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The Detroit Lions don't play this week, and own a 3-2 record during their Week 6 bye.

Detroit will return to action with a home date in Week 7 against NFC North rival Green Bay from Ford Field. That starts a stretch of 12 straight games for the Lions to close the 2026 regular season.

As the Lions enjoy their bye week, Detroit owns the NFL's No. 6 total offense (393.8 yards per game) and is tied with Buffalo for the NFL's top scoring offense (32.8 points per game). Quarterback Jared Goff has thrown for 1,485 yards and 12 touchdowns with no interceptions.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is off to another terrific start, running for 504 yards and seven touchdowns through five games. Gibbs has added 243 receiving yards and two touchdown catches.

But, the Lions are still trying to shore up a leaky secondary that is surrendering a league-high 297.4 passing yards per game. Detroit also ranks last in the NFL in total defense (404.4 yards per game) and 29th in scoring defense (29.6 points per game).

The Lions did put together their best defensive performance and all-around performance in Week 5 ahead of their bye. Detroit rolled past Arizona, 45-21, to head into its off week. Detroit leads the NFL in sacks with 20, giving the Lions something to feel good about defensively.

As Lions fans enjoy a Sunday to just kick back and watch a full slate of football, here's Detroit's remaining 2026 schedule:

Detroit Lions' 2026 schedule

• Week 1: Lions 31, Saints 30 (OT)
• Week 2:Bills 41, Lions 31
• Week 3: Lions 31, Jets 24
• Week 4:Panthers 32, Lions 26
• Week 5: Lions 45, Cardinals 21
• Week 6: BYE
• Week 7: Lions vs. Packers; Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
• Week 8: Lions vs. Vikings; Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX
• Week 9: Lions at Dolphins; Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX
• Week 10: Lions vs. Patriots; Sunday, Nov. 15 at 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX**
• Week 11: Lions vs. Bucs; Sunday Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS
• Week 12: Lions vs. Bears; Thursday, Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS***
• Week 13: Lions at Falcons; Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS
• Week 14: Lions vs. Titans; Sunday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX
• Week 15: Lions at Vikings; Sunday, Dec. 20 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
• Week 16: Lions vs. Giants; Monday, Dec. 28 at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Week 17: Lions at Bears; Sunday, Jan. 3 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
• Week 18: Lions at Packers; TBD
• **Munich Game from Allianz Arena in Germany
• ***Thanksgiving Day game

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions schedule: Is Detroit playing today?

New England Patriots left tackle Will Campbell is questionable to play in Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

Campbell, who went down with a knee injury in last week's win over the Las Vegas Raiders, was limited throughout the week at practice. NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported earlier in the week that the second-year offensive lineman "avoided a major knee injury" and is "considered week-to-week."

It's important to keep in mind that the team did not activate offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, who returned to practice this week as a limited participant. Bryant not being in the mix could signal that the team is leaning toward Campbell playing in the game.

When Campbell went down last week, rookie offensive tackle Caleb Lomu stepped up in a pinch and helped fill the void. The same would likely be true if Campbell isn't able to go on Sunday.

But what would that mean against an underrated Jets defense that is currently ranked top-five in the league? It would put added pressure on a Patriots offensive line that is already missing starting right guard Mike Onwenu.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Is Patriots OT Will Campbell playing today?

With Week 6 in the NFL rolling on with a typically vast menu of subplots and drama, here are some things we don’t need to see amid all the riveting action:

• A sucker-punch in the face from one player to another while teams mingle on the field after a hard-fought game.
• A sideline skirmish where a linebacker with his helmet on headbutts an opposing linebacker not wearing a helmet.
• A referee dressing down a player who accidentally bumped into him, knocking him to the turf.
• A scuffle on the opening kickoff that ignites a brawl.
• A head coach cursing out an official because he doesn’t agree with a defensive holding call.
• A line judge using profanity as he berates a tight end who dared question the officiating.
• Touchdown celebrations that involve shooting imaginary weapons, smoking a joint or some sexually suggestive hip-thrusting.
• An in-your-face act of taunting…after some routine catch moves the chains for a first down.

Tacky behavior needs to stop

Of course, if you’ve been watching closely, you know that I’m not making this stuff up. As indicated by the aforementioned episodes – all from this season and most from the past two weeks – the NFL has a serious sportsmanship problem on its hands.

No, this has not suddenly sprung up like those weeds in your backyard. This stuff has been growing for years and the weed-prevention fertilizer sprayed by the league office – suspensions, fines, warnings – has hardly eradicated all the tacky behavior.

Sure, football is a tough, violent sport with extreme physical toll. Emotions run hot and heavy. Yet incidents that cross the line of respect are becoming too common.

Something has to give before it spins way out of control.

“It’s on all of us,” Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president for football operations, told USA TODAY Sports. “We owe it to the game. Every individual – every player, coach, official – should be afforded dignity and respect as a professional.”

That sounds great. Mindful. Responsible. And easier said than done.

Larger impact of bad behavior in the NFL

I’ve talked to Vincent about these matters of sportsmanship for years, as the league has increasingly cracked down on extra-curricular behavior – always in the rulebook yet enforced with varying degrees of emphasis over the years – which includes fighting, profane language to officials and some celebrations.

And hey, there’s been at least another couple of generations of players come through the not-for-long NFL since Vincent took over his current post in 2014.

Yet for all the emphasis on conduct, which layers on top of safety-inspired rules designed to better protect defenseless players, such efforts too often go by the wayside in the heat of the moment.

Vincent, bless him, is a former Pro Bowl defensive back who is so passionate about the cause in his role that includes overseeing game officials.

“You’ve got to keep a constant reminder of our responsibility to society,” said Vincent, mindful that NFL examples – good and bad – have impact on lower levels of the sport.

“It’s not where you’re from, it’s where you’re at,” he added. “If you want to be a gang-banger, go back home. If you want to be a street fighter, go back home.”

No, Vincent stresses, the NFL can’t slack up in maintaining standards.

“Whatever you tolerate, you won’t change,” he said.

Ahem.

Players suspended for on-field actions

The NFL suspended two players for one game each for their egregious actions in Week 5. San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw headbutted Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV after tensions flared when he slammed quarterback Sam Darnold to the ground in Seattle’s bench area on Sunday. The next night, Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson punched Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb as players from both teams carried on with the usual postgame mingling following Buffalo’s thrilling overtime win.

On Saturday, the league issued fines to the two players – $4,972 for Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and $6,998 for Jaguars defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. – ejected for fighting on the opening kickoff at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London last weekend.

And these discipline measures came a week after the league took the rare step of suspending two game officials for their on-field behavior. Referee Adrian Hill was suspended one game for chastising Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson, who seemed to accidentally knock the official to the turf. Line judge Jeff Seeman was pulled off the field for two games for cursing at Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, with the exchange captured on video.

The NFL has suspended referee Jeff Seeman for two games.

