, Shough threw away the ball. He scrambled for 1 yard when he seemed dead to rights in the pocket. Heck, he salvaged a yard or two when the rushers got him for sacks. And he checked down to his running backs and tight ends when there was nothing available downfield. 

But that downplays how well he handled the offense — particularly on third down.

On that money down, he was 9 of 10 for 131 yards. And even though he finished with seven QB pressures and two sacks on third downs — facing a 46.2% blitz rate — he managed a completion rate of +19.7%. He also attempted a 30% tight-window rate on third down.

That’s legit.

Best of all, he kept his eyes open for big plays. And he found them early and often, including this chunk play to breakout receiver Devaughn Vele.

This is the version of Shough that impressed me so much during his rookie season. He has an understated competence and toughness. And this year, rather than using his tools to hang around (as he did against the Lions), I wanted to see him elevate to the point where we expect the Saints to win close games. That’s exactly what he demonstrated in Week 2.

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Welp, it seems Jordan Love is going to be mired in offensive dysfunction for the foreseeable future. That’s going to muck up his production — and, this week, it really mucked up his film.

Last week, we saw Love rise above his circumstances to generate impressive production. We didn’t see the same thing In Week 2. It’s sort of a miracle he pulled the Packers out of their nosedive for the win. He remained patient, even when the offense was largely falling apart around him.

Along the way to a comeback win, he demonstrated some guile. Here’s a great example (below) where Love identified a corner blitz coming in overtime, and he made the Jets pay. He did the hard work before the snap. He took a one-step drop and floated the ball to space, where Matthew Golden managed a nice catch-and-run on the team’s last pass of the game.

This is what Love told me about in the offseason when it comes to beating the blitz with his football IQ. It’s a new and crucial part of his toolbox.

Ultimately, I came away more worried for Love in this win than I was in Green Bay’s Week 1 loss. The offense looked truly bad against the Jets. Some of that was a credit to their defense, which is pluckier than I expected given all the personnel turnover (from free agency and the draft).

But for the Packers, it’s abundantly clear that this is not going to be the season where coach Matt LaFleur can let Love cook, as he playfully promised this preseason. No, they just have to do what they can to keep Love from getting burned.

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Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Week 2

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Bryce Young is second in the NFL in passing yards and first in passing touchdowns. He has completed 63% of his passes — with just one interception.

Now, I’m not much for counting stats as a pure measurement of a QB’s quality of play. But my goodness, did anyone see this coming? He has been prolific, trying to stick with the Bears in the Week 1 shootout and then absolutely blowing out the Falcons in Week 2. 

He has been downright surgical.

If you’re rolling your eyes at those counting stats, let’s look at two advanced stats. His EPA per dropback is .24, seventh in the NFL. And his completion percentage over expected is seventh-best at +8%. He’s only had to run the ball three times, but he’s gotten a touchdown and a first down, rounding out a 66% success rate. (Yes, small sample size — of course.)

But he’s not a dink-and-dunk merchant. He is pushing the ball downfield with careful ball placement. It has been quietly remarkable.

Now … can he do it against a truly elite defense? That remains to be seen.

But Young is maturing into one of the most efficient pocket passers in the league — and this extends into last season when he dueled with Matthew Stafford in the playoffs. Young can use his mobility, but he really hasn’t had to this year. He’s in the same category as Mayfield and Brock Purdy. The knock on those guys is that they’re often only as good as their supporting cast. Which isn’t totally true. But they’re all of the same type. And it’s one that almost always gets underrated. That’s certainly true of Young, whom nobody expects will keep this up.

What if he does? He has the Browns, the Lions, the Eagles and the Bucs in the coming weeks. This could be a memorable and surprising start for the young QB.

It’s rare to see an organization stick with a guy who looked like Young looked in 2024. And get him to where the Panthers have Young playing in 2026. He might not ever earn the title of “elite.” But he’s starting to earn respect around the league.

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I think I owe Mahomes an apology.

I didn’t think he could do this.

