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One need only be reminded of the fact that quarterback Sam Darnold just won the Super Bowl to understand that when it comes to the NFL, patience truly can be a virtue. Darnold was in his eighth NFL season and the Seattle Seahawks are the fifth team of his professional career, but the point is the same with second-year breakout candidates. It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the latest draft class and overlook other young players set to pop. With that, here are my picks for which 2025 draft picks I believe will take the biggest leaps in their sophomore season. NFC EAST Coming off a torn ACL, Revel didn’t see the field until Week 11 of his rookie season. Now that he’s fully healthy, I’m expecting big things from the long-armed 6-foot-2 corner. Revel is big, physical and aggressive. With he and 2026 rookie Caleb Downs leading the way, I believe the Cowboys will show massive improvement in their secondary this season, positioning the team for a postseason run. Given the downhill running game John Harbaugh prioritized in Baltimore, there probably wasn’t a player on the Giants’ roster more excited about the arrival of the longtime Ravens head coach. Skattebo flashed last year prior to sustaining a horrific lower leg injury that abruptly ended his rookie campaign after just eight games. He scored seven times, showing not only bruising running ability but also soft hands out of the backfield. He’ll be Harbaugh’s bell cow with a chance to at least double his production in 2026 — if he can stay healthy. Admittedly, listing Campbell here is pretty low-hanging fruit. He’s a former first-round pick who started 10 games as a rookie and is slated to play even more in Year 2 with his primary competition of a year ago — Nakobe Dean — now on the Raiders. But I don’t think Campbell is just going to start — I think he’s going to star. He is a remarkable athlete at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, offering Vic Fangio all sorts of flexibility with how to use him. He has the size and burst to excel as a pass-rusher with the speed to chase down backs in the running game. His pass coverage was outstanding at Alabama and even better in his rookie season, when he ranked eighth among all NFL linebackers (with at least 200 snaps) in completion percentage allowed, per Pro Football Reference. Campbell is a blue-chip chess piece that has the talent to become one of the faces of a fierce Eagles defense. Scoring eight touchdowns and being named the NFL’s Rookie of the Week four times last season suggests that Croskey-Merritt has already arrived. His role should expand this year, however, with his vision and burst a nice fit for the wide zone concepts new offensive coordinator David Blough is implementing. I’m expecting a committee approach at running back, similar to what Blough used in Detroit. But I see Croskey-Merritt as the front-runner to lead the position. He runs with deceptive speed and power and is not afraid of traffic. NFC NORTH I believe last year’s production (47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns) is only the tip of the iceberg for Burden. He caught at least three passes in each of the Bears’ final 10 games (regular season and playoffs) after snaring that many in just two of his first seven games. With veteran D.J. Moore now playing in Buffalo and Rome Odunze fighting through recurring foot pain, Burden is a good bet to become Caleb Williams’ most trusted wideout in 2026. One could argue that after hauling in six touchdown receptions as a rookie, TeSlaa already enjoyed his breakout campaign. With four of those scores coming in the final six games of the season, however, TeSlaa may only be warming up. He’ll need to score a lot more of them before opponents will start shifting their coverages toward him rather than Detroit’s more established playmakers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Fantasy football enthusiasts should prepare for some possible TD regression, as few receivers were more efficient in the red zone than TeSlaa, who scored six times despite catching just 16 total passes. Golden is the third receiver from the NFC Central listed as a breakout candidate, and because he’s the fastest (and was the first of the trio selected in the NFL Draft), he will likely enter his second NFL season with the most hype. His talent and anticipated workload warrant it. Golden’s opportunities will jump with Romeo Doubs now playing in New England, and he boasts the run-after-catch ability and breakaway speed to quickly become Jordan Love’s favorite big-play target. Along with first-round guard Donovan Jackson, Price was one of the few impactful rookies for the Vikings in 2025 — which speaks to why the team hired a new general manager (Nolan Teasley) during the offseason. The former undrafted free agent from Texas Tech generated a whopping 1,777 all-purpose yards as the Vikings’ starting punt and kickoff returner, finishing third among all NFL players. Minnesota has several quality candidates pushing Price for the returner job — including 2025 third-round wideout Tai Felton and 2026 sixth-round running back Demond Claiborne. But the vision, elusiveness and burst Price demonstrated as a returner could also make him a dangerous target out of the slot, though he’d need to take real strides in this area after seeing just a few snaps at receiver as a rookie. NFC SOUTH It’s worth noting the Falcons had only a five-man draft class in 2025, and four of those players — edge rusher Jalon Walker (ACL), edge rusher James Pearce Jr. (legal), defensive back Billy Bowman (Achilles) and offensive tackle Jack Nelson (waived) — are tracking to miss extended time this season. The lone exception is Xavier Watts, who led all NFL rookies with five interceptions last season, finishing fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. So while he may, in fact, continue playing a starring role in 2026, his breakout was last year. Conversely, as an undrafted free agent who spent half of last season on Atlanta’s practice squad, Bryant isn’t a lock to even make its roster. But the trash-talking 6-foot-1, 185-pounder punches above his weight class as a tackler, offers legitimate man-to-man cover skills and is a cerebral special teams performer, giving him a solid chance to build upon last year’s production (10 combined tackles, one pass breakup, one TD allowed) in seven games. The NFL is the ultimate copycat league, so I expect we’ll see many teams utilize the three safety look that the Seahawks used so successfully in last year’s Super Bowl run. Ransom, the 122nd overall pick in 2025, moonlighted in this role as a rookie behind veterans Nick Scott and Trevon Moehrig. With Scott now 31 and never a consistent turnover producer, don’t be surprised if Ransom forces his way onto the field sooner rather than later. After recording 10 pass breakups over just five starts as a rookie, Riley appears ready to step into the huge vacuum left behind by departed standout Alontae Taylor. Riley is a quality athlete, but his instincts are what stood out most between his rookie season and six seasons in college. This experience has taught Riley above-average route anticipation and poise when the ball is in the air. He led all cornerbacks from the 2025 class with 15 career interceptions and I think he might top the Saints in this category this season. I am as excited as anyone about Rueben Bain Jr., but my enthusiasm for the Bucs’ building off of last year’s 37-sack performance doesn’t end with the club’s first-round pick in 2026. Walker missed all of his rookie season after suffering a torn ACL during training camp. He’s back healthy, and all reports suggest that his trademark twitch remains. Playing at a stumpy 6-foot-1, 263 pounds, he’ll be a bit of a pass-rush specialist this season, but I think he’ll prove to be an effective one with at least a handful of sacks. NFC WEST Little went right for the Cardinals in 2025 and that included their prized first-round pick — Nolen — suffering through an injury-plagued rookie campaign that limited him to just six games. The burst and agility that warranted the No. 16 overall pick, however, was obvious. Now that he’s healthy following surgery to repair a torn meniscus, I expect Nolen to emerge as one of the NFC’s better young pass rushing defensive tackles. Given that the Rams pulled off the biggest trade of the offseason by prying Myles Garrett away from Cleveland, suggesting another pass-rusher is about to break out for them should terrify opponents. Garrett’s mere presence will command extra attention, opening opportunities for his teammates. Stewart doesn’t need much assistance. His combination of quickness and compact strength make him a tough block. The former third-rounder likely won’t start this year, but I think Stewart will prove a quality sub option who might just double last year’s production (22 tackles, three sacks). The 49ers were as snakebitten by injuries as any team in the NFL last year, with Martin (as well as first-round pick Mykel Williams) among the many to miss significant time. Martin was placed on injured reserve midseason following a concussion, finishing with just 11 tackles after being selected No. 75 overall. The tape suggests he’ll be a future standout. Martin is an agile and highly aggressive downhill defender with plus closing speed and power. The 49ers brought back Dre Greenlaw, but only on a one-year deal. Don’t be surprised if Martin is starting (and starring) by December. A remarkable rookie class led by first-round left guard Grey Zabel and Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist Nick Emmanwori played a huge role in Seattle winning the Super Bowl. Mills recorded a sack in the title game but otherwise recorded just three other tackles on the season after missing most of his rookie campaign to rehab a torn ACL suffered in college. While playing time will be a challenge given Seattle’s talent up front, coach Mike Macdonald constantly rotates his defensive linemen. A healthy Mills would’ve been drafted a couple of rounds earlier than where Seattle stole him — in the fifth, at No. 142 overall. He should prove as much this year, with 30 tackles and five sacks being realistic goals.