Seeman said “F*ck you” to Trey McBride multiple times. pic.twitter.com/xBvAZhFH3b

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) October 5, 2026Suspending game officials a rare step for NFL

How rare is it for the NFL to discipline officials in such a manner?

Since 1984, there was only one case of an official being suspended for on-field conduct. That’s more than 40 years. And here are two pulled off the field for actions on the same day.

The NFL Referees Association (NFLRA), which earlier this year negotiated an extension of the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL that includes stricter measures of accountability, vehemently protested the suspensions on the grounds that the punishment isn’t consistent with discipline – or lack thereof – issued to those who verbally abuse officials.

While game officials should be held to a higher standard, the referees union makes a solid point. Too many coaches – especially – are prone to go way over the top with their explosions in protesting calls.

Mike Vrabel, the New England Patriots coach and a member of the league’s competition committee that works closely with the officiating department in administering rules, should know better. Yet in Week 4, Vrabel was flagged by referee Bill Vinovich for unsportsmanlike conduct after profanely protesting a defensive holding call during the game at Buffalo.

“I probably shouldn’t have swore,” Vrabel admitted. “But I can tell you in my history of being on the sidelines as a head coach, I’ve said that.”

No, Vrabel isn’t the only coach to unload on officials. And that doesn’t make it right.

It’s one thing to question a call or demand an explanation, quite another matter to bring it with so much venom and disrespect. If you’ve seen Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and Jets coach Aaron Glenn berate officials this season, you’ve seen other examples of how not to do it.

You’d think the head coaches would be the example of calm reasoning – and there are certainly examples, like Kansas City’s Andy Reid and the Giants’ John Harbaugh, of respectful conduct.

So when Vincent talks about what’s tolerated, let’s not forget that the head coaches swing so much influence on how their players conduct themselves. In other words, if a coach doesn’t control himself in blasting officials, don’t be surprised if his players are prone to lose their cool.

Of course, the coaches don’t control every action of their players – but they can try when it comes to infractions that cost the team.

The onus is on coaches to demand better.

Then again, I’m not sure what Rams coach Sean McVay could have done to prevent Jackson for taking a swing at Chubb. Although Jackson’s initial two-game suspension was reduced on appeal to one game, he’s yet to publicly explain his action.

Chubb, though, shared his version of the incident that undoubtedly carried over from the competition. Jackson punched him after words were exchanged.

“I’ll tell you exactly what I said,” Chubb told reporters at midweek. “I’ve heard I was talking about his mom. That’s not true.

“I said, ‘We’re gonna see y’all’s a-- again. And when we see you again, all that chipping ain’t going to save you. That tight end and guard is not going to save you.’

“He said, ‘What’d you say?’

“I said, ‘That chip’s not going to save you. The guard’s not going to save you.’ And then, boom.”

Vincent, for one, knows that too often it does not take much to ignite incidents. He is reminded, though, of something Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier told him more than a decade ago, not long after he began his executive role.

“He told me that I could not allow this to become a ‘blood sport,’” Vincent said. “Every man deserves respect and dignity. Everyone is playing to go home to their families.”

Now that’s a noble standard. If only everyone agrees with the memo in the heat of the moment.

Follow Bell on X: @JarrettBell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Enough with the fights and tantrums. NFL must fix sportsmanship problem | Opinion

Key Barcelona star’s injury has had an unexpected positive effect on Hansi Flick’s team – report

Barcelona were expected to struggle without Raphinha after the club captain suffered an injury while on international duty with Brazil.

However, the Brazilian superstar’s recent absence has brought an unexpected positive: Hansi Flick’s team have become even less dependent on individual goalscorers.

According to Diario SPORT, five Barcelona players opened their goalscoring accounts across three matches in which Raphinha was either unavailable or absent from the starting line-up.

Five players step up in Raphinha’s absence

Raphinha remains Barcelona’s leading goalscorer this season with 14 goals, but an injury sustained during the international break forced him to miss two matches.

The Brazilian returned against Real Betis on Saturday, playing just 20 minutes as Barcelona secured another emphatic 5-2 victory.

During this period, Anthony Gordon scored twice, while Dani Olmo, Jules Kounde, Rodri and Eric Garcia also found the net.

Rodri is among those who has found the net in Raphinha’s absence. (Screenshot)

Barcelona now have 13 different goalscorers across their opening 11 competitive matches, having scored an extraordinary 48 goals.

Those numbers are particularly impressive given the summer departures of Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford, who contributed a combined 54 goals last season.

Despite those departures, Flick’s attacking system has continued to produce goals at an astonishing rate.

Rodri highlights Barcelona’s collective strength

Speaking after the victory over Betis, Rodri explained why sharing goalscoring responsibility has become so important.

“We are all important. We don’t have a player who can score 50 or 60 goals, so everyone has to contribute to the goalscoring,” the midfielder said.

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal has maintained his outstanding individual form, registering nine goals and 10 assists so far this season.

A welcome headache for Flick

Raphinha’s importance to Barcelona remains unquestionable, particularly because of his goals, pressing and leadership.

However, his absence has demonstrated that Flick’s team can continue to thrive without relying exclusively on their captain.

Hansi Flick’s attacking machine has continued to thrive even in the absence of Raphinha. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The emergence of different goalscorers also makes Barcelona harder to defend against. Opponents cannot simply concentrate on stopping Raphinha and Yamal.

With matches against PSG and Real Madrid approaching, the entire attack will need to contribute if Barça are to secure victories and maintain their perfect run.

Perhaps the biggest benefit is that Flick now has greater freedom to manage Raphinha’s workload without fearing a significant drop in attacking quality.

Barcelona are unquestionably stronger with their captain available, but his injury has shown that they can survive and thrive without him, something that could prove invaluable in the long run.

Texas A&M's No. 1-ranked 2027 recruiting class shouldn't be significantly affected by the Aggies' poor start to the 2026 season, even though four-star linebacker Aston Whiteside is visiting Miami this weekend. The Aggies' top-ranked commit, five-star OT Mark Matthews, was expected to visit this weekend, while Miami is also trying to get him on campus soon.

Under third-year coach Mike Elko, Aggie fans aren't pleased with his coaching performance this season, but every one of the 26 commits in the 2027 cycle chose Texas A&M due to their strong relationship with Elko and his staff, especially Mark Matthews, who is very close with OL coach Adam Cushing, feeling that he'll reach his full NFL potential under his development plan.

Texas A&M currently has four offensive line commitments, including four-star OT DeMarrion Johnson, who shut down his recruitment earlier this year, and will reportedly visit SMU this weekend when the Mustangs host Virginia on Saturday, AggieYell insider Jaxson Callaway confirmed.