I didn’t think, just nine months removed from an ACL injury, he would be helping the Chiefs look like a bona fide top-10 offense. But that’s what he’s done, with Kansas City reigniting its passing attack. It started with the run game and Kenneth Walker III. But that explosiveness has trickled into every element of the offense, which is incrementally testing defensive limits downfield. 

Now, to be clear, Week 1 was a low-risk game plan. It was safe. It was conservative. But Week 2? The Chiefs let Mahomes cook.

It culminated in a handful of downfield throws against the Colts.

You want clutch? Look at what Mahomes did to convert a third-and-12 in overtime, threading the ball in between defenders to help receiver Tyquan Thornton make an easy conversion for 30 yard.

You want arm talent? Look at what Mahomes did on third-and-11 in the third quarter: hitting Thornton on a 45-yard bomb that had pinpoint precision.

One of the throws I liked most came in the second quarter. He threw a perfectly timed in-crossing route to Rashee Rice. The throw’s velocity was extremely impressive. And Mahomes did it while climbing the pocket away from a rusher, which didn’t impact his ability to deliver the ball on time.

That looks like a healthy Mahomes, even with 12 pressures on his dropbacks.

Now, the Colts stink. That’s important context. I’ve been saying for months that I expect them to finish at the bottom of the league. But even so, Mahomes was making throws — on the move and from mucky pockets — that he had no business making.

He’s back. He’s really back.

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Zach Ertz is back in green.

The 35-year-old tight end and former Eagles star signed a deal to join the team’s practice squad on Monday afternoon, which comes in the wake of starting tight end Dallas Goedert suffering an MCL sprain in the team’s Week 2 victory over the Tennessee Titans — and Ertz is thrilled to be back where his NFL career began.

“My mom was in tears. My wife was ecstatic. My kids, they don’t really understand, but I already had the boys practicing the E-A-G-L-E-S chant, so overall it was good. It’s an exciting time,” Ertz said in a press conference on Tuesday morning. “I’m just really happy to be back and honored to be back in the Eagles green, but, at the end of the day, I got to go earn whatever role I can, so that’s the goal right now.”

Ertz, a three-time Pro Bowler, spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career with the Eagles (2013-21) before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals during the 2021 season.

Following a two-plus-year stint in Arizona (2021-23), Ertz played two seasons for the Washington Commanders, averaging 58.0 receptions for 579.0 yards and 5.5 touchdowns per year from 2024-25. His 2025 campaign ended in Week 14 due to a torn ACL.

In suiting up for Washington, Ertz added to the lengthy list of perennial Pro Bowlers and/or Hall of Famers to play for both the Eagles and Commanders, a list that includes wide receivers Art Monk and DeSean Jackson, quarterbacks Sonny Jurgensen, Donovan McNabb and Norm Snead and defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, among others. Ironically, Ertz and the Commanders faced off against the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game in the 2024 season. Ertz logged a game-high 11 receptions for 104 yards in the loss for Washington.

As for his standing in Eagles history, Ertz is second in franchise history in receptions (579), fifth in receiving yards (6,267) and seventh in receiving touchdowns (38). Should Ertz ultimately be activated to the active roster, he needs 11 receptions to pass Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael for first in receptions in Eagles’ history.

Ertz was a central part of Philadelphia’s offense during his initial stint with the team and reeled in the go-ahead and ultimate game-winning touchdown for the Eagles with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII.

The Eagles are off to a 2-0 start, with their offense, which has a new coordinator in former Green Bay Packers assistant Sean Mannion, 12th in the NFL in passing yards (217.0 per game), 13th in total yards (329.5 per game), tied for 13th in points (24.0 per game) and 14th outright in rushing yards (112.5 per game).

Ertz actually played 10 games with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as the team’s starter (four games in 2020 and six games in 2021).

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The Boston Red Sox are staying the course.

Boston announced on Tuesday morning that it has signed interim manager Chad Tracy to a three-year extension that runs through the 2029 MLB season. The Red Sox will have a team option on Tracy for the 2030 season.

Meanwhile, Boston exercised team options on Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow for the 2029 and 2030 seasons.

