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Player News
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Tyson Bagent CHI QBBears' Tyson Bagent: Tracking to be Chicago's QB2
18m agoFollowing the selection of No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, Bagent is viewed as the favorite to open the season as the Bears' QB2, USA Today's Vincent Parise reports.
With Justin Fields traded to the Steelers earlier in the offseason, it leaves Bagent and Brett Rypien behind Williams. There's a chance Chicago adds an experienced veteran to what is currently a pretty young quarterback room, but Bagent showed well enough as a rookie last year to enter 2024 with a chance to claim backup duties. Bagent went 2-2 in four games as a starter, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions. He added 23-109-2 as a rusher.
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Kirk Cousins ATL QBFalcons' Kirk Cousins: Joined by first-round rookie QB
1h agoCousins (Achilles), who signed a four-year deal with Atlanta in March, is slated to be joined in the team's QB corps by Michael Penix, who was taken with the No. 8 overall pick in Thursday's NFL draft, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Despite the franchise's surprising decision to select Penix, Cousins, who is rebounding from an Achilles tear that he sustained Oct. 29, remains locked in as the Falcons' No. 1 QB for the foreseeable future. Regarding that topic, GM Terry Fontenot noted Thursday, "Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. We're very excited about Kirk, very excited about this team. (With) Michael Penix we're talking about the future. The draft is you look at the future and you look at big picture." In terms of his injury recovery, Cousins relayed last month that he's progressing well and is "optimistic that (he) can be full speed at practice before (the Falcons) break for the summer." In any case, barring any setbacks, Cousins -- who turns 36 in August -- is entrenched atop Atlanta's depth chart, with Penix providing the team with both an insurance policy for the veteran signal-caller, as well as a potential successor down the road.
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Jonathan Mingo CAR WRPanthers' Jonathan Mingo: Bumps down the depth chart
2h agoWith the Panthers' selection of Xavier Legette with the No. 32 overall pick Thursday night, Mingo is pushed down the wide receiver depth chart, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Carolina has made it a point to upgrade its wideout room this offseason, first trading for Diontae Johnson before then trading up into the final pick of the first round for Legette. Adding those two to veteran slot man Adam Thielen pushes both Mingo and Terrace Marshall down in the pecking order for targets. Mingo -- who is bouncing back from a late-season foot issue -- started 14 of 15 games he appeared in as a rookie, but he posted an uninspiring 43-418-0 receiving line on 85 targets. He was one of the least productive starting receivers in the league in 2023.
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Jaycee Horn CAR CBPanthers' Jaycee Horn: Fifth-year option to be picked up
3h agoThe Panthers have elected to pick up Horn's fifth-year contract option, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Horn, who the Panthers took eighth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, is thus slated to remain under contract with the team through the 2025 campaign. Injuries have hampered the starting cornerback over his first three years as a pro, but when available, the 24-year old has made his mark in Carolina's secondary by racking up 85 tackles and four picks over the course of 22 regular-season outings.
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Deebo Samuel SF WR49ers' Deebo Samuel: Drawing interest from Pats, Bills
4h agoThe Patriots and Bills have interest in trading for Samuel, Michael Giardi of Boston Sports Journal reports.
There's been a lot of trade chatter around Samuel's teammate, Brandon Aiyuk, but Giardi reports Samuel is "more likely to be traded" and has a couple interested suitors in Buffalo and New England. Both offenses are in dire need of wideout help, and the Bills (33rd overall) and Patriots (34th) hold picks atop the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night. Samuel has two years left on his contract but has been more prone to injuries throughout his career, missing six regular-season games and parts of several others across the last two seasons. Aiyuk, meanwhile, is coming off a career year and a second consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. The Niners used their first-round pick Thursday night on Florida WR Ricky Pearsall, further fueling trade chatter on the team's veteran wideouts.
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Jacoby Brissett NE QBPatriots' Jacoby Brissett: Set to compete with Maye
5h agoBrissett is in line to compete with newcomer Drake Maye for the Patriots' starting QB job ahead of the upcoming NFL season, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.
Given that New England selected Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it's only a matter of time before the North Carolina product is installed as the team's starter. That said, it's possible that the rookie begins the season as Brissett's understudy, with coach Jerod Mayo noting Thursday of the Patriots' signal-caller situation that "at the end of the day, our philosophy is the best players will play. We will compete and the best player will start." Brissett rejoined the franchise that drafted him in 2016 on a reported one-year, $8 million deal, providing New England with an experienced option who can either helm the offense until Maye is deemed ready to do so, or alternatively serve as quality backup and mentor to Maye, who doesn't turn 22 until Aug. 30. Meanwhile, 2022 fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke are also on hand to provide the Patriots with QB depth ahead of training camp.