Johnson visited the Texas Longhorns this summer just weeks after shutting down his recruitment, but the rival program isn't expected to play a major role in his recruitment going forward. Johnson has visited the Aggies multiple times this fall, but will keep weighing his options amid the Aggies' struggles this season.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: 2027 4-star OT and Texas A&M commit visited ACC program this weekend

As the 2026-27 women's college basketball season approaches, ESPN ranked Iowa guard Dani Carnegie among its top 20 impact transfers. The former Georgia Bulldog joins an Iowa squad looking to build off its success from last year.

The 5-foot-9, third-year guard rejoins former teammate Chit-Chat Wright in Iowa City, whom she spent one campaign with at Georgia Tech during the 2023-24 season.

Carnegie averaged 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting and 35.4% 3-point shooting last season at Georgia. The New York native was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection last year.

ESPN's Charlie Creme ranked Carnegie No. 3 on his list of impact transfers, behind No. 1 Audi Crooks (Oklahoma State) and No. 2 Addy Brown (UCLA), both of whom transferred from Iowa State in the offseason.

Here's what Creme and ESPN had to say about Carnegie:

After completely changing the fortunes of Georgia a year ago, Carnegie hopes to take the Hawkeyes to the next level. She joins a team with far greater talent and higher expectations. With Carnegie, Iowa can contend at the top of the Big Ten. She is reunited with former Georgia Tech teammate Chazadi "Chit-Chat" Wright and will give the Hawkeyes one of the conference's best backcourts. She averaged 17.8 points per game with the Lady Bulldogs and 12.9 points as a freshman with the Yellow Jackets. - Charlie Creme, ESPN

Carnegie can be expected to shoulder a heavy scoring load in the backcourt alongside Wright and Taylor Stremlow.

"I think that they want to win. They are bought into winning. They're bought into how Iowa has won. That was attractive. And certainly being part of this incredible fan base... I think that was part of the reason for these four to come in. It's fun to play here. It's meaningful to play here. It's special to play here," Iowa head women's basketball coach Jan Jensen said of her transfer additions.

Fans will get their first look at Carnegie and the Hawkeyes in action when they host Maryville in an exhibition on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. CT. Iowa opens its 2026-27 regular season against Towson on Monday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. CT from inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. B1G+ will stream both contests.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews

This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: ESPN tabs Iowa women's basketball guard among top 20 impact transfers

Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images

LSU got a statement victory against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday, and Lane Kiffin doesn’t want to hear anything about their injuries.

The LSU Tigers shut out the Mississippi State Bulldogs in an utterly dominant 31-0 victory on Saturday. They scored all their points in three quarters while not allowing even a field goal to their opponents, giving head coach Lane Kiffin a much-needed win.

The victory did come amid some serious problems for Mississippi State. The team was missing star quarterback Kamario Taylor after his toe injury kept him out of the game. Running back Fluff Bothwell almost missed the game, but Kiffin doesn’t want to hear about any of this.

Lane Kiffin points to LSU’s injury problems after being asked about Kamario Taylor’s absence

Taylor has been the driving force behind the Bulldogs’ resurgence, and his absence was sorely felt for the team. However, the Tigers have had to deal with their own issues on that front this season, too.

Safety Dashawn Spears is out for the year, while linebacker Whit Weeks and tight end Trey’Dez Green are also missing significant chunks of the year. With LSU being forced to work around these problems, it is not surprising that Kiffin didn’t have much sympathy for their rivals this weekend.

“I know you’re going to talk about injuries, and that’ll be a storyline,” Kiffin said after the game. “But hey, there ain’t any team in America that has more significant players standing on the sideline than us. So not a lot of pity there.

“I don’t have a lot of empathy for injuries and breaks. I mean, this team, from Day 1, has gotten more bad breaks this season. You can go to f****** injunctions not being followed, and list the bad breaks throughout this year.”

The head coach’s frustration here is clear, although it is hard to imagine that they would have shut out Mississippi State if Taylor and Bothwell were available. That is football at the end of the day, though. Kiffin and his team deserve to enjoy their victory.

Read more:

• Duke under fire after CB swatted away female athletic trainer tending to Landan Callahan’s injury
• ‘Insane and sensitive’ – Dave Portnoy viciously crucifies Ohio State fans ahead of Indiana matchup
• Pat McAfee’s ‘crazy’ reaction to CFB fans wishing for ‘kidney stones’ gets brutally shot down

Oct 17, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Manny Choice (0) makes a catch past Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Hasaan Sykes (12) during the second quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Kentucky Football just completed the upset. 

Will Stein and his Wildcats went west to Norman, Oklahoma, to face off against Brent Venables and his Oklahoma Sooners. 

It was a back-and-forth affair, but Kentucky, against all odds, did it again. The Cats went on to win the game, 21-13.

The Wildcats just won their fourth game as underdogs in the 2026 football season, but it wasn’t easy. 

There’s something called home cooking that sports fans love to talk about when referring to teams getting certain calls while they’re playing at their home stadium. Well, Kentucky got an old-fashioned taste of it in this one, but luckily for Kentucky, John Mateer would throw a pick-six to Kentucky’s Jordan Castell five plays later. 

The play I’m referring to was an atrocious pass interference call on Kentucky defensive back Hasaan Sykes.

Oklahoma wide receiver Manny Choice simply slipped, grabbed hold of Sykes’ facemask, and pulled him to the ground with him.

This was a crucial moment in the game for the refs to try to screw Kentucky with an awful call like that. Kentucky was only up 14-13 with 2:17 remaining, and for Oklahoma it was 2nd & 5 deep in its own territory.

This was called defensive pass interference on Kentucky.

The Oklahoma receiver slipped and grabbed the Kentucky player’s facemask.

That’s a BAD call. pic.twitter.com/DU2rghtvjq

— That’s A Bad Call (@BadCallOfficial) October 18, 2026

Thankfully, the Cats came out on top.

Oct. 18—CLEMSON — Is Clemson's best good enough?

The Tigers took down Charleston Southern 37-0 on Oct. 17 in the widest margin of victory for coach Dabo Swinney's 4-2 (2-1 ACC) squad this season. They shut out their opponent for the first time since 2021. That, plus three touchdowns from the offense and a fourth by the special teams unit, amounts to Clemson's most complete game in 2026.

Swinney thinks so too, calling it his team's best game and saying Clemson dominated from start to finish.

"I think we made a big improvement today on doing the routine things better, but we got to take another step," he said. "There were still some missed opportunities and some plays that we need to make."

Evidently, Clemson's best so far still isn't the team's full potential, so Swinney says.

But the Buccaneers (3-4, 0-2 OVC) were the Tigers' least formidable opponent. Clemson is seemingly banking on getting better against tougher competition. Otherwise, Swinney will have to hope what the Tigers have is already enough for five straight ACC games and rivalry matchup.

Swinney impressed with Reynolds despite low output

Just looking at the stat sheet, it was not freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds' best game.

He didn't throw for any touchdowns or a season high in yards. He didn't have his most completions or highest completion percentage. The biggest thing that stands out from the box score is he didn't turn the ball over for the first time as a starter — because his weekly fumble was recovered by Clemson.