“Craig and Chad are two exceptionally talented leaders who have earned these opportunities in very different ways,” Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy said in a statement. “Over the last three years, we have watched Craig bring clarity, discipline, and conviction to the work of building our baseball operation. Chad was asked to step into a difficult situation with little notice, but the trust he immediately commanded at the major league level was earned through years of work across our organization. What this team has accomplished over the past several months has been historic.

“Results matter greatly in this business, but so do judgment, character, and the ability to bring out the best in others. Craig and Chad have demonstrated all of those qualities, and they have earned our confidence in leading us forward.”

Tracy was named Boston’s interim manager on April 26 following the dismissal of manager Alex Cora, who was in his eighth year on the job, in the wake of the team’s 10-17 start. Since being promoted to skipper, the Red Sox have gone 74-55 under Tracy and are 84-72 on the year.

Boston is in possession of the second AL wild-card seed and looks poised to face the New York Yankees, the No. 1 AL wild-card seed, in the Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium for a second consecutive year; New York defeated Boston in three games in the 2025 Wild Card Series.

Tracy was added to Cora’s coaching staff for the 2026 MLB season after being the manager of the Worcester Red Sox, Boston’s Triple-A affiliate, from 2022-25.

Breslow, a former 12-year, left-handed reliever, is in his third season as Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer, a stint preceded by five seasons working in the Chicago Cubs’ front office (2019-23). The Red Sox went 81-81 in 2024, followed by an 89-73 campaign in 2025.

The Red Sox close out the regular season with back-to-back three-game series at home against the Cleveland Guardians and Cubs.

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After a season plagued by injuries, Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge is back on the sidelines.

Manager Aaron Boone spoke to reporters on Monday and revealed that Judge is not expected to be available for the American League Wild Card Series. Judge is dealing with a moderate grade calf strain and received a PRP injection on Sunday.

“We’re planning on him not being a part of that but we’re also at the time of the year, you hear all the time with injuries, you give ranges two to four weeks, four to six weeks,” Boone said. “The range is for a reason and we’re at a point of the year where obviously we push it a little bit if that was in play but that’s a week away. I’m not expecting it, but I’m not ruling it out either.”

Judge was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday after straining his right calf during a game against the Minnesota Twins. With Judge sidelined again, the Yankees face a tough battle as they continue to chase the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.

The Yankees are still six games behind the Rays in the division, but hold firm control over the top wild-card spot.

Not only is Judge dealing with a calf injury, but he’s already missed significant time this season after suffering a stress fracture in his ribs. He lost more than three months to that setback, and now he’s expected to miss even more time with his latest injury.

Injuries have repeatedly threatened to derail Judge’s career, but when healthy, he is standard-setting. His three MVP awards since 2022 prove he’s still one of the most dominant forces in baseball.

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When Judge is on the field, he is arguably one of the sport’s most impactful players with a career wins above replacement (WAR) of 63.5. Without him available in the Wild Card round, the Yankees will face a steep uphill climb: New York is currently projected to face the Red Sox in the first round of the postseason. The Yankees have the second-best record in the AL, Boston the third-best after a midseason surge that earned interim manager Chad Tracy a promotion.

“We’ve played much of the year without [Judge] and for the most part, we’ve done a pretty good job,” Boone said. “So guys are used to it. Obviously you always want your best player in the mix, but we understand we’ve got a job to do and an expectation to win. I think that expectation doesn’t change with or without him. We’re expecting to go into the series and know we can beat anyone when we play our game.”

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A new era of the United States men’s national team is upon us.

Yes, Mauricio Pochettino is still the head coach, and many of the familiar faces from the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be in the mix for 2030, but the competition is as stiff as ever, and at positions that were previously viewed as untouchable.

Let’s take a look at where some of the key figures in the U.S. player pool stand ahead of the international window in Alexi Lalas’ U.S. Weekend Stock Watch:

Stock Up: Christian Pulisic ⬆️

Alexi: You’ve got to be a little happy — and dare I say, proud — of seeing Christian Pulisic, given what’s happened over this past year and even what’s happened recently, starting and not just making an impact, but being voted the best player, being involved in both goals and being associated with a moment of positivity that Christian Pulisic and AC Milan needed.

Stock Up: Cavan Sullivan ⬆️

Alexi: You can make a case that, in this window, even if Christian Pulisic had been involved, there are more poeple excited about seeing Cavan Sullivan than Christian Pulisic. We know who Christian Pulisic is. That doesn’t mean he can’t improve, but he is what he is. America is looking for young talent and new look when it comes to the national team and that’s why there’s so much tension with Cavan Sullivan as he comes into this new camp, and he comes in on fire.

Stock Up: USA In The EFL ⬆️

Alexi: We all recognize that many of these players are looking for a foot in the door when it comes to Europe, and in that sense, they’re not just getting there; they’re now actually playing and playing well and scoring goals. It’s fun to see this brigade of young players who are using the Championship for what it is and what it isn’t as this stepping stone.

Stock Up: Johnny Cardoso ⬆️

Alexi: This is great, to be associated with the type of win, but I feel like a broken record with Johnny. This is what he is and what he has done. He gets our hopes up, but ultimately, can he translate it if and when he is with the U.S. men’s national team? You can be a really, really good player, and sometimes it just doesn’t translate, and you can bang your head as to why it doesn’t. You just have to guard against this idea that you’re leaving talent on the sideline; that we are wasting talent.

Stock Down: Ricardo Pepi ⬇️

Alexi: If you’re looking at it for the Pepi fanbase, this sucks because, finally, he gets this opportunity after being second fiddle to Balogun, and fairly so, to come in and claim it for himself, especially in this new-look national team. On the other side, it’s just another opportunity because I think it’s going to be wide-open up top in this camp when it comes to who plays.

Stock Down: Tim Weah ⬇️

Alexi: If you’re Pochettino, do you say ‘I can still get something out of him,’ even with all of these changes and his obvious inability to adjust under that? There was a time that he was in pen there on that right side, and I wasn’t alone. Times have changed. Yunus Musah is back in the fold and Tim Weah looks to be on the way out.

Stock Down: Americans At Celtic ⬇️

Alexi: I’m all for supporting your team, I’m all for die-hard fandom out there, but it has to come with some perspective. There’s nothing romantic about this, there’s nothing cool about this, and as far as that purity pest about how much you care about your team, it’s not relevant to what you set on fire, including the bus.

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All the Cincinnati Bengals needed was an average defense to become the team to beat in the AFC North. The Bengals’ loaded offense hasn’t been an issue, as long as quarterback Joe Burrow is healthy.

After two weeks, that is the case this season. Defensive coordinator Al Golden has his unit playing stellar football, forcing four turnovers in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before holding the Houston Texans to just six points in Week 2.

Cincinnati is 2-0 and sits pretty atop the AFC North, a position it might just keep the entire season. The Ravens and Steelers lost this past Sunday. The first key matchup comes in Week 7, when the Bengals travel to Baltimore.

It has only been two games, yes, but the most impressive turnaround in the NFL has to be Cincinnati’s defense, which was one of the NFL’s absolute worst last season and has been a huge part of the Bengals.

“They’re all talented, they’re all accomplished, but they’re great human beings and they’re leaders,” Golden told me over the phone on Monday about the influx of talent the Bengals’ defense took in during the offseason. “They bring great energy and passion into the building every day, and they’re fun to work with. They make it fun to come to work every day and each of them is making a difference for us.”

The headline acquisition: defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, acquired from the New York Giants for the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft. The 28-year-old veteran was tasked with taking the league’s worst run defense and changing its identity. 

So far, he has done that. Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was held to 45 rushing yards in Week 1, and then David Montgomery had just 10 for the Texans this past week.

You can point to the fact that Lawrence only has three tackles, one for a loss, with no sacks so far this season, but he’s tied for third in pressures among defensive tackles (eight, per Pro Football Focus). 

Golden said Lawrence has been a game-changer for the Bengals.

“He’s been impactful,” Golden said. “I know there’s some discourse out there about what the stat line looks like as it relates to him, but in terms of impacting the game in the middle of the defense, pushing the pocket inside for us, it’s been dramatic. It’s been the big difference. The greatest compliment he can get is how much better he makes everyone around him.”