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Jeremiah Estrada SD RPPadres' Jeremiah Estrada: Back to big club
17m agoThe Padres recalled Estrada from Triple-A El Paso on Friday./
Estrada was sent down to Triple-A following the two-game Korea Series against the Dodgers. He's appeared in eight games with El Paso, registering a 2.08 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 20:3 K:BB and three saves over 8.2 frames, and the right-hander is set to bolster the Padres' bullpen. Estrada's move to the majors corresponds with right-hander Randy Vasquez being optioned to Triple-A El Paso
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Randy Vasquez SD SPPadres' Randy Vasquez: Sent to minors
18m agoThe Padres optioned Vasquez to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.
Vasquez made two starts with the Padres after being recalled from El Paso last Saturday, allowing five earned runs across 7.2 innings while striking out five batters and walking three. He'll now head back to the minors, and Jeremiah Estrada will come up in his place to add depth to San Diego's bullpen.
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Bobby Witt KC SSRoyals' Bobby Witt: Drives in three runs
18m agoWitt went 1-for-4 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored during Friday's 8-0 win at Detroit.
The 23-year-old started the scoring with a sacrifice fly during the third inning and added a two-run triple as part of a seven-run ninth for the Royals. Witt is in a bit of a power drought with no homers in his past 14 games, though he does have six RBI and three steals over his last four contests.
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Matthew Batten SD 1BPadres' Matthew Batten: Optioned to El Paso
25m agoThe Padres optioned Batten to Triple-A El Paso on Friday.
Batten didn't appear in a game during his latest stint in the big leagues, and he will now return to the minors as Machado returns from paternity leave. Batten is slashing .224/.318/.293 across 66 plate appearances at Triple-A.
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Seth Lugo KC SPRoyals' Seth Lugo: Fans nine over seven scoreless
29m agoLugo (4-1) earned the win Friday in Detroit after he struck out nine and allowed three hits and two walks across even scoreless innings.
The right-hander generated 13 swinging strikes on 103 pitches as he and Detroit starter Reese Olson combined to give up just a single run in 14 frames. The swing-and-miss stuff from Lugo was a welcome sight after he posted a 4.1 K/9 through his first five starts of the season. The beginning of Lugo's tenure in Kansas City couldn't have gone much better, as he has a 1.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB over 38 innings.
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Manny Machado SD DHPadres' Manny Machado: Starting at third base Friday
31m agoMachado (personal) was added to the active roster and is starting at third base for Friday's game against the Phillies, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Machado was placed on the paternity list Monday and ended up missing the Padres' last four games. What's notable about Friday's game is that Machado is starting at third base for the first time since getting surgery on his right elbow in October, while Graham Pauley serves as the designated hitter. Machado's return is a welcome one with rookie Jackson Merrill missing his second straight game due to a lingering groin issue. Machado is slashing .260/.324/.417 with four home runs and 12 RBI over 105 plate appearances to start the season.
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Damian Lillard MIL PGBucks' Damian Lillard: Heads to locker room
4m agoLillard left Friday's Game 3 with 2:13 remaining in the first quarter due to an apparent knee injury and went to the locker room, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Lillard drove to the basket for a layup and gently collided with Pascal Siakam but landed awkwardly and had to be helped to the bench. Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) has yet to play this postseason, and Khris Middleton is playing through an ankle injury he suffered early in Game 2, so Lillard's potential absence couldn't come at a worse time. AJ Green subbed in for Lillard, but Pat Connaughton and Malik Beasley are also candidates for increased roles until the All-Star point guard can return.
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Terry Rozier MIA SGHeat's Terry Rozier: Remains out for Game 3
42m agoRozier (neck) won't play in Saturday's Game 3 against the Celtics.
Rozier's absence streak will extend to nine games Saturday due to neck spasms. With Delon Wright (personal) questionable, Patty Mills could receive his first minutes of the series against Boston. Rozier's next chance to suit up is Game 4 on Monday.
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Delon Wright MIA SGHeat's Delon Wright: Iffy for Game 3
42m agoWright is questionable for Saturday's Game 3 against the Celtics due to personal reasons.