But Swinney sees more than the stats, and what he saw was Reynolds take another step forward in his first career start.

"I thought it was Tait's best game by far," Swinney said. "Decision making, just playing with rhythm, poise, and just really confident in everything he was doing. I thought he ran the ball with authority and ran the ball with confidence."

So what's with the statistical discrepancy? Swinney said it fell on the receivers and a handful of drops this weekend.

"Can't throw it no better. Put three, really four, right on the money," he said. "If we catch a couple of those touchdowns, you're probably not asking me that."

Swinney later said had Clemson scored on its dropped chances earlier on, he probably would've pulled Reynolds sooner than late in the third quarter, but nothing came of the extra drives.

Less is Moore

The culprit behind a handful of those dropped passes was T.J. Moore. Clemson took four 1 on 1, vertical shots to Moore in the end zone during the first half, and each was either dropped or defended well by Charleston Southern.

He finished with two catches on six targets for nine yards and no touchdowns.

Swinney said forcing the ball Moore's way early on wasn't intentional, it's just what happened to be open.

"(Reynolds) just threw the ball where it was supposed to be," Swinney said. "He threw three to T.J. that were on the money. ... Not a great day for T.J. today. He'll bounce back."

Even if feeding him opportunities wasn't intentional, Moore could sure use the boost in production. He's on pace for 471 receiving yards, 51 catches and three touchdowns. All three would be career lows in a season.

It's way, way too early to be speculating about future plans, but Moore's production is certainly underwhelming in his first draft-eligible season.

Special teams lifted by Bisaccia

Swinney said the only unit that's shown up every single week, without a doubt, is special teams.

It's evident and impactful on the field. Clemson started eight of its 11 drives in the game at its 30-yard line or better, in large part due to long returns on punts and kickoffs. The special teams also forced its second turnover of the season and scored its second touchdown in 2026 when Kylon Griffin returned a fumble forced by Tristan Smith and C.J. Kubah-Taylor.

New special teams coach Rich Bisaccia has gotten a decent amount of praise for revitalizing a unit that's been far more impactful than in years past.

"It's amazing, man. Coach Rich is amazing," Griffin said. "He fits perfectly into what we're trying to do. It's an obvious difference."

Kicker Nolan Hauser looks like one of the best kickers in the country as well. He's kicking over 90 percent on field goals this year and set a new career-long of 59 yards against Charleston Southern. His record kick, which was attempted with the wind blowing into Hauser, surpassed his previous best of 56 yards to beat SMU in the 2024 ACC Championship.

It's the second longest field goal in program history, behind a 61-yarder by Spencer Benton against Ball State in 2012.

"I threw up some grass. ... 'Looks like it's going that way. Hell, let's kick it,'" Swinney said.

The risks paid off, both letting Hauser kick it on Saturday and bringing in Bisaccia from the NFL.

Burley makes impact after suspension

Clemson defensive tackle Vic Burley is turning his recent troubles into a lesson learned.

Burley entered the season as an X-factor for Clemson. The former five-star recruit had failed to make an impact through his first three years on campus, but he was set to be an important part of the rotation on the interior line.

Then, Burley was arrested on Aug. 22 and later pleaded guilty to public disorderly conduct. He was suspended from the team indefinitely and missed the first two games before being reinstated for Clemson's game vs. North Carolina on Sept. 19.

He played sparingly in the two games following his reinstatement as Swinney said he was behind on conditioning after being away from the team.

Against Charleston Southern, Burley had his best game so far this season. He played a longer stretch than usual and picked up a fourth quarter sack that helped keep the shutout intact.

Burley will be needed in a Clemson DT room that's dealt with injuries and low production this season. He's still catching up, but his impact after the suspension is being felt early on.

"I want to thank the team for accepting me back," Burley. "Watching the game that I love be stripped away from me and not being able to do it, it gave me a new appreciation for the game."

Back in the 'skillet'

Swinney remarked after the win that it was helpful for Clemson to catch its breath and take in what it had learned from the first five games of 2026 by having a week off and then facing an FCS opponent. The Tigers had never played an FCS opponent out of a bye under Swinney. He described Clemson's usual bye process as a quick break before jumping right back into the grind of preparing for an ACC game.

"You got 48 hours to catch your breath, and then you're right back in the skillet, and you're playing V-Tech this week, right?" he said. "So to be able to have a little more time ... it's just good to be able to get those guys out there."

Well, break time and FCS fun time is over. Back to the skillet you go, Clemson.

The Tigers will play five conference opponents in a year that's shown the ACC defines the idea of any given Saturday. Then they will play the annual rivalry with South Carolina, where records go out the window and chaos ensues.

What comes next will ultimately lead back to the initial feelings from postgame. Clemson played its best game, sure, but can it get better? If not, is its current best good enough?

Time will tell, and there's no more bye weeks to slow it down.

Reach Jackson Castellano at jcastellano@postandcourier.com. Follow him on X @jaxacastellano.

Iowa State basketball gets its first taste of live competition Sunday, Oct. 18 with the Cyclones' first of two men’s preseason exhibition games.

Iowa State will host Creighton for a 12 p.m. CT tip-off at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

The Cyclones will play a second exhibition at Northwestern on Oct. 25.

Iowa State officially begins the 2026-27 season with a neutral-site game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, against Memphis on Nov. 2.

Here's how to watch Iowa State vs. Creighton on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Watch Iowa State vs. Creighton on ESPN+

What channel is Iowa State vs. Creighton on today

• TV: none
• Streaming: ESPN+
• Can't watch the game? Our Cyclones coverage team will have live updates at DesMoinesRegister.com

Iowa State vs. Creighton time today

• Date: Sunday, Oct. 18
• Start time: noon CT

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How to watch Iowa State vs Creighton basketball Sunday, TV, streaming

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PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles keep taking gut punches, the latest is Jalen Hurts' blood clot that has led the Eagles to place their star quarterback on injured reserve on Oct. 17.

That means Hurts will have to miss at least four games, beginning on Oct. 18 when the Eagles face the Carolina Panthers.

Instead of Alabama alums matching up at quarterback in Hurts going against Panthers QB Bryce Young, it'll be Tanner McKee, with two career starts in three-plus seasons, at quarterback for the Eagles.

Buy Philadelphia Eagles tickets

Before this season, the Eagles still might have had the advantage.

That's because Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, came into this season having eclipsed 3,000 yards passing only once − and just barely as he finished with 3,011 yards passing last season.

Look at Young now. He is averaging 317 yards passing per game, putting him on pace to go well over 5,000 yards this season. He leads the NFL's top-ranked passing offense (301 yards per game), No. 3 offense in total yards (406 per game) and No. 4 offense in scoring (30.3 points per game).