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NFL’s long summer of speculation ends on Thursday night. As preseason action kicks off, training camp promises to give way to real evaluation, where hidden breakouts emerge and fragile contenders face their first real stress test. First Things First co-host Nick Wright believes he has the script for how the league will play out. On Wednesday afternoon, he revealed his team tiers entering Week 1 of the preseason, complete with plenty of surprises. Here’s how Wright breaks down the league entering Week 1 of the preseason: History Says… Wright made sure to highlight six teams that are 100-to-1 to make the postseason, as recent history shows someone will. However, in this context, he doesn’t believe any of the Dolphins, Browns, Cardinals, Jets, Raiders, or Titans have a chance this season. “Almost every year, a team that has these odds and these are the six teams in the league,” Wright said. “History says one of them is making the playoffs. Do you have the courage to pick it? I don’t.” Could Be OK! Wright’s tier here is his least enthusiastic on the list. He has very little to say as the Giants, Colts, Steelers and Vikings are hit or miss and could find themselves right in the middle with eight or even nine wins. “Seems like they could be okay,” Wright said. “I don’t really have much to say about them. They could win eight or nine games. They could. I don’t know that I believe they will. They could be okay.” The NFC South The NFC South sits in a tier of its own as the most unpredictable division in the league. Still, Wright is all-in on the Buccaneers, mostly because of quarterback Baker Mayfield and how hot he can get when playing with something to prove. “I like the Bucs,” Wright said. “It’s the NFC South…someone’s gonna go 8-8 and one will win it and I hope it’s Baker [Mayfield]. I hope he gets hot in the playoffs.” Concerning Camps Not only are the Commanders and 49ers off to a rough start in camp, but Wright is now actively concerned about both organizations. It’s a concerning trend, especially considering they are already two of the oldest teams in the league. “Laremy Tunsil’s injury is a huge deal,” Wright said. “We don’t have time to do the 49ers concerning injuries. I don’t. These are older teams we talked about that we don’t love. The fact that they have one of them already has one key guy done for months and the other has a bunch of guys out intermittently. It’s just a bad part of training camp.” Can It All Come Together? Among the many teams facing uncertainty this season, none fit the “boom or bust” label quite like the Houston Texans. Their fate won’t just depend on overall roster depth, but the spotlight and pressure reside squarely on C.J. Stroud. “What is the deal and who is the real C.J. Stroud and who are we going to see if they get just good production from the offense,” Wright said. “That could be a Super Bowl team. The defense and DeMeco Ryans are so good.” Feels Like Something Is Missing The Lions and Packers both have a missing piece heading into the year, but Wright is particularly worried about Green Bay’s defense. The lack of a clear return timeline for Micah Parsons was a major driving factor behind where he tiered the Packers. “For the Packers, I know what I think is missing,” Wright said. “Micah Parsons for maybe, it might be the first half of the season. Seems like it and that to me is concerning. I do think these two teams [Lions] could be excellent, but it feels to me right now in the middle.” High Ceiling, Low Floor The Eagles are the ultimate wild card in the league this season as they could win the Super Bowl or completely miss the playoffs. Wright remains split on the Eagles and questions whether Nick Sirianni can hold it together. “The Eagles might be the highest ceiling, lowest floor and the best example of any team I can remember in recent memory,” Wright said. “I absolutely think they could be the one seed again in the NFC. I also think they could be below .500 after Thanksgiving and we’re talking about the next head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.” Prove It To Us The Broncos and Jaguars were major overachievers last year, and Wright made sure to highlight that. With Bo Nix and Trevor Lawrence under center, both teams sit in a tier dedicated entirely to proving that last season wasn’t a fluke. “14 wins, 13 wins,” Wright said. “Two teams with polarizing quarterbacks. Two teams that their fans feel like don’t get near enough respect they deserve coming off the year they had. Broncos obviously beat the Bills in a playoff game. Jags had a lead against the Bills in the playoffs.” “They got to prove it to us this year,” Wright said. Measuring Sticks Over the next two decades, Drake Maye and Caleb Williams could both put together Hall of Fame careers and define the league. Wright believes their careers will be forever linked, which is precisely why he placed them in the “Measuring Stick” tier to monitor their parallel trajectories. “I say measuring sticks because I believe these two quarterbacks [Drake Maye and Caleb Williams] are going to be measured against each other their entire career,” Wright said. “They both have different and excellent head coaches. I think they’re both in stable organizations.” Doubt Them At Your Own Peril When in doubt, Wright will always have the Chiefs in a tier of their own. “Kansas City Chiefs,” Wright said. “I understand, you’re a homer, Nick. Here’s the other thing I know. There are every other team in the league is allowed to have a bad year and move it..like the Lions they should bounce back. The Ravens, obviously they’ll bounce back.” For Wright, everything hinges on Patrick Mahomes’ health. Provided Mahomes remains healthy, he views 11 wins as the absolute baseline for Kansas City, with 13 wins well within reach if everything goes right. “I think that all unique Patrick Mahomes needs is his health, which he has right now and the stable offensive line,” Wright said. “Their floor in that situation is 11 wins. You add some other elements that I think over the course of the year and it becomes a 12 or 13 win team.” Is The Grass Greener? Wright expressed skepticism over the coaching changes in Baltimore and Buffalo. Even though John Harbaugh and Sean McDermott had reached the end of the line, handing the reins to first-time head coaches Jesse Minter and Joe Brady created a massive layer of uncertainty. “Two teams that said we got to move on from the coach,” Wright said. “Maybe. I get it, but every coach-quarterback combo that has ever won a Super Bowl together won their first one within five years. For Harbaugh-Lamar and for Allen-McDermott it was year eight, so they were like it’s not going to happen.” The Committee Can’t Decide There’s no decision to be made regarding the Rams and Seahawks for the top spot on his tier list. It’s not that Wright is indecisive, but he sees both NFC West powerhouses as equal. With rumors swirling around Aaron Donald’s return making the Rams a Super Bowl favorite, and the Seahawks coming off a dominant Super Bowl victory, Wright has them deadlocked at the top. “Apologies for not being definitive here, but the committee trademark can’t decide,” Wright said. “We’ve gone back and forth between who the best team in the league is to the defending Super Bowl champions of last season. As we sit here today, I can’t decide that in preseason Week 1 tiers.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