Defense had held Cincinnati back in recent years, understandably seen as a major reason Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase missed the playoffs three years in a row after making the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game in 2022. Lawrence was added, as was defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, edge Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook. Those veterans were brought in to complement second-year linebackers Demetrius Knight and Barret Carter.

Jonathan Allen (left) recorded a sack in Sunday’s win over the Texans, while Boye Mafe (right) has a sack and a forced fumble this season. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

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The Bengals prioritized high-leverage areas of the field and now rank in the top 10 in scoring defense and are a top-five unit in the red zone.

“You spent 80% of your time on the 20% that can make the biggest difference,” Golden said. “You’re talking about turnover margin, one of the biggest factors in playing good defense, winning third down, critically important and being a really good red-zone defense. It’s about scoring defense. We’ve put an emphasis on it, and when Dex and Jonathan Allen are the first two out there for ball disruption drills in 95-degree heat, that says all you need to know.”

The Bengals are poised to potentially build upon their two wins to start the season. Two of their next three games are against teams with bottom-five offenses this season. First, it’s a trip to Pittsburgh, then a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars before heading to Miami to face the Dolphins on the road in Week 5.

That trip to face the Steelers will be a good chance to show just how far the Bengals — and their defense — have come, having lost 34-12 in Pittsburgh last season.

Did you have Bryce Young second in the NFL in passing yards (648) and tied for the league lead with six touchdown passes? It’s the best consecutive-game total of his four-year career in both categories, and if his Week 1 success was obscured by his team giving up 59 points to the Chicago Bears, there was no such problem in a 34-3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Veteran tight end Darren Waller, who caught two touchdowns from Young on Sunday, isn’t surprised at all.

“It’s just an extension of what I’ve seen from him since the moment I got here,” Waller told me over the phone. “Being super-intentional with everything he’s doing at practice and making a lot of great plays.”

In one game, Waller had as many touchdowns as any Panthers tight end has had in either of the last two full seasons. After a year of retirement, the now 34-year-old returned to the NFL last year with six touchdown catches in Miami. 

And Waller’s return to play this season was pretty last-minute, too. He signed with the Panthers two weeks into training camp, joining a team looking to repeat as NFC South champions. 

Waller remembers the day Carolina offered him a contract in August — it was the nine-year anniversary of his sobriety — and is eager to see how the Panthers can sustain their early success.

“It’s been really fun these first two games, being so productive but also having a lot of ways we can get better as well,” he said.

Much of Sunday’s headlines from the Cleveland Browns’ surprising upset of the Bucs centered on quarterback Deshaun Watson rallying Cleveland to 17 points in the second half for a 23-19 rain-delayed win. But as Cleveland’s defensive front seeks a new identity without Myles Garrett, one emerging player to watch is second-year pro Mason Graham, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 draft.

Graham had a half-sack as a rookie, but he’s had a sack in each of his first two games this season, joining end Jared Verse as the pieces the Browns will build around up front.

“I think players that are as diligent as Mason is, and love football, [are] going to continue to get better,” coach Todd Monken said. “He’s still a young player, and you can see that with our interior guys. When they slide away from you and you get one-on-one, it’s the ultimate sign of disrespect. I mean, you’ve got to win your one-on-one matchups. We’re built for our explosive interior players to be able to win those matchups. And we won more of them than we did the week before.”

All of the 49ers’ top five players in receptions after two games are age 30 and older, which sets up a battle against injury all season long, but gives quarterback Brock Purdy an extremely reliable and sure-handed group of targets in the passing game.

Purdy never completed 70% of his passes in any of his first four seasons in San Francisco. Still, with more high-percentage passes to running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle, he’s completing a league-best 80.4% of his throws this season. Literally no player in the 49ers’ offense has a catch rate lower than 67%. 

Keep receivers Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel healthy, which is no easy task, and Purdy could challenge the NFL season record for completion percentage, set by Drew Brees in 2018 at 74.4%. 

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