It's quite a difference from the last time the two teams played, back on Dec. 8, 2024. The Eagles won that game 22-16 on their way to the Super Bowl. Back then, Young was 19-for-34 for 191 yards with a touchdown and interception. And that was one of his better games.

After last season, the Panthers were not sold on Young as their franchise quarterback. They picked up his fifth-year option for 2027, guaranteeing him $25 million for that season. But they did not sign him to an extension.

If Young keeps going like this, his next contract will be worth more than double that per season.

"The quarterback has really progressed," Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "Kudos to him and their coaching staff. He's really a good processor, makes quick decisions, knows where to go with the ball ... (The Panthers) got it going right now."

Yet the Panthers are 2-2 because their defense is a work in progress. They rank 29th overall in total defense (389 yards allowed per game), 31st in run defense (157 yards per game), and 26th in points allowed per game (27.3).

Then again, the Eagles offense hasn't reached any of the Panthers' defensive averages in a game this season. Their highest totals are 341 total yards, 136 rushing yards and 24 points.

And it'll be even more difficult to reach those totals with Hurts and Saquon Barkley (hamstring) sitting out. Here's how we see the game going:

Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports trending reporter & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com), Tom Rimback (sports writer, Courierpostonline.com), Brandon Holveck (high school sports reporter, Delawareonline.com)

Martin Frank

Just as the Eagles start getting some of their key injured players back − TE Dallas Goedert returned last week and WR DeVonta Smith and OLB Jonathan Greenard are returning this week − they're losing QB Jalen Hurts for at least a month and RB Saquon Barkley is missing another game. Can the Eagles' defense, led by Jalen Carter, give them a chance for some McKee Magic? I'm saying yes.

The pick: Eagles 23, Panthers 19

Greg Giesen

As the late Mike Ditka said about one of his late 1980s Bears teams, "We ain’t very good right now, but we’re all we’ve got. ... Unless we get better, we’re going to have a hard time. We might not win another (expletive) game this season.” The same is true for the out-gunned Eagles. Philadelphia has a patchwork offensive line and multiple weapons out – including quarterback Jalen Hurts. While the defense is strong, the lack of an offense is killing the Birds. This losing streak is going to linger.

The pick: Panthers 20, Eagles 10

Kevin Tresolini

The Panthers are coming off their bye week, which gives them additional prep time. The Eagles are just weak, offensively anyway. Former top draft pick Bryce Young has begun to finally show his promise as the Panthers' quarterback, though Vic Fangio's defense will certainly challenge him and what has become one of the NFL's better offenses. The Eagles have lost in almost unimaginable ways the last two weeks, and shown an equally stunning ineptitude with their offense. Tempted to go the other way with Jalen Hurts out. But fate, playing at home and the return of some players from injury finally work in their favor, and Tanner McKee is better than expected.

The pick: Eagles 20, Panthers 17

Tom Rimback

Until proven otherwise, this is not a good football team. Unless the offense figures this out and gives the defense some time to recover, it's going to be a long season.

The pick: Panthers 23, Eagles 20

Bert Bainbridge

The shorthanded Eagles were seconds away from pulling off the upset over the heavily-favored Jaguars in London. The Birds are in a bad spot as they return home from across the pond, and won't have quarterback Jalen Hurts. That doesn't usually bode well for international teams, especially against a red-hot Panthers team coming off a bye week. Even with DeVonta Smith back, it won't be enough with a backup QB to slow down a Carolina offense that's averaging 30.3 points per game, good for the fourth-highest scoring offense in the NFL.

The pick: Panthers 27, Eagles 13

Bob Jordan

Wheeling right back into action after an international game and facing an opponent coming off a bye week − it doesn't feel like the formula to get the Birds back in flight.

The pick: Panthers 27, Eagles 10

Tom McGurk

The Eagles desperately need a victory, and they are favorites at home. However, the team still isn't healthy, and one wonders if the players will lose faith in a head coach who blew decisions down the stretch over the previous two weeks.

The pick: Panthers 20, Eagles 17

Brandon Holveck

This pick is a vote of confidence for the Vic Fangio defense led by a resurgent Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Those are four of the best five or six players on the Eagles, and the organization will lean on them to get through this turbulent patch.

The pick: Eagles 17, Panthers 13

Tom Haines

Just when it looked like the Birds were getting back some much needed offensive firepower, the team received the biggest gut punch when it was determined Jalen Hurts would be out of action vs. the Panthers. Down multiple running backs, plus Devonta Smith and four-fifths of the season-opening offensive line proved too much to overcome in past weeks. If some of those pieces are ready to go Sunday, will it be enough for backup QB Tanner McKee? Thinking it's time the defense steps up.

The pick: Eagles 23, Panthers 20

Tom Moore

Another tossup game for the struggling Eagles. Flip a coin.

The pick: Panthers 24, Eagles 23

Michelle Ganassi

Just remember the Eagles won a Super Bowl with a backup QB.

The pick: Eagles 24, Panthers 14

Overall records

5-0: Bainbridge

4-1: Frank, Giesen, McGurk, Moore, Tresolini

3-2: Rimback, Haines, Holveck

3-1: Ganassi

2-3: Jordan

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles beat Panthers without Jalen Hurts? Our expert score predictions

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Max Verstappen reflects on his GT World Challenge Europe outing in Portimao, as he speaks up for teammate Chris Lulham.

In the middle of the two F1 triple-headers, Red Bull driver Verstappen opted to compete in the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance finale in Portimao, for his Verstappen Racing team in the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 machinery.

He made his GT World debut in the lead Pro Cup category alongside NLS teammate Lulham, joined by Ben Barnicoat. They qualified 14th in combined qualifying on Friday and started the 3-hour race from 13th on the grid.

Barnicoat started for Verstappen Racing and handed the car to Lulham in eighth. The former sim racer made headway to sixth until a move on the sister #48 Mercedes car of Luca Stolz, spinning him around, in a rather optimistic move.

Lulham lost a place to the #64 Ford in the process and was handed a drive-through penalty, which he served before handing the car to Verstappen for the 45-minute stint. The Dutchman got in the car in 24th and worked his way up inside the Top 15 quickly.

He then made some ballistic moves, including a three-car pass at Turn 2, to move inside the Top 10. He had to be content with ninth eventually, finishing fifth in the Pro Cup. It was a solid recovery drive from the four-time F1 champion in the night.

Verstappen Reflects on His GT World Debut

He agreed that the move from Lulham was a bit too optimistic. “Overall, we have had a decent weekend,” said Verstappen after the race. “Unfortunately, we made a mistake with the setup of the car in qualifying, which meant that the car was sparking a little bit too much for performance.

“So, we didn’t qualify where we should have qualified. We adjusted the setup for the race and we were a lot more competitive. Ben had a really great first stint, staying out of the carnage at the start and driving us to the front. Chris also started his stint really strong, putting himself in a good position.

“But then, unfortunately, a little bit of an opportunistic move on the other car ahead meant that, of course, we received a deserved drive-through penalty. That meant I had to go from P24 in my stint. But I had fun and the pace of our car was really good. It was very hectic, with a lot of chaos around me to get to the front.

“But in the end, to finish ninth, recovering from that drive-through, I think was really strong. So overall, although it was not the result that we wanted, a lot has been learned, and it was a positive weekend,” summed up Verstappen, who will now travel to Austin to kick-start another triple-header of the US GP, Mexico GP and Brazilian GP.

Verstappen Calls Out Fans for Personal Attacks

But before that, the Dutchman came to the aid of his GT teammate Lulham after a barrage of abuse from his fans on social media. Just when he made the mistake, fans on the livestream started picking on the sim racer.

It was the same on X (formerly Twitter) and even on Lulham’s Instagram. The Brit came up to Verstappen to apologize after the race, as captured on the live feed. The situation only fueled the fans, degrading his credentials as a sim racer.

Verstappen called out the fans for such behavior, coming to Lulham’s rescue. “Exciting weekend! Was very happy to be racing our GT3 car in Portimão,” he wrote. “There were some ups and downs, but as a team we learnt a lot.

“I also feel I need to speak up about the hate and harassment Chris has received after the race. Everyone can have their opinions about what happened on track, but these personal attacks are not okay. Chris had a really strong stint and mistakes can happen. There’s no place for this kind of abuse in our sport or anywhere else.”

‘People will always complain’ – PSG’s Luis Enrique responds to Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca

Speaking after Manchester City’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday (2-4), Enzo Maresca suggested that the relative weakness of Ligue 1 gave an advantage to his opponents on the night.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Manchester City faced a visit to Anfield. The Cityzens beat Liverpool. Ryan Gravenberch’s red card just after the hour mark was the turning point in that game as City eased to a 3-0 win. However, Maresca’s side went into half-time 3-0 down when PSG came to town on Wednesday night.

Just days earlier, Les Parisiens had registered an unconvincing 3-1 win over Le Mans FC. In that game, key players were rested. Mika Godts, Ferran Torres, and Maghnes Akliouche all started in attack, whilst fringe players such as Lucas Beraldo, Dro Fernandez, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne all got a run out. Of those, only Akliouche started against Manchester City.

“PSG can manage their players before the Champions League. For us, it is a bit different, especially when you have to go to Anfield,” said Maresca after Wednesday’s defeat to the reigning European champions.

On Friday, Luis Enrique responded. “It is the typical noise around PSG,” said the Spaniard, who has led Les Parisiens to back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles. “Before even coming here, I heard that PSG wouldn’t win the Champions League because of the level [of Ligue 1], and now that the club has won, that is the reason. People will always complain.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Marco Piccari thinks Juventus should stick with two strikers up front

Juventus have looked more dangerous in attack in recent matches when Randal Kolo Muani and Nick Woltemade have played together. Both forwards have been in good form and have contributed to the team’s efforts, giving the manager a potential solution to improve their attacking output.

Although this Juventus side is still a work in progress, there are signs that the best is yet to come. The team appears to create more problems for opponents when both strikers are on the pitch, particularly in the second half of matches.

Juventus benefit from two forwards

The main challenge is that Juventus do not have a third striker on the bench, making it difficult to start both Kolo Muani and Woltemade regularly. However, their performances together suggest that the manager could benefit from finding a way to use them as a partnership more often.

Juventus need to make the most of their attacking options if they want to score more goals and win matches consistently. While the manager must decide the best approach for each fixture, the evidence from recent games suggests that playing both forwards together deserves serious consideration.

Their impact has been particularly noticeable after the break, when Juventus have looked more threatening going forward. Finding a way to bring that attacking threat into the starting line-up could help the team make a stronger start to matches.

(Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Piccari calls for Juventus to build on improvement

Marco Piccari also discussed Juventus’ performance against Celta and the difference made by the changes in the second half. Speaking via Tuttojuve, he said:

“Celta turns the ball around and plays quickly. Juve are hard to comment, they have created nothing in the top 45. First half to forget, in the second half the entrance of Nico Gonzalez and Kolo Muani changed Juve who took the field and created. Two points in front give more weight, it’s time to insist.”

Piccari’s comments highlight the contrast between Juventus’ first-half and second-half performances. The team struggled to create chances before the break, but the introduction of Nico Gonzalez and Kolo Muani brought greater attacking intent.

Juventus must now find a way to maintain that improvement more consistently. If using Kolo Muani and Woltemade together can help the team create more chances, the manager may need to consider making the partnership a bigger part of his plans.

Arnold Bruggink remains convinced that Ruben van Bommel has the potential to become an elite player, but PSV face uncertainty over the winger’s availability for Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with FC Porto.

Van Bommel was missed during PSV’s 2-1 defeat to ADO Den Haag, with head coach Peter Bosz admitting after the match that it was far from certain the youngster would be fit for the trip to Portugal. The result has also raised concerns for PSV, who suffered their third consecutive away defeat.

Speaking on ESPN’s Voetbalpraat, Bruggink and his fellow analysts discussed Van Bommel’s development and the qualities that have attracted attention from major clubs.

Bruggink has previously spoken highly of the PSV winger, describing him as a potential top-level player and suggesting that he could even take responsibility for penalties.

“I would let Ruben van Bommel take the penalties. He is ice-cold. Ruben is an absolute top player. All the big clubs keep an eye on him,” Bruggink said.

His comments underline the confidence surrounding Van Bommel’s long-term prospects, although PSV will be hoping his fitness concerns do not prevent him from featuring against Porto.

Arnold Bruggink Names PSV’s New Penalty Taker: “He Is Ice-Cold”After costly Champions League misses and injuries to key specialists, club legend Arnold Bruggink urges Peter Bosz to trust a clinical young winger with 12-yard duties.Bruggink Questions Refereeing Decisions After PSV Setbacks

Bruggink also criticised the refereeing decisions in PSV’s recent matches, arguing that the officials had made questionable calls in both Leipzig and The Hague.

The analyst had already expressed frustration with decisions during PSV’s Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig. After the loss to ADO, he again questioned the standard of officiating, using a reference to Sinterklaas to describe what he considered generous decisions.

Bruggink also felt the first yellow card shown to Sven Mijnans was excessive. Mijnans was eventually sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the first half, leaving PSV to play with ten men.

ADO capitalised on the numerical advantage, overturning PSV’s lead to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory. The defeat added to the pressure on Bosz’s side ahead of their European trip.

Meanwhile, Danny Koevermans praised goalkeeper Matej Kovář for his performance against Leipzig, where the Czech goalkeeper made several important saves. Koevermans noted that Brajan Gruda’s decisive effort had taken a slight deflection, making it difficult for Kovář to keep it out.