On the eve of Week 1 of the preseason games, Wednesday brought more clarity to quarterback battles across the league and bold expectations from a second-year head coach. The Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns made official announcements regarding their preseason starting quarterbacks. In the NFC North, Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson outlined lofty offensive goals, while Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy reacted to losing out on the starting job to Kyler Murray. Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, meanwhile, suffered a minor injury during joint practice. Catch up with all the updates across the NFL: Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken announced that Deshaun Watson will start the preseason opener on August 15 against the Chicago Bears. Shedeur Sanders is scheduled to start the team’s second preseason contest on August 22 against the Buffalo Bills. “I’m super excited,” Watson said in comments to reporters. “All the hard work that I put in with the training staff, with my team, my personal team, to get to this stage has been tremendous for me. So, I’m super excited for those opportunities and can’t wait for it.” Monken explained that both quarterbacks are expected to play a half in the opener so each caller can manage a two-minute drill. “I have my reasons for how it’s going to go, and it’s still a competition,” Monken said. “We’re excited to watch guys practice today, let alone on Saturday, and then next week against Buffalo, and we’ll get a chance to see them both.” Watson and Sanders have alternated first-team reps throughout training camp. The Atlanta Falcons have named Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback for Friday’s preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday. Stefanski clarified that the designation applies strictly to the preseason opener and does not confirm Tagovailoa as the regular season starter. “We’re just now entering Week 1 of the preseason with this game on Friday night. Obviously, Tua is going to play in that game, and I think that’s great to get game action with our guys,” Stefanski told NFL Network. Most Falcons starters will play approximately one series before Cooper Rush and Jack Strand take over under center, Stefanski added in comments to reporters. Michael Penix Jr. remains unavailable for full team drills while continuing his rehabilitation from an ACL tear. “From a preparation standpoint, these guys are on top of it, learning the new system, understanding what’s important on each given play,” Stefanski said. “So I’m very pleased with where we are. I just know in the calendar where we are. We’re not there yet in terms of naming somebody a starter.” Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is setting goals beyond a championship heading into his second season with the franchise. Johnson outlined his vision for the Bears to field the highest-scoring offense in NFL history, surpassing the 2013 Denver Broncos team that averaged 37.9 points per game. “I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored, and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts,” Johnson told The Athletic. Johnson also referenced the 2003 and 2004 New England Patriots teams that won 21 consecutive games between the regular season and postseason. “Why can’t we do that?” Johnson said. Nick Wright isn’t surprised by the comments, given the confidence Johnson has exuded in his coaching career. ‘It’s hubris to the highest degree,” Wright said on Wednesday’s edition of First Things First. “This is who he’s always been. He has always, at every opportunity, wanted to be, if not the lead actor, the co-star of his team’s offensive movies.” Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy addressed reporters following head coach Kevin O’Connell’s decision to name Kyler Murray as the team’s starting quarterback. “A decision was made that was out of my control, and obviously every competitor wants to play,” McCarthy said. “But moving forward, it’s just about continuing to work hard and just staying ready for when my number’s called.” When asked what he needed to do to win the job, McCarthy deferred to the coaching staff while keeping his focus on personal growth. “That’s a question for Kevin and the staff,” McCarthy said. “I feel like just me continuing to develop and improve in many different aspects is the only thing I’m worried about.” McCarthy added that Minnesota is still the place he wants to be.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

For some teams, winning a Super Bowl takes an extraordinary set of circumstances. However, the Seattle Seahawks’ run to a Super Bowl title in 2025 shouldn’t be viewed as them catching lightning in a bottle. After the Los Angeles Rams dominated headlines this offseason, Colin Cowherd argued that the Seahawks are being overlooked ahead of the 2026 season. “Vegas has the Baltimore Ravens, an 8-9 team last year, with better Super Bowl odds than the Seahawks. Nobody thinks they can repeat. It was a one-off. No way will [Sam] Darnold play mistake-free playoff football again. Things went in their favor,” Cowherd said on Wednesday’s “The Herd.” “No, actually, they did not go in their favor at all. The opposite is true. Sam Darnold goes to arguably the best division in football, has a new coach, a new coordinator, a new O-line, a bad O-line, and a new receiving core, JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba).” Seattle enters the season with the fourth-best Super Bowl odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook), trailing Los Angeles, Baltimore and the Buffalo Bills. But Cowherd thinks even that’s too low, pointing to the rare continuity Darnold will have this season as a key reason why the Seahawks should be viewed as a contender. “Darnold — four teams, four years — for the first time in years, [he has the] same head coach, same locker room, same culture, same city, same house,” Cowherd said. “That kind of continuity to me seems like a huge benefit.” Darnold had a strong opening season with the Seahawks. He was fifth in the league in passing yards (4,048) to go with 25 passing touchdowns as he helped Smith-Njigba win Offensive Player of the Year. But Darnold wasn’t the key reason for Seattle’s success. The Seahawks’ defense was arguably the best in the league. They finished with the best scoring defense in the regular season before putting up a dominant performance in the playoffs, including in their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. Cowherd added that head coach Mike Macdonald has established a strong identity in Seattle, comparing him to another Super Bowl-winning coach in the same division. “Boy, Mike Macdonald is really impressive. The head coach, he’s Sean McVay [on the] defensive side.” Cowherd said. “They’re not aging out of this. Their older players don’t get hurt much. Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, Charles Cross, and their best players are all young and getting better.” And beyond that, Cowherd likes the Seahawks’ infrastructure heading into the new year. “Their old guys are healthy. Darnold’s a young 29, never had a lot of injuries,” Cowherd said. “They have the best GM, arguably, defensive coach, arguably, the best receiver, arguably. And over the last two years, they’ve been 15-2 on the road. They’re the best home team without an argument, and yet they’re kind of considered, and they’re not really mentioned.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders didn’t spend a lot of money on big stars during the offseason, choosing to strengthen their team with quantity and depth. But maybe that’s all they need to turn their team back into the Super Bowl contender that they were two years ago, because their most important offseason addition was a healthy Jayden Daniels. And so far this summer, it sure does look like Daniels is back. The 25-year-old showed that on Wednesday with a spectacular performance in a joint practice against the Miami Dolphins. Granted, the Dolphins are likely going to be terrible this season, but Daniels still looked a lot like his old self. Almost every pass he threw was on target and perfectly timed, especially when he was looking 20 to 30 yards downfield. And he showed off his mobility too, escaping for a few runs and even turning one broken play into a successful shovel pass. It’s too soon to say if he can recapture the magic of 2024, when Daniels had one of the most remarkable rookie seasons for a quarterback ever and took the Commanders all the way to the NFC Championship Game. But if he’s even close to that player after injuries held him to just seven games last season, it would be foolish to count the Commanders out. “It’s huge,” said linebacker Leo Chenal, who left Kansas City to sign with the Commanders in March. “He’s one of the greatest playmakers in the league. We’ve all seen what he’s capable of. When I wasn’t here, I was like, ‘Dang, this dude’s a playmaker.’ You can just see it. You’ve got to respect that and what he’s able to do with the ball in his hands.” The Commanders need Daniels to be that playmaker too, because they didn’t exactly overload their offense with others who can make plays. They did just sign receiver Stefon Diggs, but he’s 32, and their only other reliable receiver is 31-year-old Terry McLaurin, who’s coming off his own injury-filled season. Gone from last season are tight end Zach Ertz and receiver Deebo Samuel, who were the Commanders’ top two pass catchers. Daniels, though, is the type of quarterback who can elevate those around him when he’s healthy and playing at his best — something he rarely did last season thanks to a sprained knee in Week 2 and a dislocated elbow in Week 9, before his season ended prematurely. He sure looked like the best version of himself against the Dolphins. And those who have seen him at camp insist he’s looked that good all summer long. “I felt like this last year, too,” Daniels said at the podium on Wednesday. “I wasn’t hurt at this time last year. But it’s a new year. I don’t want to compare what I did my first two years.” It’ll be hard for Daniels to do anything that compares to what he did as a rookie when he threw for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and just nine interceptions, while running for 891 yards and six touchdowns. He also provided Washington with more magic moments than they had had in the previous decade, not to mention their first trip to the NFC Championship Game in 33 years. But the Commanders are still counting on at least some of that magic resuming, to make their team better than the sum of its otherwise underwhelming parts — even if Daniels won’t publicly count on that yet. “We’re just putting in the work to get there,” Daniels said. “I wouldn’t say we’re in midseason form. We’re just going day by day.” Diggs showed last season in New England that he could still be a No. 1 receiver in this league, though he’s getting to an age where he needs to prove it every year. He sure looked the part on Wednesday, when he dominated the Dolphins’ defensive backs in one-on-one drills. He beat them with speed, with moves, and caught plenty of balls in traffic, too. Diggs is going to have to prove his durability at age 32, but his skills and reliability seem as good as ever. It also looks like he could be a high-volume receiver for the Commanders. Yes, they still have Terry McLaurin, too. But Diggs could be a Daniels favorite, running a lot of underneath routes that he could potentially turn into big plays. Robinson was probably the best player on the field for the Dolphins on Wednesday. Granted, the bar for that was low, but he was still pretty good. He gave Commanders right tackle Josh Conerly fits and was regularly breaking through to the Commanders’ backfield in team drills. The Dolphins lost their best pass rusher (Bradley Chubb) in free agency, so they really need someone to be a difference-maker on defense. Robinson, their first-round pick in 2024, took a step back last year after a somewhat promising rookie season. He should be a lock for more than the four sacks he had in 2025. For the Dolphins’ sake, there’ll hopefully be a lot more. “It’s awesome. You finally get to hit someone who is not your own team. You bring them in from the South, show them how it’s done a little bit.” — Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal on the joint practice with the Dolphins. Commanders: All Hopes Rest On Jayden Daniels Last season was so bad for Washington that it’s almost easy to forget that the Commanders went to the NFC Championship Game the year before. That’s when Jayden Daniels was an all-time great rookie QB before his injury-riddled second year. On paper, the Commanders look more like last year’s version than the juggernaut from 2024. They have big defensive issues and didn’t do a great job of surrounding Daniels with weapons. But if Daniels is the player he was as a rookie, and he can stay healthy, he can elevate this team like he did then. At least that’s the hope in Washington. If Daniels is as good as everyone thought he was two years ago, the Commanders could make some noise in the NFC. But he really needs to be that good. Otherwise, they’re looking at a disappointing year. Dolphins: No Hope At All Meanwhile, as for the Dolphins, the Jeff Hafley era is not likely to get off to a rousing start. The new coach refuses to admit the Dolphins are rebuilding, even though all the evidence points that way. They have some hope that they catch lightning in a bottle with new quarterback Malik Willis after he impressed in very limited duty last year in Green Bay. But other than running back De’Von Achane, the Dolphins really don’t have any weapons around him at all. And a defense that ranked 22nd last season lost its best pass rusher when Bradley Chubb left. Hafley could be a very good coach, and maybe he’ll squeeze something out of his young defense. But unless Willis, in his fifth NFL season, suddenly blossoms into a star, the Dolphins will almost certainly end up as one of the worst teams in the entire league. The drive south to this area from Jersey is a great way to see the East Coast, one redundant rest stop at a time. But the roughly 90-minute drive from the Commanders’ practice facility in Ashburn, Virginia, to their neighbors, the Baltimore Ravens, can be a slow procession through farm country. Seriously, the drive to my hotel in Frederick, Maryland, looked like I was driving through Iowa. I’m pretty sure I saw every corn stand in the Northeast. My reward for that — other than a night in this Civil War town and a possible secret excursion to nearby Camp David — will be a visit with the new-look Ravens, who are adjusting to life without John Harbaugh for the first time in 18 years. I hear the practices run by Harbaugh’s 42-year-old replacement, Jesse Minter, are about half as long as they used to be. If that’s true, then his players already love him. Minter inherited a loaded team which I think could be a Super Bowl contender. If they end up winning, I can only assume the parade will be in Baltimore and not down Maryland Route 15, unless they want their floats peppered with corn instead of confetti.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LOS ANGELES – The optimism leading into Blake Snell’s first start back in nearly three months went beyond the usual confidence one might expect when a two-time Cy Young Award winner returns to action. It was as if both Snell and his manager knew he’d come out looking like a completely different version of the pitcher who allowed five runs in three innings in his only previous start of the season. “It’s the best I’ve felt in three years, by far,” Snell claimed 12 days before his return. “He’s on a mission,” Dave Roberts added assuredly. It certainly looked that way Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 49,958 fans at Dodger Stadium, where Snell exhibited no signs of rust in his return from elbow surgery as he lifted a scuffling Dodgers club in need of a pick-me-up. Even after two comeback victories on Monday and Tuesday, the Dodgers have won just 13 of their last 30 games. Their bullpen has been unreliable. Their bats have been inconsistent. Earlier this week, Roberts lamented the way his star-studded offense had gotten “bullied” by fastballs far too often over this stretch of substandard play. And yet, Snell’s 10-strikeout return provided a reminder of why any potential concerns about the Dodgers’ aging roster might not matter if this rotation is upright and whole by October. They have Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last year’s World Series MVP. They have depth arms in Roki Sasaki, Justin Wrobleski and Eric Lauer, who could shift to bullpen roles in October. Shohei Ohtani continues to play catch with the hopes of returning to the mound before season’s end. Tyler Glasnow has started his rehab assignment and could return by month’s end. And, of course, they now have two two-time Cy Young Award winners after their deal for Tarik Skubal at the deadline. Skubal labored through five innings in his home debut Monday but kept the Dodgers close enough to storm back for the win. Snell, meanwhile, overpowered Kansas City’s lineup one day later. “We needed to win tonight, and we needed to win a series, and it started with him,” Roberts said. “So I thought from pitch one, you know, he exuded that, and we fed off of that.” Roberts’ goal was to get Snell through five innings, but Snell was thinking bigger. While texting back and forth with Roberts before the start, he assuredly told his manager he could go six. And then he did. The optimism before Snell’s outing was justified. He struck out the side in the first inning, maintained velocity throughout the night, walked just one and surrendered soft contact when the Royals did manage to put the bat on the ball. With the game still tied after five innings, no one was getting warm. Amid the team’s slump, Roberts demanded more urgency, both from his club and himself. Tuesday night provided the latest example of it. Roberts knew Snell was his best option to return for the sixth, even if pushing him beyond 80 pitches wasn’t part of the plan. The left-hander made quick work of his final frame, needing just 13 pitches that inning and 84 pitches in total to navigate through six. The Dodgers’ offense then responded in the late innings again, making up for more shaky bullpen play. It was another instance of the urgency that had been lacking. “The last two nights,” Roberts said, “is what we’re looking for.” Snell was calmer than he thought he would be in his first start back at Dodger Stadium since May 9, when he labored through three innings on 77 pitches against the Braves. Soon after that start, he underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his sore elbow. The procedure seemed to do more than simply address that compromised body part. Snell believes the bone chips in his elbow were also contributing to pain in his shoulder, which had caused him problems most of last year, and pressing on a nerve. For the last couple of years, the ring finger and pinky finger on his throwing hand had felt numb. “They took [the loose bodies] out, and I could feel my hand completely,” Snell told me. “My shoulder pain went completely away.” Shortly after the procedure, he started to regain his range of motion and the extension in his arm that had been lacking. That led to more swing and miss at the top of the zone with his fastball and the ability to consistently finish his curveball and tunnel it in a way he couldn’t before the surgery. On Tuesday, after laughing off a poor rehab appearance in Salt Lake City — during which the elevation wreaked havoc on his secondary offerings — Snell bounced back by getting 15 swings and misses from Kansas City hitters. The Royals swung eight times at his curveball and whiffed on five of them while watching another five breaking balls go by for strikes. “That’s me having the range to move the ball how I want,” Snell told me. “I just haven’t had it in a couple years. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh the changeup.’ I’m like, ‘If the curveball’s on….” Snell believes that pitch in particular could be much more of a difference-maker this season. “The curveball’s finally coming back to how I remember it being,” he said. “It was always a pitch that was a wipeout. I could throw it, but now I’m finally releasing it where I need to release it, and I’m kind of releasing everything in the same slot out in front.” The performance served as a reminder of his dominance when he’s right. “I think the biggest thing was just being aggressive,” Snell said. “Be in the zone, attack. I know how good my stuff is, so I don’t want to just be nibbling and then complaining like, ‘Oh, that’s a strike.’ I didn’t want to do any of that again like I did versus Atlanta.” “That’s the Snell that we’re used to seeing,” added Max Muncy, who walked the Dodgers off with a win Tuesday night, “and hopefully we have him for the next two, three months, for the long run.” It’s the version Snell is expecting to see from himself, as well, no longer concerned about his health or pitching through pain, the way he did through much of last season while still displaying flashes of brilliance. “I can just pitch and focus on pitching,” Snell said. “That’s pretty cool.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Beginning in late November 2021, when then-Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley jumped ship to Los Angeles to become USC’s head coach, the Trojans have operated under various themes to help explain why their rebuild always seems to unfold at such a leisurely pace. The various talking points throughout Riley’s high-priced, pressure-packed tenure have looked something like this: As the Riley era enters its fifth season in L.A., and with the Trojans having failed to reach double-digit wins since he took over in 2022, many of these points have produced equal and opposite reactions. The early roster construction missteps prompted Riley to hire Notre Dame general manager Chad Bowden for the same role at USC, whose pivot back toward local recruiting secured the No. 1 high school class in the country. The culture that Riley said desperately needed fixing is now anchored by the Bloom Football Performance Center, a $225 million facility that opened over the summer. And when Lynn left USC to become defensive coordinator at Penn State, his alma mater, Riley responded with the splashy addition of former TCU head coach Gary Patterson, an inductee to the College Football Hall of Fame. “When I think about our football program right now going into this fifth year, going into this season, I think about our alignment and the momentum behind our program,” Riley said at Big Ten media days last month. “Kind of watching us through the last few years taking on some of the different challenges and changes that we’ve had — a new coaching staff, a new president, a new AD, a new conference, most recently moving into the [new] facility about 10 days ago — we’ve had so much change. Right now, I feel like our alignment is as strong as it’s ever been.” From an Xs and Os perspective, the burgeoning football alignment revolves largely around what Riley believes will be his most successful defensive coordinator hire yet — an ideal complement to the Trojans’ high-flying offense. Patterson, 66, came out of retirement in January to chase one of the few things his uniquely impressive résumé is still missing: a national championship. To get there would require USC to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, which might also be the minimum for Riley to keep his job beyond this season. A decades-long track record compiled by Patterson is more than enough to inspire legitimate confidence. The two-time Big 12 coach of the year won 181 games with a .696 winning percentage in 21 seasons as the Horned Frogs’ head coach from 2000-21. The winning stretch also won him six conference championships across Conference USA, the Mountain West and the Big 12. His squads finished among the top nine in the final AP Poll six times from 2008-17 alone, which also included an undefeated season in 2010 by upending No. 4 Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. More specifically, Patterson’s previous defensive exploits offer the excitement that radiated from Riley to the trio of players he brought to Chicago for Big Ten media days. Star quarterback Jayden Maiava described “Coach GP” as a “great addition.” TCU led the nation in total defense five times during Patterson’s tenure as head coach by leaning into the same 4-2-5 system he’s now installing for the Trojans. And in doing so, the Horned Frogs became just the third team in college football history to finish atop that category for three consecutive seasons. Thirty of his defensive players were chosen in the NFL Draft. “Coach Patterson is one of one,” Riley said at Big Ten media days. “I’ve told people I’ve had a chance throughout my career, calling plays for a little while now, to call plays against a lot of the people that you would say these are the greatest minds of this last era of college football, greatest defensive minds. I’ve never coached against somebody that I thought was more unique and tougher to go against than Gary Patterson. “I think we’re certainly feeling his impact defensively. I’m certainly feeling his impact of just having a fellow head coach in the building, right, somebody else that has sat in this chair and made some of these decisions. You can’t replace that type of expertise and experience that he brings to the table. He’s incredibly motivated. He wouldn’t have done this without that. I think he senses the opportunity — even for a guy that’s accomplished just about everything you can in this game — [that] there’s a few other things left out there. He knows he can do that here.” Riley’s original choice for defensive coordinator, Alex Grinch, oversaw units that ranked 106th in total defense for 2022 and 119th in 2023. With Lynn’s arrival, he helped elevate USC’s group to 77th in total defense in 2024 and 49th in 2025 — noteworthy improvements that shouldn’t be ignored — but even last year’s group failed to finish among the top 10 in the conference for scoring defense after surrendering 23 points per game. That number ballooned to 35 points per game in the Trojans’ four losses to Illinois, Notre Dame, Oregon and TCU. Now, Patterson has inherited a unit that only returns five starters and must replace star safety Bishop Fitzgerald, a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten performer last year who’s now with the Tennessee Titans. But Riley and Bowden infused the roster with several impact players from the transfer portal in nose tackle Alex VanSumeren from Michigan State, edge rusher Zuriah Fisher from Penn State and cornerback Jontez Williams from Iowa State. The Trojans’ vaunted 2026 high school recruiting class, which edged Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State to finish No. 1 in the country, also includes two five-star defensive prospects in edge rusher Luke Wafle and defensive tackle Jaimeon Winfield. To push himself and USC over that hump, Patterson is tasked with expanding on the progress his predecessor, Lynn, began to make before joining Penn State late last year. And with more talent available to him than ever before, the prolonged USC rebuild will finally reach its completion. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made on that side of the ball,” Riley said at Big Ten media days. “But my expectations are for us to be just as good defensively as we are offensively as we are on special teams. I want to see it across the board. There’s no reason at a place like this, you know, why that can’t happen. It’s my job to acquit our program to be great there, and I think the moves that we’ve made in recruiting, in retention, bringing in Gary [Patterson] in — I think all of that gets us closer. “So I’m bullish on how good that group can be.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

One need only be reminded of the fact that quarterback Sam Darnold just won the Super Bowl to understand that when it comes to the NFL, patience truly can be a virtue. Darnold was in his eighth NFL season and the Seattle Seahawks are the fifth team of his professional career, but the point is the same with second-year breakout candidates. It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the latest draft class and overlook other young players set to pop. With that, here are my picks for which 2025 draft picks I believe will take the biggest leaps in their sophomore season. AFC EAST I expect Sanders to be one of the big winners of the Bills’ plan to play more of a 3-4 base under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. The 6-foot-4, 297-pound Sanders is well-suited for the blue-collar role of eating up would-be blockers, offering impressive strength and length. Sanders won’t necessarily put up eye-popping numbers in 2026, but the former No. 41 overall selection will emerge as an every-game starter this season, after recording just 16 tackles and starting two games as a rookie. The bright flashes shown by Trader, a fifth-round pick in 2025, contributed to Miami trading star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to division rival New York in the offseason. Trader is quick, instinctive and a sound open-field tackler. He only started three games for the Dolphins as a rookie and yet still finished seventh on the team with 55 tackles. He might pace Miami’s secondary in stops this year. Wilson didn’t start playing organized football until high school, so when the Patriots asked him to switch to a new position (left guard) after he starred at center at Georgia, I was skeptical. Wilson performed reasonably well as a rookie (though he notably struggled in the Super Bowl), starting 13 games. But I like his frame and athleticism much better at center. He’ll start (and be an upgrade) over Garrett Bradbury from a year ago and has the potential to be one of the league’s best at the position. Given how often teams throw the football in today’s NFL, it really is remarkable that the Jets did not record a single interception last year. I can’t pin much of the blame on then-rookie Thomas, who tied for third on the Jets in pass breakups — notably one more than Sauce Gardner — despite starting just five games. Gardner started seven games for New York prior to being traded to Indianapolis. In a season full of disappointments for Jets fans, Thomas’ rookie campaign was a relative bright spot. After all, he entered the NFL clearly raw after starting just 14 games at Florida State. He didn’t seem fazed by the jump in competition, however, learning to use his length and physicality to corral receivers in much the same way Gardner has. I see New York boasting a vastly improved defense in 2026 with Thomas emerging as a quality starter on the perimeter. AFC NORTH Jones played right tackle at LSU and could remain there in the NFL, but Baltimore’s starters on the outside seem set with Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, respectively. As he showed last year in five games, Jones has the bulk and power to slide inside to guard, as well. At minimum, the former third-rounder should prove a valuable swing sixth man this season with the ability to start if called upon. With just 11 tackles (and one sack) recorded as a rookie, Stewart — the No. 17 overall selection — was a stark contrast to the rest of the Bengals’ top draft picks last year. The relative success of linebacker Demetrius Knight (second round), guard Dylan Fairchild (third), linebacker Barrett Carter (fourth) and guard Jalen Rivers (fifth) last season should have received more national attention, but the injury to star quarterback Joe Burrow left the Bengals largely an afterthought. Cincinnati invested heavily in its defensive front this offseason, including signing Boye Mafe, trading for Dexter Lawrence and drafting Cashius Howell. So Stewart can’t afford another poor season or he risks being discarded. I think he’ll rise to the challenge and prove to be a versatile and important contributor to one of the NFL’s most improved teams this year. It is entirely possible that veteran Deshaun Watson beats out Sanders for the starting role and the numbers the latter posted in his rookie season (1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions in seven starts) drop in Year 2. But unless the Browns see Watson as a long-term solution, the smarter move would be to allow Sanders to sink or swim in his sophomore NFL season so that the club can adjust accordingly in time for what should be a QB-rich 2027 NFL Draft. Here’s guessing Sanders sees the field again at some point this season and proves he can play. Coach Mike McCarthy inherits a defense teeming with good young talent up front. The Steelers, in fact, boast a trio in Sawyer, defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black that are all among my favorite league-wide breakout candidates. I’ll highlight Sawyer, in part, because I don’t think many others will. With fellow pass-rushers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and the recently extended Nick Herbig theoretically ahead of him on the depth chart, Sawyer faces an uphill battle just for playing time. His production last year was good — 34 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions — but the tape was even better. Sawyer played like a Steeler from the start, showing impressive strength and awareness for a first-year player. His anticipated growth is part of the reason why I believe a Pittsburgh defense that ranked a mediocre 17th in the NFL last year in points allowed (387) is going to be a top-10 unit this year. AFC SOUTH Given that Marks led the Texans with 703 rushing yards as a rookie, some would argue that his breakout has already occurred. Further, with Houston trading for veteran David Montgomery in the offseason, the second-year pro’s opportunities will be somewhat capped. With all due respect to the bulldozing Montgomery, however, Marks is the more dynamic runner (and receiver). If C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense get back on track in 2026 like I anticipate, Marks will prove in Year 2 that his rookie numbers were no fluke. I’m so tempted to list Tyler Warren here as I think he’s a legitimate contender to lead all tights ends in receptions in 2026. After all, he finished tied for sixth among the position with 76 grabs for 817 yards and four scores as a rookie. But in terms of true breakouts, I’m excited for the opportunity awaiting Walley, who turned heads during training camp last year before tearing an ACL in a joint practice with Baltimore. With Kenny Moore no longer with the Colts, Walley will have first crack at the open nickel position and the former third-round pick possesses the quick feet and instincts to excel there. Like their division rival Colts, I’m tempted to highlight the Jaguars’ celebrated former first-round pick, Travis Hunter, in this space — especially now that he’ll be focusing on “just” playing cornerback. But Tuten is one of my favorite breakout candidates throughout the entire NFL. With Travis Etienne now in New Orleans, I expect Tuten to emerge as the Jaguars’ top runner in 2026, with 1,000-plus rushing yards a realistic target. His longest run from scrimmage as a rookie went for only 15 yards, but I anticipate several explosive plays of 20-plus yards this year. Like several others on this list, Winston has already proven himself to be a quality NFL starter. Now, he just needs to stay healthy. He missed the beginning of last season recovering from an ACL tear back at Penn State and saw his rookie campaign end early due to a stubborn hamstring pull. In the 10 games in which he played, however, Winston stood out, including during an exciting three-game stretch against Seattle, Jacksonville and Cleveland just prior to the hamstring injury in which he generated 23 tackles, including four for loss and two pass breakups. I’m excited about the upgrades Tennessee has made to its defense and believe Winston will be one of its biggest beneficiaries. AFC WEST Headlined by All-Pro Patrick Surtain Jr., the Broncos boast one of the NFL’s best cornerback rooms. Denver’s “other” starter on the outside — Riley Moss — led the NFL in pass breakups (19) a year ago and nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillan is also very good. That left little opportunity for Barron to see the field as a rookie last year, and he started just five of 17 games. The former Thorpe Award winner and No. 20 overall pick is simply too good not to see the field more often in 2026. I think Barron could beat out Moss on the outside this year and, even if not, certainly leaves Denver in an excellent position with the latter in the final year of his own rookie deal. A strong argument could be made to spotlight cornerback Nohl Williams here, but let’s be honest, all eyes in Kansas City this year will be on Patrick Mahomes — and the rebuilt offensive line tasked with protecting him. Simmons was the eighth offensive lineman drafted last year, but I think he is the most gifted blocker in his class. He may have made some nervous when missing time last year due to personal reasons and a wrist injury, but he played well when on the field, allowing just two sacks while starting eight games. Simmons has Pro Bowl potential. It would be easy to list Ashton Jeanty here, but with 10 touchdowns scored as a rookie, he’s already an established focal point of the Raiders’ offense. Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza were brought to Las Vegas to liven up the passing game and Bech is a good bet to win big if that occurs. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder flashed as a rookie. He possesses the body control and strong hands to win contested passes — which could be a theme in the Raiders’ passing game regardless of whether Mendoza or longtime veteran Kirk Cousins is throwing the passes. It will be fun to watch the evolution of the Chargers’ offense this year, with Jim Harbaugh bringing in Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator. Should L.A. morph into the uptempo aerial assault McDaniel excelled with (at times) as head coach in Miami, second-year wideout Tre Harris could pop for exponential gains over his rookie season. Ultimately, though, this remains Jim Harbaugh’s operation and I think he sticks to his roots, riding Hampton as a true workhorse to at least double last year’s output (545 rushing yards, four TDs).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

NEW YORK – After another exceptional outing from their starting pitcher, the Yankees were trailing 2-0, down to their final out, facing a loss that would directly be blamed on an insipid performance from the offense. But New York’s bats came alive at just the right time on Friday night against the Atlanta Braves. Austin Wells and Ben Rice delivered big hits, forced the game into extra innings, and the Bronx Bombers eventually walked it off in the 10th inning for a 3-2 victory. It was another tense, ugly win. But winning doesn’t have to be pretty for these Yankees, who are operating without three of their biggest bats. “We haven’t played well on offense the last two months,” Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt told me on Tuesday. “We’re not satisfied with how we’ve played, at all. It hasn’t turned as quickly as we’d like.” Since June 1, when Aaron Judge went on the injured list with a fractured right rib, the Yankees offense has been rudderless. They rank last in the majors in batting average (.217), on-base percentage (.284), and wRC+ (87). They’re ranked 29th in MLB in RBIs (214), 28th in OPS (.670), 27th in runs scored (226), 25th in slugging (.385), and 24th in walks (174). Across all the major statistical hitting categories, the Yankees are a mess. And yet, Yankees hitting coach James Rowson saw something in that come-from-behind win against the Braves. There was a steady confidence in the dugout when it was easier to believe they were toast. The fight from the lineup meant a lot to Rowson, who thinks that was exactly the type of close, gritty win the Yankees will need to emphasize in October — with or without Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton, who are all currently sidelined with injuries. “This is a great experience for our group,” Rowson told me on Tuesday before New York’s series opener against Seattle. “What happens is, when our lineup’s full, we have Judgy, we have Belli, we have G, and you get away from fighting. You win so many games with a three-run homer. You win so many games by double-digit runs because those guys can do it. But all of a sudden, when we’re in tight games, we haven’t played a lot of those throughout the year. So I think there’s a different mentality. “I think, right now, this is going to help us down the stretch. This is going to help us win close games. To get where we want to go, which is to hoist that trophy at the end of the season, I guarantee we’re going to have to win some close games no matter who’s in the lineup. So I’m trying to use this as a breeding ground for how we have to play.” It says something about the Yankees that two-plus months of underwhelming offense hasn’t derailed them. As recently as the 2023 season, the Yankees completely slid out of contention and missed the playoffs when Judge spent significant time on the IL due to a toe injury. This year, they’ve remained in second place in the AL East, the same position they were in when Judge was healthy. New York (67-52) has scored three or fewer runs in 16 of its last 21 games, and the club is 11-10 in that span. The Yankees’ 30 comeback wins this season are tied for second-most in the AL. Despite a surging Red Sox team (64-54) that’s threatening to catch up, the Yankees have continued to win by leaning on brilliant pitching. Their 3.29 ERA as a staff leads the majors, and it’s not close. Plus, at the trade deadline, they welcomed an unexpected boost from 21-year-old rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr., who has so far met the sky-high expectations that the Bronx demands of him. Put it all together and this stretch just might be building the team that shows up in October. “It’s been several weeks now where it’s been difficult for us to score runs, an area where we gotta be better, and we know that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The good thing is we’ve had to play a lot of really close games day in and day out. We’ve done a really good job against a lot of really good teams by winning a lot of those games.” On Saturday in the cafeteria after the Yankees put the finishing touches on yet another come-from-behind win against the Braves, Lombard was already quizzing teammates about the next day’s starting pitcher. To his teammates, it doesn’t seem like Lombard is overly locked in. This is simply the only way he knows how to be after growing up in and out of major-league clubhouses. Lombard is the son of former major-leaguer and current Tigers bench coach, George, who played six seasons as an outfielder for the Braves, Tigers, Nationals, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Lombard’s younger brother, Jacob, made his pro ball debut the same day as his older brother. The Lombard brothers are commended for their high baseball IQs, no doubt a result of spending their childhood around clubhouses, batting cages, and big leaguers. They both hit home runs in their respective debuts, underlining the extreme preparation that’s been built into the foundation of their young careers. It’s no wonder, then, that Lombard said he felt “relaxed” on the field and at the plate throughout his major-league debut last week. “I think the biggest thing is his demeanor,” Rowson said when I asked what has stood out to him about Lombard’s first handful of games in the majors. “It’s impressive how calm he is through this. You see a 21-year-old kid coming up to the big leagues in this situation, in this part of the season, things are on the line. We’re playing for something. And he was able to step in and kind of go seamlessly and move forward with the work. To me, that’s the story.” Lombard entered Tuesday batting .294 (5-for-17) with two home runs and four runs scored in his first 20 plate appearances in MLB. He’s helped spark the Yankees offense, to be sure. But his biggest impact has been at shortstop, where his dazzling plays elicit loud gasps and thunderous applause from the home crowds on a nightly basis. Already, Lombard has accumulated 0.6 WAR in just five games, and his terrific defense has a lot to do with it. The Yankees are doing their best to downplay Lombard’s instant and obvious positive impact on the rest of the roster, to avoid over-hyping his future and unnecessarily increasing expectations. But it’s getting harder to ignore how much of a star he’s already been. “It’s not surprising coming from the family he’s from,” Goldschmidt said of Lombard. “He’s been in and out of major-league clubhouses. It’s a little bit unique, which is why those things are so valuable. He’s able to slow the game down. You know there’s going to be struggles, ups and downs. But he’s seen that, and probably knows that’s part of the game. Definitely confidence is a big thing, and he’s wise beyond his years. That’s a big reason he’s had success.” Whether we’re analyzing the Yankees offensive struggles or Lombard’s standout play and maturity as a rookie, both pieces tie into the same reason New York has managed to remain successful in the standings without Judge. Their new identity is composure under pressure. They’re winning without hitting. They’re relying on sharp defense and stellar arms to keep games close. The Yankees are figuring out ways to win, while being refreshingly honest about how punchless their offense has been. That matters now, as the Yankees hold on to the top AL wild card spot, but it will matter even more in October. Whenever Judge, Bellinger and Stanton return and the lineup is whole again, the habits that the Yankees have formed without them will only help. By then, Lombard will have settled in, and the Yankees will have proven to themselves that their late-game grit can pay off. In the long run, how New York has handled this adversity is what will determine whether the club can finally break its 17-year championship drought. “It’s hard to go through,” Rowson said. “But you’re learning something. You learn how tough you are. You learn to fight. And there’s a lot to knowing that you have that inside of you to get where we want to go, which is to be World Series champs.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Get your popcorn ready. Using player intrigue across the league as his guide, Danny Parkins unveiled his list of the ten most exciting NFL players heading into the upcoming season on First Things First. Parkins emphasized that the exercise focuses on viewing entertainment and narrative stakes rather than pure positional rankings or overall roster value. Counting down from number ten to the top spot, the ranking features established stars, potential trade targets, and young quarterbacks. Aaron Donald opens the list as a conditional entry at number ten despite currently being retired from football. Speculation of his return to the league has started with Donald working out for the Rams already and being spotted working out at the team facility. “If Donald returns… He’s arguably the best defensive player of my lifetime,” Parkins said. “The guy was number one in pass rush win rate. He was a first-time All Pro when he retired, so he retired early. He walked away. It wasn’t because anything had really dipped off. So if he joins the overwhelming Super Bowl favorites after two years away, it’ll just be an absolutely fascinating story.” Though Donald is not on an active roster, rumors regarding a potential comeback keep him in the discussion on the list. Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud occupies the ninth spot following an inconsistent second half of last season. He enters the upcoming year with expectations to recapture his efficiency from his rookie year and drive the Texans deep into the postseason. “I don’t think anyone individually has more riding on this season than C.J. Stroud,” Parkins said. “They picked up his fifth-year option, but he was bad in every loss last year.” Parkins went on to question whether Houston looks into the quarterback market pending Stroud’s performance. “Was absolutely terrible in the playoffs,” Parkins said. Is this a J.J. McCarthy spot? Do they just turn to Davis Mills as their backup? Do they call Jimmy Garoppolo, or does he play like he did as a rookie?” Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker lands at eighth on the list as a major addition to the Kansas City offense. Parkins labeled Walker as the most accomplished running back Patrick Mahomes has played alongside during his career. “Kenneth Walker is the best running back Patrick Mahomes has ever had,” Parkins said. “The Chiefs have never ranked higher than 16th in rushing yards per game since Mahomes has been there.” “They gave him a ton of money,” Parkins said. “They’re going to use him, and there’s two things that really contribute to a great play-action game. When you have to honor and respect the run. You give Mahomes a real running game. I think that part of the game opens up for him.” Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Max Crosby comes in at seventh as a potential in-season trade candidate. Because the Raiders timeline may not align with young talent development, Parkins projects that a strong start to the season could prompt contending franchises to pursue Crosby before the trading deadline, potentially altering division races and championship odds across the league. “I don’t think he’s finishing the season with the Raiders. So if he has a good September and is healthy, he gets traded for one first-round pick instead of two to a team that starts hot,” Parkins said regarding Crosby’s situation in Las Vegas. “Is he a Bear by October? Is he a Bill by October? Is he a Cowboy by October? An in-season trade for a pass rusher that could tilt the Super Bowl odds mid-season,” Parkins continued. “That’s interesting. I think it’s going to be a huge story.” Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love takes the sixth spot as one of the league’s most talented passers. Parkins described Love as a high-upside quarterback capable of producing elite offensive production during hot stretches, balanced by occasional turnover issues during off weeks. “He is just streaky. When he is on a hot streak, he looks like he could be the MVP of the league. He doesn’t throw a lot of interceptions, but when he throws interceptions, they are among the worst interceptions you’ve ever seen,” Parkins said. “The first five, six, seven weeks of the season, Micah Parsons is going to be out. So Jordan Love, I mean, they gave him Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, and Tucker Kraft is back,” Parkins said. “He has to lead a top 10 offense this year.” Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs arrives at fifth as an explosive offensive focal point for Detroit. “I think he should be the number one pick in fantasy football over Bijan Robinson, a great one v two debate. But also, we’ve never seen this guy without David Montgomery. Like his touches have gone up year-to-year to year,” Parkins said. Parkins highlighted Gibbs’ dynamic playmaking ability out of the backfield and as a receiver, Gibbs projects as one of the most versatile weapons in football. “I don’t see why Jahmyr Gibbs shouldn’t lead the league in touches this year. So if Jahmyr Gibbs gets 350 plus touches, I just think the sky’s the limit for him. Is one of the most dynamic offensive players in football.” Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen lands at fourth due to the structural expectations and legacy implications tied to his upcoming season after a divisional round exit last season. “Speaking of dynamic offensive players, Josh Allen at number four. No one has more on the line legacy-wise for him,” Parkins said about the Buffalo quarterback on First Things First. Parkins went on to highlight the recent addition of wide receiver DJ Moore. “You add DJ Moore. I don’t think the defense is going to be very good this year. Think they’ve got a real shot at the number one ranked offense.” Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett enters the rankings at third following his offseason trade from Cleveland. “We talked about this when the trade happened when we were all on. It is a stat that is just now seared into my brain. He had 23 sacks last year. It’s five straight years of 14 or more sacks,” Parkins explained. Parkins went onto explain how Garrett can break his own record that he set last year. “Why can’t he have more sacks this year than he did last year and break his own record when he’s going to be playing with a lead. He is going to just have more pure pass rush opportunities this year than he’s had in the last couple of years combined in Cleveland could be an absolutely monstrous season.” Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert takes the second spot on the list of most exciting players across the NFL. Parkins went on to explain how injuries to both starting tackles led to Herbert being the third-most sacked player in the league and how the hiring of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel can unlock a new version of Herbert. “Geno Smith and Cam Ward were the only two players sacked more than Justin Herbert [last] year,” Parkins said. “When you have an entirely new offensive line this year, you bring back two of the best tackles football and you add a new offensive coordinator.” Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams claims the top spot on the list as the single most compelling figure entering the upcoming NFL season. “Number one, it’s Caleb Williams,” Parkins declared to close out his rankings, with Nick Wright summarizing Williams as a young ascending superstar quarterback. Entering his third year as the starter in Chicago and second year under Ben Johnson, Williams combines elite arm velocity, pocket mobility, and off-script playmaking abilities that make the Bears offense central to league-wide attention.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports