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Jaguars HC Liam Coen: ‘The Plan Has Not Changed’ for Travis Hunter’s Two-Way Role

Travis Hunter remains one of the most intriguing second-year players heading into next season, and the Jacksonville Jaguars now appear to have a clearer vision for how they plan to use him. The organization still intends for Hunter to continue as a two-way player. Despite skepticism surrounding that role, general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen reiterated that the plan remains unchanged. “The plan has not changed at all,” Coen said in a video produced by the Jaguars. “He’s going to play both sides of the football just as we drafted him to do. We have the same vision for him in terms of being able to give him opportunities.” Prior to suffering a season-ending torn LCL, Hunter split time on both sides of the ball, logging roughly 61% of his snaps on offense and 37% on defense as a rookie. Gladstone provided an update on Hunter’s recovery during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Wednesday morning, offering insight into his progress as he works back from injury. “He’s in a good spot,” Gladstone said. “He’s out on the grass in a limited fashion and that’s the case throughout the remainder of the offseason program. As we get going into training camp, he’ll be full go.” Speculation about Hunter potentially shifting to cornerback full-time this offseason has drawn national attention, but Gladstone made the Jaguars’ plans clear when addressing his role. “Absolutely not,” Gladstone said. “He is set to play both sides of the ball. The piece I think we can expect is an uptick in corner usage. Last year, he had a higher volume and a higher percentage of snaps at wide receiver than he did at corner.” The growing national buzz around Hunter’s breakout potential was also highlighted by our reporter Greg Auman. Auman named Hunter as his top second-year breakout candidate poised to make a leap next season. “Hunter’s on course to be fully recovered by the start of training camp, and it should be a simpler second season for him,” Auman wrote. “It remains to be seen how much work he’ll get on offense — the Jaguars traded for Jakobi Meyers during last season and gave him a lucrative extension, and they’ve held off on trading third-year receiver Brian Thomas Jr., with Parker Washington enjoying a breakout season last year. Hunter should be an every-down corner, and that side of the ball should be his focus and the best chance for him to shine. Jacksonville let Greg Newsome leave in free agency and didn’t draft a corner, setting Hunter up for a central role.” Hunter’s increased usage is also tied to the departures of Greg Newsome II and Tyson Campbell in free agency. As currently constructed, the cornerback room is set to feature Hunter, Jarrian Jones, Montaric Brown, and Jourdan Lewis. “Our roster construction is different than it was a year ago,” Gladstone said. “It’s more fitting to slot him in at corner in a different way than it was this time last year or even as the season progressed.” For now, the Jaguars remain committed to that vision as they manage Hunter’s recovery and refine how his workload will be balanced on both sides of the ball. “He wants to play both ways,” Gladstone said. “He wants to do exactly what he set out to do when he first started putting that into action all those years ago and that’s his dream. We’ll look to support that in the best way that we can.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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Eating W’s All Summer Long: Jameis Winston Joins FOX Sports for 2026 World Cup

He’s back! But only this time he’s trading the gridiron for the global soccer stage. New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston will return to FOX Sports as a World Cup Correspondent. Winston spent Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans with FOX Sports as a digital correspondent, where he roamed the Big Easy highlighting the culture and excitement around the big game. Now, Winston returns to fuel the hype around the largest World Cup yet, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. While several members of FOX’s World Cup team have won various soccer titles — Zlatan Ibrahimović has multiple league championships, Thierry Henry has a World Cup win and Golden Boot honors — how many have a Heisman Trophy and a college football national championship win? In college, Winston led Florida State to an undefeated 14-0 season and a national championship as a redshirt freshman in 2013. That same year, Winston lifted the Seminoles’ third Heisman Trophy. Drafted No. 1 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015, Winston played five seasons there before he signed with the New Orleans Saints. After four years in New Orleans, Winston signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in 2024, then headed to the Big Apple to sign with the Giants. Winston joins a star-studded broadcast team for the tournament that includes Ibrahimović, Henry, former Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer Javier Hernández and many more on the pitch and in the studio. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch From June 11 through July 19, 2026, FOX Sports presents its largest World Cup production and broadcast slate to date featuring all 104 matches live across FOX (69) and FS1 (35) with every match live-streaming on FOX One and the FOX Sports App. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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‘These Things Happen’: Neymar Apologizes for Rift With Robinho’s Son at Santos Training

Neymar has apologized for a training ground rift with Santos teammate Robinho Jr. in an incident that could further dent his already slim chances of playing for Brazil at the World Cup. Robinho Jr., the 18-year-old son of former Brazil star Robinho, had alleged this week that he was slapped by the 34-year-old Neymar during team training. On Tuesday night, Neymar scored in Santos’ 1-1 draw at Deportivo Recoleta in Paraguay in a Copa Sudamericana match, but media attention was on what he had to say about the scuffle earlier this week. “These things happen in soccer,” Neymar told reporters. “It should have been solved by us two. It was a disagreement we had during training, I had a reaction and exaggerated a little. Soon after I apologized, we talked in the dressing room and came to an understanding.” Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals, has not played for the national team since an ACL injury in October 2023. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to announce his World Cup squad on May 18. Reporting by The Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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Top 10 Decisions That Will Shape the 2026–27 College Basketball Season

It’s decision time for many of college basketball’s biggest stars. The deadline for early entrants to withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft and retain NCAA eligibility is May 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET, giving those prospects who are “testing the waters” one final window to return to school after going through the pre-draft process. In the weeks leading up to that deadline, events like the NBA Draft Lottery and NBA Combine will help shape some of the biggest choices of the offseason. This year, 71 underclassmen declared for the draft, which is a notable drop from 106 a year ago, and part of a steady decline since 2021. The trend is a direct reflection of the new landscape in college basketball, where NIL opportunities have made returning to school a far more viable option. With that, here are the 10 undecided players whose choices will have the biggest impact on the 2026–27 men’s college basketball season. Status: Okorie intends to stay at Stanford if he doesn’t remain in the NBA Draft. Impact: Okorie was one of the best pure scorers in college basketball this past season, leading the ACC with 23.2 points per game as a freshman. If he returns to college, he’ll look to expand his game beyond scoring and help guide his team to an NCAA Tournament appearance. The transfer portal has been relatively quiet for Stanford. The Cardinal have not added any players and lost only one key contributor. If Okorie returns, they would largely be running it back after a 20-13 season that ended in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown. Status: Graves entered the transfer portal and declared for the NBA Draft. Impact: Graves is seen as a stronger NBA Draft prospect than his production might suggest during the 2025–26 college season. As a freshman at Santa Clara, he came off the bench and averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, but his shooting (41.3% from three) and size (6-foot-9) are highly covered at the next level. If Graves returns to college, he would likely make the jump to a Power 4 program in search of a starting role and more on-ball responsibility. Status: Thomas would return to Arkansas if he doesn’t stay in the NBA Draft. Impact: Thomas is an NBA first-round talent who averaged 15.6 points per game as a freshman, though he was often viewed as secondary to Darius Acuff Jr. in Arkansas’ offense. If he returns, he would likely step into a featured role for the Razorbacks. Arkansas is adding freshmen Abdou Toure and Jordan Smith to the backcourt but lost both D.J. Wagner and Acuff, positioning Thomas as the go-to option with a young supporting cast around him. That trio could make for a smooth transition as the Razorbacks look to build on their 2026 Sweet 16 run. Status: Tanner would return to Vanderbilt if he doesn’t remain in the NBA Draft. Impact: Tanner was one of the most improved players in college basketball last season, jumping from 5.7 points and 1.9 assists per game to 19.5 and 5.1, respectively, as a sophomore at Vanderbilt. If he returns for his junior year, he could emerge as one of the top guards in the SEC. Tanner has yet to advance past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, most recently falling to No. 4 seed Nebraska in heartbreaking fashion when his halfcourt buzzer-beater rattled out. His return would give Vanderbilt a strong backcourt, especially with the additions of Missouri transfer T.O. Barrett and Washington State transfer Ace Glass. Status: Blackwell has committed to Duke, but could still remain in the NBA Draft Impact: Blackwell was one of the top scoring guards in the country last season, averaging 19.1 points per game as a junior at Wisconsin. He has since committed to transfer to Duke for his senior year while also testing the NBA Draft waters. If Blackwell returns to college and suits up for the Blue Devils, Duke could boast one of the most loaded backcourts in the nation. Blackwell would likely start alongside Cayden Boozer, with Caleb Foster and freshman Deron Rippey Jr. providing depth off the bench. Another year in college would give Blackwell the opportunity to further develop as an initiator, facilitator and defender, which could help improve his NBA stock. He would also aim to help Duke make a deep NCAA Tournament run after Wisconsin’s first-round exit in 2026. Status: Chinyelu would return to Florida if he doesn’t remain in the NBA Draft. Impact: Chinyelu’s return to Florida would significantly boost the Gators’ chances of getting back to the national championship after failing to advance past the first weekend in 2026. Florida already returns forwards Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, but neither provides the same level of defensive presence that Chinyelu does. For a Florida team that was ranked No. 1 in FOX Sports’ Casey Jacobsen’s Post-Portal Top 25, Chinyelu’s return would only solidify that projection. Status: Johnson would return to Michigan if he doesn’t remain in the NBA Draft. Impact: Similar to Mara, Johnson would significantly boost Michigan’s chances of defending its 2026 national title. He was one of the most improved players in college basketball last season, averaging 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore, yet was often just the Wolverines’ third or fourth option. If he returns, and Mara stays in the draft, Johnson could step into a featured role in the frontcourt. A rotation of Johnson, Thiam and Estrella would be as formidable as any in the country. Status: Mara intends to return to Michigan for his senior season if he doesn’t remain in the NBA Draft. Impact: Mara’s return to Michigan would put the Wolverines firmly in the national title conversation. He boosted his NBA Draft stock with a standout run, leading Michigan to the 2026 national championship. As the most highly touted prospect in this group, a return to college would be surprising, but if he does come back, Michigan would have an even deeper frontcourt