“He played a fantastic match. That ball from Gruda was slightly touched, so he couldn’t get to it. Otherwise he would have been man of the match. Tough for him and for PSV altogether,” Koevermans said, as quoted by PSV Inside.

PSV must now turn their attention to Porto, with Van Bommel’s availability among the key questions facing Bosz.

Luuk de Jong made 338 appearances for the club and scored 186 goals [IMAGO / Vitalii Kliuiev]PSV And Porto Plan Special Tribute To Luuk de Jong

Away from the immediate concerns surrounding the squad, Tuesday’s Champions League match could also provide a special moment for former PSV captain Luuk de Jong.

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, PSV and FC Porto are working on a tribute to the striker, who is expected to travel to Portugal with the PSV delegation to attend the match.

The planned occasion is also expected to recognise Bobby Robson, who managed both clubs during his coaching career.

De Jong remains an important figure in PSV’s history. The 39-cap Netherlands international made 338 appearances for the club and scored 186 goals, establishing himself as one of its leading modern-era figures.

His spell at Porto was much shorter, with seven appearances and one goal for the Portuguese side.

Robson coached PSV from 1990 to 1992 before returning to Eindhoven for another spell in 1998 and 1999. Between those periods, he managed Porto until 1994.

With PSV preparing for a difficult Champions League test, the planned tribute would add an emotional dimension to the occasion. However, Bosz’s immediate priority will be assessing Van Bommel’s fitness and preparing his team to respond after consecutive setbacks away from home.

Willi Orban (RB Leipzig) during League Phase, UEFA Champions League, RB Leipzig and PSV Eindhoven at Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany on October 13 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

RB Leipzig defender Willi Orban offered a brutally honest assessment of his team’s performance against Bayern Munich, admitting that the visitors never came close to delivering the level required to compete with the Bundesliga champions.

“I think the result says it all. We got nowhere near our limit and did very little of what we wanted to do. Bayern were very dominant and even had chances to score more goals. It was an awful game from us. At half-time, we focused on what we’d done badly and wanted to do better, but then we conceded the next goal with Bayern’s first attack after the restart. Towards the end, we did a bit better, but on the whole we did so many things wrong today,” Orban said (as captured by FCBayern.com).

Orban’s frustration is understandable. Leipzig went into the match knowing they would need an outstanding collective performance, yet they struggled to execute their game plan and contain Bayern’s attacking threat.

The goal conceded immediately after half-time was especially damaging. Any hope of mounting a response was quickly undermined, allowing Bayern to maintain control and further expose Leipzig’s defensive weaknesses. Orban also acknowledged that Bayern could have scored more, which says plenty about the gulf between the teams on the day.

From a Bayern perspective, this was an encouraging sign of the team’s ruthlessness. Kompany’s players did not allow Leipzig’s half-time adjustments to change the momentum. The challenge now is maintaining that standard against tougher European opposition, where Bayern will need to be just as clinical and disciplined.

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 27: Runningback TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the New England Patriots during warm ups prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) GettyJACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 27: Runningback TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the New England Patriots during warm ups prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) Getty

The New England Patriots have a whopping seven players questionable for Week 6’s game hosting the New York Jets on Sunday.

Alongside cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Karon Prunty, who are both ruled out, the Patriots have listed wideout A.J. Brown, tackles Marcus Bryant and Will Campbell, defensive backs Craig Woodson and Channing Canada, linebacker Christian Ellis and running back TreVeyon Henderson as questionable to play this weekend.

However, a decision made the franchise on Saturday; the day before the game; shows a potentially encouraging sign that Henderson will suit up on Oct. 18 against the Jets.

The Patriots decided not to elevate any running backs from the practice squad, and instead even released running back Hassan Haskins on Oct. 17. Given that Rhamondre Stevenson and 2025 UDFA Corey Kiner are the only other backs on the active roster – both of whom will presumably be part of the game-day roster as well – it would appear likely that Henderson is good to go.

S Elliott Davison is the Patriots’ lone practice squad elevation for tomorrow.

No running back, which could be an encouraging sign for TreVeyon Henderson. The Pats go into this game with just Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Corey Kiner at RB. https://t.co/g1MKJK4dfY

— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) October 17, 2026

Patriots Choose to Not Elevate Rb From Practice Squad

“S Elliott Davison is the Patriots’ lone practice squad elevation for tomorrow.” Alex Barth of 985 The Sports Hub posted on X. “No running back, which could be an encouraging sign for TreVeyon Henderson. The Pats go into this game with just Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Corey Kiner at RB.”

Normally teams carry three running backs on their 48-man game-day rosters, implying that if Henderson was not likely to play the team would have elevated fellow PS running back Lan Larison for Week 6.

Considering that it did not happen, the second-year pro will likely play a role in the rushing attack.

Is it Possible that Henderson Does Not Play in Week 6?GettyJACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 27: Runningback TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the New England Patriots during warm ups prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

It is not impossible that the team could still rule out Henderson, and it’s also quite possible that whilst he may be leaning towards playing, a poor warm up could see the medical staff rule him out if they don’t like what they see.

And some teams have gone in to games with just two tailbacks this season: famously the Miami Dolphins played Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs with just De’Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II.

Once Achane got injured early on, Gordon was the only man available at tailback for the rest of the game; a situation that the franchise will likely try and avoid again moving forward.

 

This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post Patriots Pre-Game Move Spells Good Sign For TreVeyon Henderson appeared first on HEAVY.

Blaydon Races Banner Hector Gannet Singing Pre Match Newcastle United v Aston Villa St James' Park

Interesting to read through these BBC Sport ‘neutrals’ comments, following on from Newcastle United losing 1-0 to Aston Villa.

A first defeat in six months at St James’ Park for Newcastle United.

The last time United failed to score at home in all competitions was back in January, a 2-0 defeat to…Aston Villa.

Newcastle battled but Villa the better and more dangerous team the first half, Manzambi putting them ahead.

Matthias Jaissle’s team edged the second half but lacked the inspiration and quality to find the equaliser, though Suzuki made a blinding save from Sven Botman.

Always interesting to hear the neutral perspectives, as well as the perspectives of fans of Aston Villa, Newcastle United and…Sunderland.

The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals…

‘What a dirty team Newcastle are. How Joelintin stayed on the pitch and Botman. Maybe if they tried kicking the ball, they might have some success.’

‘Super result for Football.

Villa played with poise, movement and pace…..despite the best efforts of Newcastle to kick them off the park.

Well done Villa….shame on you Newcastle.’

‘What drivel.’

“Villa played with ‘poise’ … was wondering what the ref’s name was.

So many Villa players up for an Oscar and the ref pandering to them.

‘Half right, compared to 50 years ago today’s ‘bad challenges’ were whimsical in comparison. Not saying that’s a good thing, but oh boy how times change’

‘On tonight’s showing Newcastle are the biggest bunch of thugs since Sean Dyche’s Burnley. Should have ended with 9 on the pitch.’

‘The irony coming from a supporter of the team that has thugs Cash and McGinn.’

‘I saw a lot of villa players giving a sneaky push from behind, rolling around like they were shot, grabbing shirts – yeah nufc weren’t great but villa are still below them and scrapped a 1-0.’

‘Newcastle, could they struggle this season? Conceded four against Coventry in their previous match and have just lost at home to a Villa team who aren’t exactly full on confidence either.’

‘Villa not full on confidence? Just won 3 & drew 1 of our last 4 games.’

‘Losing 4-1 at Coventry and Leeds is not for everyone and still Newcastle haven’t played anyone near to top.’

‘The Geordies missed Isak today. I hope they enjoyed his goal today.’

‘Sad Mackem I guess.’

‘No sad Mackems in Portugal this week. Quite the opposite. Plenty sobbing on Tyneside though.’

‘I actually agreed this is the sort of game where Isak made the difference in previous years.’

‘That was straight from eddies book. Can’t out play them. Disrupt kick and harrass them.’

‘It summed up the referee in 3 seconds. He thought the Joelinton and Botman tackles both deserved a yellow card. One wasn’t a foul, the other was a straight red.’

‘I think the joelinton yellow card saved botman as a free kick was already given. So the game was effectively stopped at botmans tackle.’

‘You mean the free kick that never was. No contact between Joelinton and the Villa player, he just went diving like most of the squad. Botman should have been off, it was stupid, lazy and dangerous.’

‘Horrific challenge – i’m glad Jackson is ok’

‘You mean Botman easily got to the ball and the Villa players threw himself to the ground’

‘Great win at a ground we usually struggle out. Ref and VAR bottled the Botman challenge.’

VAR Screen No Red Card Botman Newcastle United v Aston Villa Premier League

Photo by The Mag

‘Ref and linesman couldn’t wait to stop play in villa’s favour.’

‘Not sure how Newcastle finished with 11 players.’

‘Not sure how they finished with more than 8’

‘That’s a bit dramatic. Botman was a red. Not sure any one else was ever in trouble. Joelintons yellow wasn’t even a foul. Also worth considering Villas diving, one lad booked for it, Pau Torres screaming in fake agony, the keeper time wasting.’

‘Joelinton was a textbook yellow. At least three Newcastle players should have received 3-4 bookings apiece.’

‘Newcastle and Villa both hampered by FFP. Newcastle haven’t had their team decimated.’

‘Not had their team decimated? Clearly losing players for over £250M in the summer doesn’t count. Not to mention the others who left at the end of their contracts.’

‘Pack in the FFP rubbish. To spend money you have to win things and make money. Otherwise you’re a bad as Man City. What, you expect to be able to spend billions all because your owners are rich? And that fair on everyone else that doesn’t have a sugar daddy, is it? Give it a rest, it’s becoming boring’

‘It worked for Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool before PSR though didnt it, or is that ‘different’

‘Both teams being destroyed by the PL and the red cartel. You will continue to sell and win nothing until you fight back. Say what you like about City but your clubs need to make a stand against FFP and any rules that try to keep you down.’

‘So Villa sold their ladies team to their sister company generating 77 million. Thats ok is it.’

‘Depends which teams you talk about. Villa and chelsea selling ladies teams to sister companies. Newcastle selling ground to themselves. Brighton 400 MILLION apt loan, Arsenal 250 Million apt loan and many more. In case you don’t know an APT loan is a sugar daddy loan that never needs to be repaid and has no interest payments. A gift. Sure many clubs would like that, do you homework.’

‘They have had their team massively weakened. Look back at that team in 24-25 that won the league cup. Losing Isak, Gordon, Bruno and even Tonali from that is a massive detriment.’

‘I’m a villa fan, but Newcastle definitely had their team ripped up this summer too.’

‘Villa Fan. I like to see Newcastle do well. Proper club and proper fans , but you looked confused and lost today.’

‘Villa going from strength to strength again. Frantic summer, but Suzuki, Manzambi, Madjo, Mbaye, Jackson – the future is bright. Disgraceful Botman didn’t see red. Newcastle huffed and puffed but have no threat. That’s what they’re missing and it drains the confidence. Wissa’s efforts were disgraceful.’

‘Another shocking refereeing performance! Favoured Newcastle!’

‘Villa diving all over the park and as for Suzuki’s constant time wasting !!’

‘It’s bad enough when managers whinge about perceived injustices, but fans don’t need to copy them.

Yes it could, and perhaps should, have been a red card, but these decisions always carry an element of judgement, and that original judgment was a yellow card. Hence unsurprising they couldn’t see enough to over-rule the ref. Had he started at a red, I doubt VAR would have over-ruled it.’

‘Great game to watch. Would have taken a 1-1 away at St. James but chuffed with a 1-0 win. The ref however. Awful. Lost control of both Half’s. How Newcastle still ended the game with 11… And Wissa didn’t score ANY of his chances?

Anyway. Onto the next for both.’

‘It’s plain for all to see we’re work in progress and hopefully we get there, and with Unai I think we’ll be ok. I genuinely hope Newcastle start performing better soon, we need them, us & a few others challenging the Sky 6 (why 6?!)/ media darlings/corrupt clubs/ clubs with huge debts for the sake of football’

Source

Anaheim Ducks (4-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. New York Rangers (6-3-1, in the Metropolitan Division)

New York; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Rangers will try to keep their five-game home win streak alive when they face the Anaheim Ducks.

New York is 6-3-1 overall and 5-0-0 in home games. The Rangers have a 3-0-0 record when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent.

Anaheim has a 3-0-0 record in road games and a 4-3 record overall. The Ducks have a 4-0-0 record in games they score three or more goals.

Monday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season.

INJURIES: Rangers: Joseph Veleno: out (lower-body), Igor Shesterkin: out for season (lower body), Joonas Korpisalo: out (lower-body), Aidan Thompson: out (undisclosed), Adam Sykora: out (lower-body).

Ducks: Troy Terry: out (hip), Ryan Poehling: out (lower-body), Mikael Granlund: out (upper body), Ian Moore: out (lower-body).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Carolina Hurricanes (7-1-1, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Calgary Flames (1-6, in the Pacific Division)

Calgary, Alberta; Sunday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Hurricanes -221, Flames +177; over/under is 6

BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes seek to keep a seven-game win streak alive when they play the Calgary Flames.

Calgary is 1-6 overall and 0-3-0 in home games. The Flames are 1-4-0 when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent.

Carolina is 7-1-1 overall and 5-0-0 in road games. The Hurricanes have given up 21 goals while scoring 34 for a +13 scoring differential.

Sunday's game is the first time these teams square off this season.

INJURIES: Flames: Jonathan Huberdeau: out (hip), Samuel Honzek: out (undisclosed).

Hurricanes: Taylor Hall: out (upper body), Seth Jarvis: out (shoulder), Jordan Staal: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.