Tua Tagovailoa is likely to start as the Atlanta Falcons' quarterback for the upcoming season after impressive practice performances. He joined the Falcons on a one-year contract and is working to improve after a difficult previous season with the Miami Dolphins.
Key Facts
Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons' former starting quarterback, is recovering from his third ACL injury and is not yet cleared for full contact.
The Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa in March on a one-year, $1.3 million deal.
Falcons quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt praised Tagovailoa’s progress during recent practices.
Tagovailoa struggled in 2025 with 2,660 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
He had strong past seasons, leading the league in passer rating in 2022 and completion percentage in 2024.
The Falcons have strong offensive players, including running back Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts, and wide receiver Drake London.
The Falcons’ preseason opener against the Denver Broncos will be an early test of Tagovailoa’s potential as a starter.
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Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks will start their NBA title defense by playing the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. The game will be notable for featuring LeBron James' first regular-season game with the 76ers and the Knicks raising their championship banner.
Key Facts
The Knicks open their season against the 76ers at Madison Square Garden.
LeBron James will play his first regular-season game for the 76ers.
Jaylen Brown is also making his debut for the 76ers after being traded from the Boston Celtics.
The Knicks will raise their championship banner before the game.
Brunson recently had wrist surgery and is wearing a soft cast but plans to play in the opener.
The Knicks have their full starting lineup returning to defend their championship.
The Knicks are five-point favorites to win the opening game.
Both teams are seen as top contenders for the NBA championship this season.
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The Atlanta Falcons have signed guard Jaeden Roberts after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles. Roberts is expected to compete for a backup position on the Falcons’ offensive line.
Key Facts
Jaeden Roberts was released by the Philadelphia Eagles and claimed by the Atlanta Falcons.
Roberts played college football at Alabama for five years and appeared in 37 games.
He started 25 games in college and primarily played right guard.
Roberts was undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but initially signed by the Eagles.
Last season, he played 10 games but only started 4 due to injury and competition.
The Falcons are looking to strengthen their offensive line backup options.
Roberts will compete with several other players for a backup guard role.
The Falcons are facing challenges with some defensive players missing the season due to injury or suspension.
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J.J. Watt has been promoted to the main color analyst role for CBS’s NFL broadcasts after Tony Romo was placed on indefinite leave following his recent arrest. Watt expressed excitement about his new job, while Romo’s future with CBS remains uncertain as the network considers ending his contract.
Key Facts
Tony Romo was arrested and placed on indefinite leave by CBS.
J.J. Watt was promoted to replace Romo as the top color analyst alongside Jim Nantz.
Watt recently spoke publicly about his new role and expressed enthusiasm.
Romo earns $18 million per year at CBS.
CBS is reportedly looking for a reason to end Romo’s contract.
Sports media executives believe Romo may not return to CBS.
Romo’s arrest and related video may have harmed his reputation.
CBS is concerned about how retaining Romo might affect its TV ratings.
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Olivia Moultrie, a midfielder for the Portland Thorns and the U.S. Women's National Team, injured her right knee's ACL during training and will miss the entire 2026 season. Her injury likely means she will miss major upcoming tournaments, including those that lead to the 2027 Women's World Cup.
Key Facts
Olivia Moultrie plays for the Portland Thorns and the United States Women's National Team.
She suffered an ACL tear in her right knee during training last week.
The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is an important ligament in the knee that helps stabilize it.
Recovery from an ACL tear usually takes 9 to 12 months.
Moultrie was named the 2023 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
She helped the U.S. win the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
The injury will likely prevent her from participating in the Concacaf W Championship starting in November, which affects qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
The Thorns’ management expressed strong support for Moultrie’s recovery and rehabilitation.
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LSU hired Lane Kiffin as their new football coach, creating high expectations for the team this year. Experts say the team should aim to reach the college football Playoff because they have strong players and coaches.
Key Facts
Lane Kiffin was recently hired as the head coach for LSU’s football team.
The team invested a lot of money, over $40 million, to build a strong roster.
LSU brought in top players from other schools through the transfer portal, including athletes like Sam Leavitt and Ty Benefield.
The team also has returning key players like linebacker Whit Weeks.
Experts expect LSU to compete for a spot in the 12-team college football Playoff this season.
Last season, LSU struggled under former coach Brian Kelly, so the new staff is expected to improve results.
While making the Playoff is the goal, missing it in the first year would not be seen as a disaster.
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The Atlanta Falcons face challenges ahead of the 2026 NFL season due to injuries and a likely suspension. Top draft pick Jalon Walker will miss the entire season after an ACL injury, and James Pearce Jr. is expected to be suspended for a domestic violence incident.
Key Facts
Jalon Walker, the Falcons’ 15th overall pick in 2025, tore his ACL on August 4 and will miss the 2026 season.
James Pearce Jr., selected 26th overall in 2025, had 10.5 sacks as a rookie but is facing a suspension.
Pearce is charged with three felonies related to aggravated battery and stalking involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
The NFL is expected to suspend Pearce before the season starts, but the suspension length is unknown.
If suspended, other players like Bralen Trice, Cameron Thomas, and Azeez Ojulari will fill Pearce's role.
The Falcons’ pass rush could be weakened in the first half of the season.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski planned for a strong defensive season, but these issues pose setbacks.
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Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood downplayed the rivalry with Ohio State, calling their matchup "just another game." He said the game is mentally and physically tough but did not express the usual strong negative feelings often seen in this rivalry.
Key Facts
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood said the Ohio State game is "just another game" and sees players as just wearing different colors.
Underwood had a difficult game last season, with 63 passing yards and an interception in a 27-9 loss to Ohio State.
He described college football as mentally and physically demanding and said that this rivalry is no different.
Underwood did not express hate or strong animosity toward Ohio State, unlike some past players.
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham also said he does not hate Ohio State or its coach, Ryan Day.
Ohio State fans have shown strong rivalry behavior, including crossing out the letter M and calling Michigan "that team up north."
The rivalry has seen physical altercations, such as a scuffle after Michigan upset Ohio State the year before Underwood arrived.
Michigan players and coaches seem to want to reduce the emotional intensity and focus on winning the game.
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Oklahoma State's new quarterback, Drew Mestemaker, had a very strong season in 2025 with many passing yards and touchdowns. Some Big 12 coaches are unsure if he will perform as well against tougher defenses in the new conference, while others believe he will succeed based on his skills.
Key Facts
Drew Mestemaker is Oklahoma State's new quarterback, joining after following coach Eric Morris from North Texas.
In 2025, Mestemaker passed for 4,379 yards, threw 34 touchdowns, and had nine interceptions.
He led the country in passing yards and was third in touchdowns last year.
The American Athletic Conference, where Mestemaker played before, is considered less competitive than the Big 12.
One Big 12 coach expressed concern about Mestemaker facing stronger defenses next season.
Another Big 12 coach called Mestemaker the best quarterback in the league and praised his accuracy and athleticism.
Oklahoma State's previous quarterback had a much weaker season, throwing only 1,490 yards and three touchdowns.
Mestemaker is seen as an NFL-level talent by some coaches based on his game tapes.
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Kyler Murray was named the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback after competing with J.J. McCarthy in training camp. Murray joined the Vikings this offseason after playing seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Key Facts
Kyler Murray won the Vikings’ starting quarterback job over J.J. McCarthy.
Murray joined the Vikings after seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Murray won NFL Rookie of the Year and was selected twice for the Pro Bowl.
He has passed for over 20,000 yards and 121 touchdowns in his career.
Murray signed a one-year contract with the Vikings for $1.3 million.
The Vikings hope Murray can improve the team’s offense and help wide receivers like Justin Jefferson perform better.
Last season, the Vikings finished with a 9-8 record and missed the playoffs.
The Vikings start their preseason on August 15 and begin the regular season on September 13 against the Green Bay Packers.
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Geno Smith has joined the New York Jets as their new starting quarterback. After a difficult joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where the Jets’ offense struggled, Jets Coach Aaron Glenn said he will play Smith and other starters in the upcoming preseason game to get more practice before the regular season.
Key Facts
Geno Smith is the new starting quarterback for the New York Jets.
Smith had a strong career year with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, making the Pro Bowl.
The Jets offense looked out of sync during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Smith threw two interceptions in that practice, including one returned for a touchdown.
Coach Aaron Glenn plans to play Smith and other starters in the Jets’ next preseason game on Friday.
Most NFL teams usually rest starters early in the preseason, but the Jets want more practice time.
The Jets face the Buccaneers again in the upcoming preseason game.
The team is adjusting to a new offensive system led by coordinator Frank Reich.
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Clemson University is preparing quarterback Christopher Vizzina to be their starting quarterback in 2026 after Cade Klubnik left for the NFL. An Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) executive expressed doubts about whether Vizzina can help Clemson return to top national performance. Vizzina has limited playing experience but has some strong receivers returning to support him.
Key Facts
Clemson Tigers have a history of recruiting top-ranked quarterbacks, including Trevor Lawrence and Cade Klubnik.
Cade Klubnik left Clemson to join the New York Jets in the NFL.
Christopher Vizzina, a four-star quarterback recruit, is expected to start for Clemson in 2026.
An ACC team executive is uncertain if Vizzina will lead Clemson back to national success.
Vizzina has played in 11 games with moderate stats: 64 completions in 105 attempts, 596 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
Clemson lost last year’s second-leading receiver Antonio Williams to the Washington Commanders.
Three key wide receivers and a top tight end will return to play with Vizzina next season.
The team is known for developing quarterbacks by letting backups learn behind starters.
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he is not worried about running back Christian McCaffrey’s recent calf tightness. Shanahan emphasized the team is careful to avoid turning minor issues into serious injuries and is confident in McCaffrey’s preparation for the season.
Key Facts
Christian McCaffrey missed a recent 49ers training camp practice due to calf tightness.
Coach Shanahan’s main concern is that McCaffrey might push through tightness and cause a more serious injury.
McCaffrey had a history of calf tightness in the 2024 season, which limited him to four games.
His previous injuries included Achilles tendinitis and damage to the posterior collateral ligament.
McCaffrey was the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2025 after leading the league with 413 touches.
He was the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
In his career, McCaffrey has rushed for 7,589 yards and scored 62 rushing touchdowns.
He has also caught 626 passes for 5,390 yards and 36 receiving touchdowns.
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The Indiana Fever won a WNBA game against the New York Liberty with a score of 106-92. Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points, including 20 in the first half, and Caitlin Clark added 22 points and 10 assists to help the Fever continue their strong run of wins.
Key Facts
Indiana Fever beat New York Liberty 106-92 in a WNBA game on August 11, 2026.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points, making 11 of 16 shots, with 20 points in the first half.
Caitlin Clark contributed 22 points and 10 assists.
The Fever shot 59% from the field and 79% from beyond the 3-point line, making 16 of 25 three-pointers.
Sophie Cunningham scored 12 points and made four 3-point shots.
Aliyah Boston added 19 points and seven rebounds for Indiana.
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu each scored 19 points for the New York Liberty.
Indiana has won seven of their last nine games.
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The Los Angeles Rams' star wide receiver Puka Nacua might miss the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers due to a possible suspension from the NFL. This suspension is related to a lawsuit involving an alleged incident from last New Year’s Eve.
Key Facts
Puka Nacua, a key player for the Los Angeles Rams, could be suspended for the season opener.
The possible suspension is connected to a civil lawsuit alleging Nacua bit a woman and made an antisemitic remark on New Year’s Eve.
The lawsuit is civil, meaning it does not involve criminal charges or felonies.
NFL insider Adam Schefter reported this information and mentioned other players might face discipline.
Other players possibly facing suspension include Alaric Jackson from the Rams and Josh Jacobs from the Green Bay Packers.
Nacua has been named a two-time All-Pro player but has not yet signed an extension to his rookie contract.
The Rams are preparing for a strong season after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship last January.
The Rams’ season opener against the 49ers will take place in Australia.
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The Minnesota Vikings have chosen Kyler Murray to be their starting quarterback instead of J.J. McCarthy. Statistics show McCarthy’s passing performance last season was poor compared to other NFL players, which influenced this decision.
Key Facts
J.J. McCarthy is entering his third NFL season and was the Vikings’ 10th overall draft pick.
He missed his rookie season due to injury and started 10 games last year, with a team record of 6 wins and 4 losses.
McCarthy’s key passing stats last season included a 57.6% completion rate, a 4.9% interception rate, and a negative expected points added (EPA) of -0.18 per pass attempt.
These stats place him in a group of quarterbacks since 2010 with similar struggles, many of whom are no longer active starters in the NFL.
Other quarterbacks with similar numbers include Anthony Richardson, Josh Rosen, and Shedeur Sanders, many of whom face challenges securing starting roles.
Football analysts suggest these statistics often predict difficulties in maintaining a successful NFL career.
Despite this, experts note McCarthy is still young and has the potential to improve in the future.
For now, McCarthy will remain a backup quarterback behind Kyler Murray.
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A high school football player in Arkansas found a 2-foot-long cottonmouth snake inside his helmet. Police helped remove the snake by pouring water into the helmet, and animal experts took the snake away safely.
Key Facts
The snake was a cottonmouth, a venomous pit viper.
It measured about 2 feet long.
The snake was inside the player’s football helmet.
Police poured water into the helmet to make the snake come out.
Animal services professionals identified the snake and took it to a safe location away from the school.
The incident happened at a high school in Arkansas.
The snake was removed safely without harming anyone.
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Keith Foulke, a former Boston Red Sox pitcher, was fired as manager of the Boston Hunters in the Women's Professional Baseball League after only four games. The team said the reason was Foulke’s lack of connection with players, partly because he lived in Arizona and commuted to Illinois where the league teams play.
Key Facts
Keith Foulke previously helped Boston win their first baseball championship in 86 years.
He was managing the Boston Hunters, a team in the new Women's Professional Baseball League.
Foulke lived in Arizona while managing the team in Springfield, Illinois.
The league decided his commuting was not enough and said he was "losing the room," meaning losing the team’s trust or connection.
Foulke missed two days of training camp and one practice due to commuting.
Jemile Weeks, a former major league player, replaced Foulke on August 9.
The decision to fire Foulke was described as a “baseball decision” based on team connection.
This firing follows an earlier Boston Red Sox manager firing in the same season.
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Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said he will play all starters in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will start, but rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, will also get many chances to play and develop.
Key Facts
The Raiders play their preseason opener Thursday at Allegiant Stadium versus the Cardinals.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak and Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur are both first-time NFL head coaches.
Kirk Cousins will start as quarterback over rookie Fernando Mendoza.
Fernando Mendoza is the 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick and won the Heisman Trophy in college.
Coach Kubiak plans to give Mendoza plenty of playing time as a way to help him develop.
The Raiders’ offense features new additions like Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty and All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers.
The team also strengthened its defense by adding players Kwity Paye, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Taron Johnson.
The preseason game will show how well Mendoza has adjusted to the NFL and the team’s new offensive system.
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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has struggled this season compared to his first two years, despite still having a strong fastball speed and strikeout rate. Pirates manager Don Kelly says the league is adjusting to Skenes, and Skenes needs to make changes to improve his control and performance.
Key Facts
Paul Skenes is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 2026, Skenes has a 9-10 record and a 3.96 earned run average (ERA).
His fastball speed dropped slightly from 98.1 mph in 2025 to 96.8 mph in 2026.
Skenes’ walk rate increased from 5.7% in 2025 to 6.8% in 2026, indicating more batters reached base on walks.
Skenes won a National League Cy Young Award last year and was Rookie of the Year two years ago.
Manager Don Kelly says Skenes is trying to match the high standards he set early in his career but must improve his control.
Skenes is adjusting his pitching style, including his arm angle and pitch selection.
Despite some struggles, Skenes' stats suggest he is not far from returning to top form.
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