than it did last season. The Wolverines added Moustapha Thiam and J.P. Estrella through the transfer portal and could also welcome back Morez Johnson Jr. The ability to rotate those three alongside Mara would give Michigan a potentially dominant interior presence. Status: Fears intends to return to Michigan State for his redshirt junior season if he doesn’t remain in the NBA Draft. Impact: Fears’ decision could make or break Michigan State’s ceiling. This past season, Fears was the Spartans’ only true initiator on offense. He is a reliable perimeter defender and, in many ways, an extension of head coach Tom Izzo on the floor. Fears averaged 15.2 points per game and led the nation with 9.4 assists, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. Those are not easy numbers to replace, and Michigan State has not added any guards through the transfer portal. If Fears remains in the NBA Draft, it would leave a significant hole in the Spartans’ backcourt. Status: Momcilovic entered the transfer portal and declared for the NBA Draft after his junior season at Iowa State. Impact: Momcilovic could raise a team’s ceiling to that of a national title contender if he decides to return, as few players possess his unique skill set. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 16.9 points per game for the Cyclones in 2026 and led the nation in 3-point shooting at 48.8%. With many top programs having already allocated the bulk of their NIL budgets, the pool of teams that can realistically afford Momcilovic might be limited. But if he does decide to return to college, whatever team he lands with will immediately become a legitimate threat entering the 2026–27 season.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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NFL Offseason Check-In: Eagles Already Prepared for Life Without WR A.J. Brown

Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman has repeated countless times — recently with an ironic smirk — that “A.J. Brown is an Eagle.” He has said it so often at press conferences that, sometimes, he’ll say it before anyone has time to ask a question about the disgruntled star receiver. The question is whether Brown will get traded. And at this point, everyone knows what Roseman’s answer really means: A.J. Brown won’t be an Eagle for long. All reports indicate he’s going to be a New England Patriot in a deal that sends a 2028 first-round pick to Philadelphia. (That deal will come after June 1 so the Eagles can split his dead-cap charge over two years.) The one thing the Eagles have wisely avoided is trying to replace Brown in a one-for-one situation. This is where the Tennessee Titans went wrong, attempting to draft and develop Treylon Burks into their next Brown. And, well, that did not go well. Roseman clearly wants to replace Brown in the aggregate. (“The what?” Think about the famous Moneyball scene.) Preparations are already underway. In the draft, the Eagles picked two pass-catchers in the top 54 picks. These two selections have provided clues about Philly’s new offensive vision. So let’s get to the first one: Makai Lemon. The Eagles traded up in Round 1 to No. 20 to make sure they landed the USC All-American receiver. Roseman said they thought Lemon would be off the board much earlier, which was why the Eagles had increased urgency to snag him. “There’s a lot to like about him,” Roseman said after the first round. “Has the ability to separate in man coverage. He can play in the slot. He can play outside. Physical player. Really good with the ball in his hands. Really good hands. Good in zone coverage — has really good instincts.” Lemon has every tool to be one of the best slot receivers in the NFL. His natural comparison is Detroit Lions All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown, who upends the idea that a slot receiver can’t be the No. 1 option. Given the total absence of top-flight receivers (and the fact that Roseman liked Lemon enough to trade up for him), Lemon will likely get 100 targets next year. On Day 2 of the draft, the Eagles took Vanderbilt All-American Eli Stowers at 54th overall. The slender-framed tight end was one of the best athletes in the draft and should have a massive impact on the passing game. And even though the Eagles still have veteran Dallas Goedert, I’d expect that the two tight ends will enter a timeshare immediately. Roseman shopped Goedert on the trade market earlier this offseason. And on draft night, he made his feelings for Stowers clear. The GM, right before telling Stowers that he’d be the team’s second-round pick, asked the youngster if he could name any of the tight ends that Roseman had previously taken in Round 2. “We’ve got a pretty good history of selecting tight ends in the second round. Can you name any of them?” Roseman said in a video posted on Vanderbilt’s socials. “We’ve got the one we’ve got right here [Goedert]. We got Zach Ertz in the second round. How about we pick you right here and add you to that legacy?” Given Goedert’s size (6-foot-5, 255 pounds), he will still prove useful in a pass-catcher group that’s largely devoid of bulk. Devonta Smith, the team’s soon-to-be promoted WR1, is dubbed the “Slim Reaper” for a reason, after all. Lemon is 190 pounds. Stowers is 240 pounds. It’s not a big group. Saquon Barkley, who had a down year compared to his historic 2024 performance, will (hopefully for Philly) get back to being Saquon. And his physicality should help. What’s more, the team’s backup, Tank Bigsby, runs with intensity to match his nickname. So there’s your aggregate sum. Some returning pieces. Some new pieces. Plenty of compelling skill sets. But there’s no doubt: It’s an incomplete picture. How will new OC Sean Mannion build this offense? How will he make it better than the sum of its parts? (Can he?) The beauty is that the Eagles have Jalen Hurts, who is one of the more versatile quarterbacks in the NFL. It seems the public is down on Hurts, particularly after an ESPN exposé that highlighted his intense leadership style and strong-willed opinions. But when you look at his record, Hurts remains a QB who has a 69.5 winning percentage, ninth best all time. And Hurts has done that despite having a new OC in every single season of his career. Every one! That’s success unlike anything in recent memory — not to mention he has a Super Bowl ring. Stylistically, he’ll adapt. He always does. Mannion came from the