The Minnesota Vikings named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback, which suggests that J.J. McCarthy might be traded. The San Francisco 49ers are being considered as a possible team for McCarthy, where he could serve as a backup and potentially improve his career.
Key Facts
Kyler Murray became the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
J.J. McCarthy missed his rookie year due to a knee injury and had a tough first season as a starter.
McCarthy threw 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions last season with a low passer rating.
Many experts think McCarthy will be traded, despite his desire to stay with the Vikings.
The 49ers may offer McCarthy a chance to be a backup quarterback and develop his skills.
The 49ers have a history of helping quarterbacks improve and move on to starting roles.
McCarthy is 23 years old and could learn from the 49ers’ coaching staff while preparing for a future starting job.
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Alabama running back AK Dear injured his lower leg during a practice and will miss about six weeks of the football season. This injury means he will likely return to play in early October, which affects Alabama’s plans to improve their running game this year.
Key Facts
AK Dear is a sophomore running back for Alabama.
He hurt his lower leg in a practice scrimmage on Thursday.
Dear is expected to be out for about six weeks.
This injury puts his return around early October, possibly for the game at Mississippi State.
Another running back, freshman EJ Crowell, is injured but may not miss games.
Alabama’s running game struggled last season, and the team hopes to improve it this year.
Junior running backs Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley, plus freshman Trae'shawn Brown, will get more playing time during Dear’s absence.
Alabama’s offensive coach, Ryan Grubb, aims to improve the running game and the offensive line this season.
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ESPN has recently faced criticism for the way it has fired several on-air sports analysts. Bart Scott revealed that he was told about his contract not being renewed just minutes before his radio show started.
Key Facts
ESPN laid off analyst Ryan Clark during a live show, telling him during a commercial break.
Damien Woody, who worked at ESPN for 15 years, was also released before his contract ended.
Bart Scott said ESPN informed him about not renewing his contract minutes before his radio show.
Scott's contract was set to expire in September.
Fans criticized ESPN on social media for handling layoffs poorly and without respect.
Scott expressed no hard feelings and said losing the job can sometimes be a blessing.
The network’s way of letting go of staff has damaged its reputation among viewers and fans.
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The Washington Commanders will miss player Dorance Armstrong for their first game of the 2026 NFL season due to a suspension. Armstrong is suspended for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy after misdemeanor charges from 2025.
Key Facts
Dorance Armstrong, a defensive player for the Washington Commanders, is suspended for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
The suspension is unpaid and starts on August 30, with eligibility to return on September 14.
The suspension relates to misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest charges from May 2025 in Texas.
Armstrong is also recovering from a torn ACL injury suffered in Week 7 of the previous season.
He signed a three-year contract with the Commanders before the 2024 season.
Armstrong’s NFL career began in 2018 with the Dallas Cowboys, where he played for six years.
His college football career was at Kansas, where he received honors and recorded significant defensive stats.
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The Baltimore Ravens lost veteran offensive tackle Kendall Lamm to retirement one day before their 2024 preseason opener. This came weeks after another veteran tackle, Hakeem Adeniji, retired shortly after signing with the team.
Key Facts
Kendall Lamm retired at age 34, just one day before the Ravens’ preseason game against the Eagles.
Lamm was signed by the Ravens on August 3, 2024, to replace Hakeem Adeniji, who also retired recently.
Lamm played 11 years in the NFL, appearing in 132 games and starting 44 of them.
He has played for many teams, including the Texans, Browns, Titans, Lions, Dolphins, and Eagles.
Lamm started seven games at right tackle for the Dolphins in 2024 before back surgery put him on injured reserve.
The Ravens’ starting tackles, Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, are healthy for 2024.
Baltimore also has younger players like Carson Vinson, Diego Pounds, and Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan as backups at tackle.
Two veteran tackles retiring just weeks apart before the season starts is unusual for the team.
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The New York Mets announced that former outfielder Butch Huskey passed away at age 54 due to a blood clot in his lungs. Huskey played in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 2000, including several seasons with the Mets.
Key Facts
Butch Huskey died on August 14 at age 54.
The cause of death was a blood clot in his lungs.
He played seven MLB seasons between 1993 and 2000.
Huskey was a Mets outfielder from 1993 to 1998.
He also played for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, and Colorado Rockies.
1997 was his best season, with 24 home runs and 81 RBIs (runs batted in).
Huskey was the last Mariners player to wear the No. 42 jersey, honoring Jackie Robinson.
He is survived by his wife, Kristy, and three children.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers will trade point guard Dennis Schröder to the Charlotte Hornets for guard Tre Mann and cash. Schröder has played for many teams during his 14-year NBA career, while Mann has had less playing time recently with the Hornets.
Key Facts
Dennis Schröder is being traded from the Cavaliers to the Hornets.
The Cavaliers will receive Tre Mann and cash in return.
Schröder has played for 11 other NBA teams before joining the Hornets.
He averaged 8.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 30 regular season games for the Cavaliers.
Schröder averaged 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 17 playoff games with the Cavaliers.
Tre Mann was drafted 18th overall in 2021 by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Mann's playing time has decreased over the past two seasons.
Last season, Mann averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 53 games for the Hornets.
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Rookie quarterback Drew Allar had a strong first game for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their preseason win against the Green Bay Packers. His good performance led to the Steelers selling out of his jerseys quickly.
Key Facts
Drew Allar is a rookie quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In his preseason debut, he completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
Allar also scored a 2-yard rushing touchdown in the game.
The Steelers won the game 28-9 against the Green Bay Packers.
His jersey sold out after the game but has since been restocked.
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy praised Allar’s talent and compared his value to a first-round draft pick.
Many see Allar as the likely successor to quarterback Aaron Rodgers when he retires.
The game was against Green Bay’s backup players, but Allar’s performance was still impressive.
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The Houston Texans think their backup quarterback Graham Mertz may have torn his ACL during a preseason game. If true, Mertz could be out for about 9 to 12 months, meaning he might miss the entire upcoming season.
Key Facts
Graham Mertz, the Texans’ backup quarterback, may have a torn ACL.
The injury happened during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mertz played only two drives and completed 4 out of 7 passes for 23 yards.
An ACL tear typically requires 9 to 12 months to heal.
The Texans have two other quarterbacks: starter C.J. Stroud and former starter Davis Mills.
The team might look to free agents to fill Mertz’s spot, but experienced options are limited.
Jimmy Garoppolo is the most notable available free agent quarterback.
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Kelsey Plum, a WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury, is recovering from a lower left leg injury and will miss the team’s upcoming game against the Portland Fire. The Mercury’s coach said they will check her progress before deciding if she can play in their next game on August 22.
Key Facts
Kelsey Plum has missed playing since June 21 because of a leg injury.
Plum was traded to the Phoenix Mercury from the Los Angeles Sparks earlier this month.
She played four games with the Mercury and scored a total of 64 points in her first three games.
Plum was not able to play in the recent games and only took part in some conditioning drills during practice.
The Mercury’s coach, Nate Tibbetts, confirmed Plum will miss the next game on Sunday against the Portland Fire.
The team will recheck Plum’s condition before their game on August 22 against the Atlanta Dream.
Plum was averaging nearly 24 points and over 6 assists per game before her injury.
The trade involving Plum was notable because she became only the fourth WNBA All-Star traded midseason.
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Rookie kicker Trey Smack scored all the points for the Green Bay Packers in their preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He made all four of his kicks, including a long 57-yard field goal, showing improvement after a difficult start to training camp.
Key Facts
Trey Smack is a rookie kicker for the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers traded up in the 2026 NFL Draft to select him.
Smack struggled in early training camp due to weather and other factors.
In the preseason game against the Steelers, he made all four field goal attempts.
One of his made kicks was nullified due to a penalty on the opposing team.
His longest successful kick was 57 yards, just before halftime.
Smack’s current training camp kick success rate is about 70%.
This game performance does not guarantee he will remain the starter but is a positive sign.
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Jacob Saylors impressed the Detroit Lions in their preseason opener by gaining 55 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards. His strong performance boosts his chances of making the team’s final running back roster.
Key Facts
Jacob Saylors ran for 55 yards on eight carries in the Lions' preseason game.
He also caught three passes for 28 yards.
The Lions lost the game 16-14 to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Saylors has gained more opportunities due to injuries to other running backs.
Injured players include Sione Vaki (broken nose) and Isiah Pacheco (knee injury).
Jahmyr Gibbs was held out at the start of training camp.
Saylors is also valuable on special teams and has experience as a kickoff returner.
His versatility could help him earn a spot on the Lions’ final roster.
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Murvin Kenion III had a strong performance in the Green Bay Packers' preseason opener, making several tackles and breaking up a key pass in the end zone. His effort helps him stand out as he competes for a spot on the team amidst a deep group of safeties.
Key Facts
Kenion finished the game with six tackles, tying for the most on the team’s defense.
He made an important play by breaking up a pass in the end zone, preventing a touchdown.
The Packers already have established safeties, Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams, making Kenion’s path to the roster competitive.
Preseason games give players like Kenion limited but important chances to show their skills.
Kenion also contributes on special teams, which could improve his chances of making the team.
His strong showing in the preseason is an important step but does not guarantee a roster spot yet.
Coaches look for players who can help in multiple roles when finalizing the team roster.
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Venus Williams lost in the first round of the Cincinnati Open, extending her singles losing streak to 13 matches. She was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Emiliana Arango, a qualifier ranked 95th, and has not won a singles match since July 2025.
Key Facts
Venus Williams lost 6-2, 6-2 in the first round at the Cincinnati Open to Emiliana Arango.
This loss marks her 13th consecutive singles match defeat.
Williams received a wild-card entry to the WTA 1000 event.
Emiliana Arango is 25 years old and ranked 95th in the world.
Williams last won a singles match in July 2025 in Washington.
In the match, Williams struggled with her serve, winning only 41% of first-serve points.
Williams will continue to compete in doubles with her sister Serena at the Cincinnati Open.
The Williams sisters have not played doubles together since the 2022 U.S. Open.
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Elena Delle Donne quit basketball before starting college because she was tired and missed her family, but she returned to the sport a year later. She went on to become a star player in the WNBA and will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026.
Key Facts
Elena Delle Donne stopped playing basketball before her freshman year of college due to burnout and homesickness.
She first enrolled at the University of Connecticut but transferred to the University of Delaware to be closer to her family.
Delle Donne has a sister named Lizzie who is blind and deaf; they communicate through touch.
She played volleyball during her freshman year at Delaware before returning to basketball as a sophomore.
Delle Donne scored over 3,000 points during her college basketball career at Delaware.
She was the second overall draft pick by the Chicago Sky in 2013 and later played for the Washington Mystics starting in 2017.
She won two WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, was named an All-Star seven times, and helped the Mystics win the 2019 championship.
Delle Donne played through serious health issues including back injuries and Lyme disease before retiring in 2023.
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Butch Huskey, a former Major League Baseball player, has died at the age of 54 due to a blood clot in his lung. He was one of the last players to wear the jersey number 42 before it was retired to honor Jackie Robinson.
Key Facts
Butch Huskey played seven seasons in Major League Baseball.
He was born and raised in Anadarko, Oklahoma.
Huskey was drafted by the New York Mets in 1989 and played five seasons with them.
He wore jersey number 42 for most of his career, except for some seasons with other numbers.
MLB retired number 42 in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson, but players who already wore it could keep it until they retired.
Huskey had his best season in 1997 with 24 home runs and 81 RBIs.
He also played for the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, and Minnesota Twins.
In total, he hit .267 with 86 home runs and 336 RBIs in 642 career games.
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Scottie Scheffler tied the course record by shooting a 61 during the second round of the St Jude Championship golf tournament in Memphis. He leads by three strokes as the event moves forward, with other top players close behind.
Key Facts
Scheffler scored nine under par with a 61, matching the course record at TPC Southwind.
He birdied the first five holes and had six birdies total, with only two bogeys.
Scheffler is the world number one and leads the FedEx Cup standings before the playoffs.
Im Sung-jae (South Korea) and Viktor Hovland (Norway) are tied for second place at eight under par.
Ludvig Aberg is just one stroke behind the leaders.
British players Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Spieth are tied at six under par.
Rory McIlroy is currently four over par but remains in the tournament as there's no cut after 36 holes in playoffs.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre withdrew due to a knee injury after scoring 82 in the first round.
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Jordyn Tyson, a top rookie wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, suffered a hamstring injury during practice and may miss the start of the NFL season. The team's coach, Kellen Moore, said there is no clear timeline for Tyson’s return and emphasized the need for careful medical evaluation.
Key Facts
Jordyn Tyson was the Saints’ first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He is considered one of the best wide receivers in his draft class.
Tyson injured his right hamstring during a joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The injury occurred after he landed awkwardly going for a catch.
Coach Kellen Moore said the injury might cause Tyson to miss time in the regular season.
Tyson has a history of injuries, including a serious knee injury in 2022 and multiple hamstring problems in 2025.
His injury history was a concern before the draft, but the Saints still picked him eighth overall.
Hamstring injuries are hard to predict and can cause players to miss games if they return too soon.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott praised tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford for his hard work and strong performance during training camp. Prescott called Spann-Ford a "sleeper" pick for fantasy football, noting his improved connection with the team as they prepare for the new season.
Key Facts
Dak Prescott is the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
Prescott spoke positively about tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford in an interview.
Spann-Ford has not had many chances to receive passes in his NFL career so far.
Prescott noticed Spann-Ford’s strong effort during offseason training and their growing teamwork.
Spann-Ford caught 9 passes for 90 yards and one touchdown last season.
He played a career-high 48 snaps in a late-season game.
The Cowboys have other receivers like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens back this season.
Despite that, Spann-Ford could see more playing time thanks to Prescott’s endorsement.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined the Miami Heat after playing 13 years with the Milwaukee Bucks. He is expected to be a strong player for the Heat alongside Bam Adebayo in the upcoming NBA season.
Key Facts
Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat.
Antetokounmpo has won two NBA MVP awards (2019 and 2020) and led the Bucks to a championship in 2021.
He is a 10-time NBA All-Star and scored a career-high 64 points in 2023.
Bam Adebayo, a key Heat player, had an 83-point game in the past season.
The Miami Heat’s starting lineup will include Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, Tim Hardaway Jr., Davion Mitchell, and Andrew Wiggins.
Antetokounmpo will play his first game against his former team, the Bucks, on November 18, with a return game on January 28.
Antetokounmpo said he plans to dominate and prove he is one of the best players in the NBA this season.
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