Wright starred off the bench during the Game 1 loss and posted 17 points, three assists and two steals in 26 minutes. However, he finished the Game 2 win with just five points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. Either way, his potential loss could be costly to a backcourt already playing with Terry Rozier (neck) and Josh Richardson (shoulder). Jimmy Butler also remains out.
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Larry Nance Jr. NO PFPelicans' Larry Nance: Good to go Saturday
1h agoNance (ankle) isn't on the injury report for Saturday's Game 3 against the Thunder.
Nance was held to just 14 minutes of action in Game 2 due to an apparent right ankle injury. However, Nance should be available and serve as one of New Orleans' primary frontcourt options off the bench in Game 3.
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Luke Kornet BOS CCeltics' Luke Kornet: Likely available Saturday
1h agoKornet (calf) is probable for Saturday's Game 3 in Miami.
After starting the final two regular-season games while the usual starters rested, Kornet was sidelined for the first two postseason games while rehabbing a calf injury. Even if he gets the green light, Kornet isn't guaranteed a significant role, especially if Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis remain healthy.
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Craig Porter Jr. CLE PGCavaliers' Craig Porter: Another absence coming
2h agoPorter (ankle) won't play in Saturday's Game 4 against the Magic.
Porter will miss his fourth straight contest to start the playoffs Saturday due to a left ankle sprain. His next chance to suit up is Game 5 on Tuesday against Orlando.
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Ryan Suzuki CAR CHurricanes' Ryan Suzuki: Up from AHL
2h agoSuzuki was recalled from AHL Springfield on Friday.
Suzuki has 14 goals and 30 points in 51 outings with Springfield in 2023-24. Although he'll be with the Hurricanes, the 22-year-old is not expected to play for Carolina during the postseason.
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Nicolas Hague LV DGolden Knights' Nicolas Hague: Unavailable for Saturday
3h agoHague (lower body) will miss Game 3 against Dallas on Saturday, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Hague had two goals, 12 points, 43 PIM, 154 hits and 111 blocks in 73 appearances in 2023-24. He also missed Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Stars due to the injury. Alec Martinez is likely to remain in the lineup due to Hague's continued absence.
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Cam Talbot LA GKings' Cam Talbot: Set to start Friday
4h agoTalbot is expected to start at home against Edmonton in Game 3 on Friday, per Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period.
Talbot has struggled against the Oilers, allowing 10 goals on 75 shots (.867 save percentage) over two playoff contests. Edmonton ranked fourth offensively with 3.56 goals per game in the regular season, so the squad is likely to continue to give the veteran goaltender trouble, especially because Talbot's been floundering for a while now. He has a 2.92 GAA and an .897 save percentage over his past 17 outings dating back to March 7.
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Igor Shesterkin NYR GRangers' Igor Shesterkin: Slated to face Capitals
4h agoShesterkin is slated to start on the road against Washington in Game 3 on Friday, according to Seth Orlemann of USA Today.
Shesterkin won the first two contests of the series while stopping 42 of 46 shots (.913 save percentage). The Capitals ranked 28th offensively with just 2.63 goals per game in the regular season, so it's not surprising that they haven't given Shesterkin much trouble in the first round. That said, the series moving to Washington might help the Capitals, who were 22-12-7 at home compared to 18-19-4 on the road during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Ilya Lyubushkin TOR DMaple Leafs' Ilya Lyubushkin: Misses practice Friday
4h agoPer Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun, Lyubushkin (personal) missed practice Friday, but is an option to play Saturday, according to coach Sheldon Keefe.
Lyubushkin left the team for the birth of his third child after Wednesday's loss to Boston. The 30-year-old rearguard is expected to return ahead of Game 4 versus Boston on Saturday. Lyubushkin had four assists, 64 hits and 30 blocked shots in 19 games with the Maple Leafs after he was dealt from Anaheim on Feb. 29. Look for Timothy Liljegren to remain in the lineup, should Lyubushkin be unavailable Saturday.
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Connor Hellebuyck WPG GJets' Connor Hellebuyck: Between pipes Friday
5h agoHellebuyck will defend the road crease in Colorado on Friday, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.
Hellebuyck has struggled in the opening two games of the series, despite going 1-1, as he has allowed 10 goals on 77 shots. Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Colorado snapped Hellebuyck's six-game winning streak. He was 37-19-4 with a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 60 regular-season appearances. The Avalanche have had no problem finding the back of the net thus far, and will hope to continue the trend as the series shifts to Colorado for Games 3 and 4.