Green Bay Packers, with Matt LaFleur at the helm. But Mannion has been coaching only since 2024. He was a longtime backup quarterback who spent two years under Rams coach Sean McVay, three-ish seasons under Mike Zimmer (with the Vikings), and one year under Kevin O’Connell. That’s a lot of different offshoots of the Shanahan scheme. Interestingly enough, we’ve been seeing most of those coaches prioritize size and tight end bulk. Teams are going toward the trendy schematic wrinkle of two- and three-tight end sets. In turn, teams are getting bigger and more physical. That was what the Eagles were when they made a run two years ago. But they’re straying from that style when you look at their personnel. They look more like the Seahawks under Klint Kubiak or the Rams from 2023, when they combined star receivers Cooper Kupp and rookie Puka Nacua. That’s roughly what I anticipate from Philly — a powerful run game and a play-action passing game. That will help Hurts feel more comfortable in a high-volume passing attack, because his pass-catchers can dominate horizontally. And Brown can head to New England where he and Drake Maye can do whatever it is that Josh McDaniels would like to do next. Even with uncertainty and drama swirling, Philly looks ready to take on the challenge of replacing one of the league’s best receivers.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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Close Calls: NASCAR Drivers Recall Victory Celebrations Nearly Gone Wrong

For anyone who saw it live or saw the highlight, it’s pretty hard not to forget the Connor Zilisch fall from the car in Victory Lane following his win at Watkins Glen. Zilisch, who lost his footing as the window net was on the window sill, was briefly knocked out and he broke his collarbone, keeping him out of the Cup race the next day. He jokes about it now — he told me just last Saturday that, “Hopefully this time around, I can win and not fall of my car in Victory Lane” – and that any celebrations will be different. “I feel like I’ve learned my lesson there,” Zilisch said. “If I do that again, we’ve got big issues.” There have been some other notable injuries in Victory Lane. Brad Keselowski once cut his hand when a champagne bottle broke. FOX Sports analyst Kevin Harvick said he never had an accident in victory lane and had one plea in the Zilisch aftermath: “I would tell everybody to not worry about that one fall. Keep celebrating. Don’t get bland on us and boring.” We asked several Cup drivers earlier this year that in light of Zilisch’s return to Watkins Glen, if they have ever hurt themselves in a victory celebration. Here are some of the answers: AJ Allmendinger: “The Celsius can spike [jumping] off the side of the car, I’m not going to lie, I’m getting old, really old, so it hurts when I land. But I haven’t come that close to injuring myself, just making myself more sore than I need to be.” Christopher Bell: “It’s actually pretty incredible that it doesn’t happen more times. You watch people stand on the cars and they look wobbly. And I’m sure I look wobbly, too, but I’ve never fallen off. But I promise you, I’ve done my last standing on the door.” Ryan Blaney: “There was a couple of moments where I got on the roof of the car and just had to get my footing fast.” Alex Bowman: “With my lack of coordination, I’m surprised that I haven’t. It should have happened to me already. I guess I don’t win enough to get the odds going far enough to slip and fall. But I’m not very coordinated, so I’m surprised that I haven’t.” Chase Briscoe: “I’ve not injured myself but I have fallen off the car before — my first sprint car win, I fell right off. I was standing on the roll bars because it was a non-winged sprint car, and I went to fist pump, and my foot slipped and I fell and landed right on my tailbone. I was bruised up.” Kyle Busch: “I’ve fortunately been pretty lucky that I’ve never had an issue like that. I feel like I slipped one time before I got all the way up — my foot slipped off the door, so my hand was still on the roof, so I caught myself. You’ve got to be really careful because those door tops aren’t very wide.” Cole Custer: I’ve done similar to what Connor did. I fell off the car at Kentucky after an Xfinity race that I won and at Homestead, I fell on the roof of the thing. Honestly, we were all thinking of Connor a lot during that moment. It was a nasty fall. It’s one of those things you do have to pay attention a little bit. Austin Dillon: “It does get slippery. You just have to be a little bit of an athlete when you’re getting out of the car sometimes. You never want that to happen. My closest thing would have been the scorpion I did at Nashville when I tried to slide on the grass, and I think it knocked the breath out of me. I threw up in the truck afterwards. No one saw it because I covered the in-car camera with the checkered flag.” Ty Gibbs: “I haven’t, but I probably been really way closer than I think. I did fall on my back after Atlanta. I jumped out of the car, and I fell, like, flat on my ass. But I just played it off. I just sat there for a second with my helmet on.” Todd Gilliland: “I’ve never been close personally, but being friends with Connor, that was definitely very scary to watch. I think the whole industry, it makes you really think about, getting out and kind of where your window net is. And even the rest of the year, I think everybody was watching everybody get out of the car a little bit closer. Carson Hocevar: “I’ve gotten close to that, I was at a late model race, and my foot did exactly what his did — it slid in the door, and I halfway fell, and I was facing outward, and I did the exact same thing as him. I just didn’t fall. But my foot did fall down. I slipped on the window net and everything. So when I saw that, I realized how close I probably was to knocking myself out pretty good. But it only made him faster, I felt like, once he came back.” Kyle Larson: “Even when I’ve won USAC midget races or sprint races. I don’t do the cage stand. I just stand up in my seat because I don’t want to lose my balance — because you’d be falling from a lot higher than he did.” Tyler Reddick: “I think on one hot summer day, I may have enjoyed one too many beverages in Victory Lane and turned as pale a ghost. But that’s about it. I probably just did some damage to my liver.” Zane Smith: “I have about done that in the truck series a few times, actually. I think it was at COTA once our truck caught on fire (from tire rubber), I didn’t go into, like, a panic, but it just caught my attention, and I turned awkwardly and almost fell. So thankfully I didn’t.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: “I have not come close to injuring myself in a victory celebration. … When I did climb the fence at the [Daytona] 500, it was starting to go over. I didn’t almost fall, but I looked down and the way the track is angled. I’d like to see how high I actually was in the air. It was pretty high.” Daniel Suarez: “When you win a race, there is so much adrenaline, and there is so much energy that at that moment, you think that you’re Superman. That’s why you see drivers climbing fences, climbing cars, climbing all these different things. And we think that we’re invincible. And the reality is that we’re still human and actually a little bit tired. I have never had a close call, but I’m actually quite surprised that doesn’t happen more often, because we do a lot of crazy things after we win races.” Bubba Wallace: “If you look at Indy, it took me a second because I stood on the slope part of the roof and I kept stumbling backwards. But I think I have just one more percent of athleticism in my body than Connor’s, and I was able to hold myself. So we’re good.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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Second Thoughts: No More Pushing Limits Of Push-To-Pass In INDYCAR

The best thing about the push-to-pass controversy in Long Beach is that the rules have changed and drivers won’t have to wonder if they should try to break the rules. Because that’s what it really came down to — whether a driver had to try to break the spirit of the rule while also avoiding violating the rule. Push-to-pass gives a driver an extra 50 horsepower. Drivers get 150-200 seconds of it for a road-course or street-course race. The rule has been that it is supposed to be disabled on their vehicles on all restarts (except if the restart comes with two laps or one lap left in the race) and then enabled once a driver gets to the alternate start-finish line after the restart (so typically almost a full lap). INDYCAR software enables and disables the system. At St. Petersburg in 2024, the Penske cars had it enabled on restarts. INDYCAR found that Team Penske had manipulated the system, allowing push-to-pass to be enabled on restarts and both Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin used it to a competitive advantage. Newgarden, who had won the race, and McLaughlin were disqualified. At that time, there was the question about why drivers would push the button for the boost if they knew it shouldn’t have been enabled? And in a wider view, do drivers push the button just to see if it works? Well, we got at least some of that answer this week. At Long Beach, an INDYCAR software malfunctioned and did not disable the push-to-pass for the lone restart in the race. Of the 25 drivers, 12 used it. Considering the rules didn’t prohibit pushing the button, it is hard to blame those drivers. What’s the harm in pushing it to see if it works, to see if there was a malfunction in the INDYCAR system or INDYCAR simply activated it earlier than it should have been activated? Now there is harm. The rules have changed. Previously the rule stated: “[Restarts] will have the Push to Pass system disabled and will be enabled for a given Car once that Car reaches the alternate Start/Finish line.” INDYCAR re-wrote the rulebook to add this: “It is the sole responsibility of the Competitors to ensure that Push to Pass is not utilized during any period where prohibited. Any successful utilization of the Push to Pass during such periods, regardless of INDYCAR signal status, is prohibited and subject to penalty.” Pretty clear. Push the button when you’re not supposed to and if it works, you will be penalized. If this had been in the rulebook since the beginning, there would have been clear indication of if the drivers themselves intentionally broke a rule or not. Is this vindication for the Penske drivers? A little in the sense that if anyone thought that no driver pushed the button just to see if it would work, that was proved otherwise. But Penske still had a system that overrode the INDYCAR software designed to disable the system, so those penalties were certainly just. There is no exoneration. Should the drivers who did use it and Long Beach have faced penalties? No. INDYCAR made the right call, as it was the league’s software error that enabled the system. INDYCAR should be glad that there was only one driver who actually made a pass using it, so there weren’t a bunch of questionable results. INDYCAR also did the right thing in releasing the names of drivers and how long they used it. That now keeps anyone from wondering who used it and who didn’t. It is interesting that both Alex Palou (who used it) and Will Power (who didn’t use it) both said that there should be no penalties a week prior to the list being released. Palou would obviously say he wouldn’t want penalties, but Power had no reason to not give his true feelings considering no Andretti Global driver used the system. Whether the fact that drivers can now use the system on all restarts is a good thing will be determined by the quality of the racing. It certainly doesn’t hurt to try, especially because it makes the rule much more simple and drivers don’t have to worry about violating push-to-pass on every restart. Sometimes life is messy, and this has been a messy path. Hopefully, the mess is behind INDYCAR on this one.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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Ranking the 10 Best NFL Offenses Entering Offseason Workouts

There’s still a long way to go before we see real football again. But with the NFL Draft in the books and the majority of the top-tier free agents signed, teams know what the core of their squads will look like in 2026. Offensively, which teams are poised to be the most dynamic in the upcoming season? And how could they compare against one another? Here’s my projection for the top 10 offenses in 2026, in descending order (for the top 10 defenses, click here): Key additions: RB Isiah Pacheco (FA), OT Blake Miller (draft), C Cade Mays (FA), OL Larry Borom (FA), OL Juice Scruggs (trade)Key losses: RB David Montgomery (trade), WR Kalif Raymond (FA) The Lions still have one of the most talented offenses in football, but it could take a while for them to hit their stride in 2026. Isiah Pacheco’s addition as RB2 marks a significant downgrade from David Montgomery, who was traded to the Texans. Detroit has also shuffled pieces upfront to improve an offensive line that struggled last season. There’s a strong likelihood that the team will be flipping All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell to the left side. Key additions: RB Kenneth Walker III (FA), QB Justin Fields (trade)Key losses: QB Gardner Minshew (FA), WR Hollywood Brown (FA), RT Jawaan Taylor (release), RB Isiah Pacheco (FA) If QB Patrick Mahomes is healthy after December surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, there’s a good chance the Chiefs’ offense returns to playing at a high level. Kenneth Walker III signed a three-year, $43.05 million deal with Kansas City after winning Super Bowl MVP with the Seahawks. He’s the most dynamic running back that the Chiefs have had in the Mahomes era, and his presence should open the pass game. Veteran receiver Hollywood Brown departed in free agency, but WR1 Rashee Rice won’t be facing a suspension to start this season, like last year. Kansas City also welcomes back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who was the team’s OC from 2018 through 2022. Key additions: WR Romeo Doubs (FA), G Alijah Vera-Tucker (FA), TE Julian Hill (FA), OT Caleb Lomu (draft), TE Eli Raridon (draft)Key losses: WR Stefon Diggs (release), C Garrett Bradbury (trade), TE Austin Hooper (FA) Before struggling in last season’s playoffs, the Patriots’ offense was dominant. And that should continue in 2026. New England traded center Garrett Bradbury, but the offensive line could be much improved with the addition of Alijah-Vera Tucker in free agency and first-round rookie Caleb Lomu, who could play either right or left tackle. Romeo Doubs is a younger, higher-upside wide receiver than Stefon Diggs. And there’s still a strong chance that the Patriots land star receiver A.J. Brown via trade. Key additions: G John Simpson (FA), G Olaivavega Ioane (draft), WR Ja’Kobi Lane (draft), WR Elijah Sarratt (draft)Key losses: C Tyler Linderbaum (FA), TE Isaiah Likely (FA), FB Patrick Ricard (FA), RB Keaton Mitchell (FA), TE Charlie Kolar (FA) With a healthy Lamar Jackson, the sky is the limit for the Ravens’ offense. There have been some significant changes in Baltimore — playcaller Todd Monken is gone, as well as several key contributors — but the run game could see a boost with the additions of first-round pick Olaivavega Ioane and veteran John Simpson at guard. The Ravens also grabbed much needed wide receiver depth behind Zay Flowers in mid-round picks Ja’Kobi Lane (third round) and Elijah Sarratt (fourth round). Key additions: C Garrett Bradbury (trade), WR Kalif Raymond (FA), C Logan Jones (draft), TE Sam Roush (draft), WR Zavion Thomas (draft)Key losses: WR DJ Moore (trade), WR Olamide Zaccheus (FA) Even with DJ Moore out of the picture, the arrow on the Bears’ offense is pointed up. Quarterback Caleb Williams is poised to make a massive leap in Year 3 after dazzling in clutch moments in 2025. Second-year tight end Colston Loveland and wideout Luther Burden are ascending, as is third-year receiver Rome Odunze. After losing Pro Bowler Drew Dalman to an early retirement, Chicago has both its center of the present (Garrett Bradbury) and future (Logan Jones) on the roster. Key addition: WR DJ Moore (trade)Key losses: G David Edwards, QB Mitch Trubisky (FA), OT Ryan Van Demark (FA) With Moore in the fold, Josh Allen has a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the first time since Stefon Diggs’ time in Buffalo. It raises the ceiling of a Bills offense that ranked fourth in scoring last season. Key addition: RB Jadarian Price (draft)Key loss: RB Kenneth Walker III (FA) The Seahawks have their entire offense returning from last year’s Super Bowl-winning team, with one (big) exception: running back Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the Chiefs in free agency. How quickly first-round pick Jadarian Price, who backed up Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame, acclimates to the NFL level will be key to Seattle’s offense. Not only is Price replacing Walker, but also his running mate, Zach Charbonnet, who suffered a torn ACL in the divisional round in January. Key additions: n/aKey losses: TE Noah Fant (FA), G Cordell Volson (FA) The Bengals haven’t made any moves of note on offense — their offseason focus has been on the defense — but with a healthy Joe Burrow under center, Cincinnati still has one of the most feared units in football. The Bengals, who ranked 12th in scoring last season with Burrow missing nine games due to turf toe, return their entire starting offense from 2025. Key additions: n/aKey loss: WR Jalen Tolbert (FA) The Cowboys return 10 starters from an offense that ranked second in yards and seventh in points in 2025. Franchise-tagged star receiver George Pickens will be in his second year in the offense, which could make him even more difficult to account for as CeeDee Lamb’s running mate. And with a more competent defense on paper, Dallas’ offense could see more possessions per game in 2026. Key additions: QB Ty Simpson (draft), TE Max Klare (draft), OT Keagan Trost (draft) Key losses: n/a The NFL’s best offense in 2025 returns all 11 starters. While No. 13 overall pick Ty Simpson is viewed as the Rams’ quarterback of the future, tight end Max Klare (second round) and offensive tackle Keagen Trost (third round) provide young depth for a loaded offense in 2026.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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NFL Offseason Check-In: Dan Quinn Didn’t Want Commanders to Fall for Easy Narrative

Following a disappointing 5-12 campaign in 2025, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn admitted that it took some time to remove the stench from a season where it felt like nothing could go right for his upstart group. But Quinn’s positive outlook has returned as he prepares for his third season as the Commanders’ head coach. After a busy offseason full of changes in Washington, Quinn opened up to me on why the Commanders opted not to act complacent despite reaching the NFC Championship Game just a year prior. “The easy narrative is to say, ‘Hey man, the injuries – that’s all it was,’” Quinn told me. “But I want to go deeper than that, making sure what we can do better offensively and defensively, and then how do we develop more as an entire team. “It takes a good, strong offseason to dig into areas that you want to improve on. So, we’re putting in two new systems offensively and defensively, much like we did in 2024. I’m excited about that.” Quinn made wholesale changes on offense and defense. That included parting ways with respected offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and promoting quarterbacks coach David Blough to offensive coordinator. The team also hired Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones to be their new defensive coordinator, replacing Joe Whitt Jr. after two seasons. With those hirings come the implementation of new schemes. Quinn said learning new schemes has created a sense of urgency for his players as they embark on offseason work. And at the heart of that new learning will be the evolution of Washington’s offense under the leadership of third-year pro quarterback Jayden Daniels, who finished the 2025 season on injured reserve with a dislocated elbow. Daniels told me back in February at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic that he’s fully healthy, and his offseason work began well before the start of organized team activities (OTAs). A Southern California native, Daniels’ regimen back home has included throwing with teammates Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown and Rachaad White at UCLA. As Quinn is tasked with keeping Daniels healthy, the Commanders’ head coach said that Washington’s new offense under Blough will include more plays under center and a renewed focus on the play-action game. That’ll include heavier formations to better keep the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year out of harm’s way. But that will be a major change from what the Commanders did last season. They ran a league-low 112 snaps under center in 2025, and Daniels completed 22-of-41 (53.7%) passes for 305 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions with a 94.1 passer rating on play-action passes last season, per Next Gen Stats. “When you’re under center, it does add value for the play-action game — some of the deep shots that can go down the field,” Quinn told me. “And primarily, some of that is just based on protections with the tight ends and backs being involved for some of the deeper developing routes. “When you can add that to your game, that’s a big deal. So, that was one that we felt was worth going through. How much under center? That will be determined as we get through spring and training camp. But it will definitely be a bigger part of the offense for sure.” While Quinn worked to make Daniels’ life easier with a new scheme, Commanders general manager Adam Peters is attempting to do that by adding more playmakers to Washington’s offense. The Commanders signed versatile running backs Jerome Ford and White in free agency, along with playmaking tight end Chig Okonkwo and receivers Van Jefferson and Brown. Peters also shuffled the Commanders’ offensive line this offseason. They released starting center Tyler Biadasz as part of a cap-clearing move in order to sign those aforementioned playmakers. But Nick Allegretti will shift from guard to center, giving Washington some continuity up front. And Washington continued to add to its depth chart of playmakers in the draft. Peters grabbed slot receiver Antonio Williams out of Clemson in the third round and Penn State product Kaytron Allen in the sixth round. Williams ran a 4.41-second, 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine after posting over 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Clemson. He’s got an athletic build similar to another effective slot receiver Quinn is familiar with from his time with the Seahawks in Seattle Pro Bowler Doug Baldwin. The hope is that Williams can develop into a solid contributor as a complementary receiver opposite McLaurin. “We saw the route running and ability to change direction – to run option routes and break somebody’s leverage,” Quinn told me of Williams. “And we also saw the ability for him to play outside as a Z receiver (flanker), where the deeper developing routes can take place. “We just saw the demonstrated pass catching and route running. He had a very accomplished career there, in terms of what it takes to play in the NFL. We’re excited to add him to our crew.” Seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt popped in his rookie season, leading in Washington in rushing yards (805) and rushing touchdowns (8). Joining him in the backfield with Ford and White is Allen, who finished his time in college as Penn State’s all-time leading rusher. “He has good size and likes to get downhill,” Quinn told me about Allen. “Having another back that has size, can put his foot in the ground and be aggressive, those are the styles of running backs that carry. We’re excited to put him in the mix and let the whole thing kind of develop.” The Commanders might not be finished with adding talent around Daniels yet, either. There’s still a chance Washington can add veteran wide receiver Brandon Ayiuk, who was Daniels’ teammate at Arizona State. San Francisco is expected to release him at some point this offseason, and Peters is familiar with Aiyuk from his time working in the 49ers’ front office, being a part of the group that drafted the talented wide receiver in 2020. And if Aiyuk can move past the ugliness that occurred in San Francisco and is healthy, he would provide a boost to Washington, which did not bring back Deebo Samuel in free agency. While the Commanders made several moves on offense this offseason, the splashiest moves they made were on the defensive side of the ball. They signed edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, along with versatile Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, in free agency, as Quinn told me the goal is for Washington to get back to having the opportunistic defenses he created during his time with the Dallas Cowboys and Seahawks. That means bringing in more speed, pass-rush ability and versatility up front. The centerpiece of that goal and Quinn’s revamped defense was the selection of athletic dynamo linebacker Sony Styles with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds, Styles can take over as the green dot, defensive play caller of Washington’s defense. Peters saw up close the impact a do-it-all inside linebacker can have on a defense in San Francisco in Fred Warner. Quinn had the same experience as defensive coordinator for the Seahawks when Bobby Wagner, who played the last two years as the man in the middle of Washington’s defense, served in that role as a rookie, second-round draft pick for a Seattle defense that went to back-to-back Super Bowls. “What I like about Sonny is he has the traits — the work, the love of it and the discipline to go and do extra,” Quinn told me. “That carries from college into pro ball. And he’s hungry. Those are just a few things that he can bring to us. “I have a sense that he’s going to be excellent at a lot of spots, but one of the things he didn’t do a lot of at Ohio State was blitzing. But I think with his speed and his length, I’m excited to develop that part of his game, too.” The big investments the Commanders made on defense come after they had a rough performance on that side of the ball in 2025. They ranked last in yards allowed and their 10 takeaways were second from the bottom, with the New York Jets’ historically poor season producing fewer takeaways. The Commanders totaled 42 sacks last season, tied for 12th in the league, but their pass rush win rate (36%) was 18th in the league. Quinn believes adding more juice up front will improve those numbers, creating a more dangerous defense that can consistently get the ball back to Daniels and the offense. “We want to put physical pressure, mental pressure and some frustration and doubt into the offense,” Quinn told me. “Fear in some ways. And some of the best ways to do that is to deploy people at different spots, different locations. When they make a check, you make one as well. “Knowing there is uncertainty and decision-making that has to take place post-snap, that’s when you can really play good defense. Because if you’re giving some of these QBs too much information too early, they are so elite that the completions are high and they can control the game that way. You want to have enough in your toolbox to disrupt that, frustrate that and not allow that to be that way. It takes some risk to have this disguise or this location with a player, but at the end of it, it’s worth it because you’re not the one getting worked for the information. It’s like, you better figure this out after the snap.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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Why Colin Cowherd Believes Cowboys Will Fail to Live Up to Expectations in 2026

It’s been two whole seasons since the Dallas Cowboys have had a winning record and earned a playoff spot. But with a lauded draft class and some notable offseason moves, will the Cowboys get their footing back and make it to the postseason again? Don’t count on that happening, or at least that’s what Colin Cowherd thinks. Cowherd said on Tuesday’s edition of “The Herd” that he took notice of Dallas’ schedule difficulty, and does not believe it will match what oddsmakers have as its projected win total for the 2026 season. “Over/Under is 8.5 wins. I will take the under,” Cowherd said. “I think they’re a 7-10 or an 8-9 team. I like their draft, I like their personnel, but last year they played the third-easiest schedule and won seven games, and their eight games against teams with winning records, they went 1-7.” While the full schedule for the 2026 NFL season hasn’t been announced, the Cowboys know who they’ll face this fall. They have eight games against teams that made the playoffs in 2025, including the Philadelphia Eagles (twice), Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. One of their designated home games will be played in Brazil, taking on a Baltimore Ravens team that had a down year in 2025. They also have to travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers, and face the Texans in Houston. And that’s all before mentioning their other four matchups against divisional foes, as the New York Giants and Washington Commanders appear to be in a spot to contend for the playoffs in 2026. The Cowboys finished their 2025 campaign 7-9-1 in the first year of the Brian Schottenheimer era, showing some improvement from Mike McCarthy’s final season as head coach in 2024. Schottenheimer was elevated to head coach in the 2025 offseason after two seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator, helping quarterback Dak Prescott put up another impressive statistical season (4,552 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions). Dallas recently compiled an impressive draft class that included a pair of first-round picks (Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence) along with some potential mid-round standouts (Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham, Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton, Florida cornerback Devon Moore, Alabama edge rusher LT Overton). In a year when defensive depth was needed, Dallas took advantage from the jump, with its move to trade up and draft Downs being widely praised. FOX Sports’ Rob Rang’s draft grade analysis for Dallas was positive, with a long-term vision that their new defensive look has potential. “With two first-round picks to play with following last year’s Micah Parsons trade, it was clear the Cowboys had the potential to be active in this draft, but they were even more flexible than expected, aggressively trading up to nab star safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 and recouping picks by dropping back and still getting an explosive edge rusher in Malachi Lawrence at No. 23.” Rang wrote. After trading Micah Parsons to the Packers last August in exchange for two first-round picks, the Cowboys’ will need their draft class, and the impact of key offseason moves – like franchise-tagging wide receiver George Pickens – to help surpass the projected win total of 8.5 wins. Cowherd recognized that because of those moves, Dallas has strong roster depth. However, he doesn’t think the Cowboys have the top-end talent to make the playoffs in 2026. “I think their roster is better than we give it credit for, but their schedule is brutal, and they have not shown an ability with Brian Schottenheimer to win against better quarterbacks consistently. If you look at the Cowboys, and you’re like, ‘I like what they’re doing,’ you have to check schedules.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports