The Pittsburgh Steelers spent the week preparing to move from quarterback Justin Fields to veteran Russell Wilson for the upcoming “Sunday Night Football” home game against the 2-4 New York Jets.
Wilson spoke with reporters on Thursday and praised the 25-year-old he’s expected to replace for the first time this season.
“I think Justin’s done a great job,” Wilson said, as Brooke Pryor of ESPN shared. “I think he’s a tremendous quarterback. I’ve fought against him over the years. He’s a tremendous football player, a great teammate and all that. And I think more importantly for us is we continue to go on through the season. We want to get better and continue to grow. That’s always the goal every year.”
Fields guided the Steelers to a 4-2 record as Wilson recovered from a calf injury he first experienced early into training camp and then reaggravated ahead of Week 1. However, it was clear from the start of springtime workouts through the end of August that head coach Mike Tomlin always wanted to start Wilson. According to team insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tomlin and others within the Steelers “weren’t going to let six weeks change their mind or change their plan,” especially after Fields left plenty to be desired with his play.
Specifically, ESPN stats show that Pittsburgh will head into the weekend ranked 28th in the NFL with an average of 166.8 passing yards per game. Per the StatMuse website, Fields began Friday ranked 19th in the league with a combined 1,337 passing and rushing yards on the season.
One can only guess if a healthy Wilson would’ve won at least four of six starts leading up to the Jets game. He admitted watching the action from the sidelines over the past month and a half was “a challenge in itself” as he worked to return to full health.
“It’s been disappointing,” Wilson added, “but also I’ve grown a lot, too. I think that you realize that you just continue to love every day. You continue to find ways to lead, you continue to find ways to just embrace the challenges, the hard stuff, the obstacles in our way and everything else. And you look forward to the journey.”
As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Steelers as 1.5-point underdogs against the Jets. At that time, it was unclear if Pittsburgh intended to feature special packages for Fields versus New York or simply let Wilson run what was always supposed to be his offense.
The Los Angeles Rams have had a rocky start to their season, stumbling to a 1-4 record, but there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon with the potential return of star wide receiver Cooper Kupp. As the Rams look to regain their footing, the team remains optimistic he could return in Week 7, provided his recovery continues smoothly. The team has been cautious with Kupp, though, and this approach may push his return back to next Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, but he’s expected to return sooner rather than later. While the prospect of Kupp’s impending return is uplifting, the Rams were dealt some tough news with another key player in Puka Nacua. Nacua’s return seems to be delayed until November, especially with the team facing a short week in Week 8. This extended absence means the Rams will have to navigate the next few games without one of their emerging offensive talents. Rams’ early season struggles continue as injury list grows Head coach Sean McVay managed to keep team morale high during the Rams bye week, emphasizing that the team is doing the right things to position themselves for wins.
The Rams’ poor start appears to be due primarily to attrition from injuries rather than a lack of effort or strategy, so it’s not out of the picture to suggest they could get themselves back on track in short order Quarterback Matthew Stafford remains a central figure in this narrative. Despite the team’s struggles, he has stayed engaged and motivated, an essential leadership quality that McVay is likely relying on heavily as they approach the mid-season. Both McVay and Stafford are aware of the stakes—this season could potentially mark the end of their current competitive run, adding pressure to maximize every opportunity to turn the tide.
The return of Kupp could not come at a more critical time. His ability to change the dynamics on the field is well-documented, and his presence could reignite the Rams’ offense, which has been lackluster in his absence. Kupp’s knack for making significant plays and driving forward the passing game will be pivotal as the Rams aim to salvage their season.
However, the delay in Nacua’s return will test the depth and resilience of the Rams’ receiving corps. Other players will need to step up and fill the void left by his absence, ensuring that the team remains competitive in the tough matchups ahead. The next few games will be telling for the Rams as they strive to overcome their early-season setbacks and climb back into playoff contention.
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Could Braves make this improbable trade this offseason?
The Braves don’t have a lot of wiggle room this offseason, with so many of their everyday players locked into long-term deals, but they do have a lot of potential holes that need filling. The rotation could be addressed with the possible departures of Max Fried and Charlie Morton. The bullpen could use another southpaw with A.J. Minter’s free agency looming.
The outfield needs significant attention, whether that’s a couple of everyday players to assume left and right field duties or some combination of the two. A lot of that depends on Ronald Acuna Jr.’s timeline and availability. Replacing Orlando Arcia is at the top of every Braves fans’ wishlist this offseason, but finding a reasonable upgrade at an affordable price may prove to be impossible. The options are limited, and Alex Anthopoulos has never been one to get into a bidding war in free agency.
Arcia being in the Opening Day lineup is the most likely outcome. Other than that, there’s not much Anthopoulos can do this winter… but is there an out-of-the-box move the Braves could pull off? How about a Sean Murphy trade? Hear me out. I want to preface how unlikely a Sean Murphy trade is before getting into the reasons it could make sense. Atlanta sunk a lot into Murphy when they traded for him two years ago. Secondly, selling that low on an asset is very bad business. Thirdly, his 2024 campaign was marred by injuries and inconsistencies, and I don’t think that’s who he is at the core. Again, it’s not likely, but let’s take a trip to Fairyworld and imagine the scenario playing out.
The Braves have more catchers than they know what to do with, similar to the situation a few years ago with Travis d’Arnaud, William Contreras, and Shea Langeliers. Eventually, the club traded the two youngsters for Sean Murphy and Matt Olson. There’s probably a bit of buyer’s remorse from the Contreras deal, which is why a subsequent trade of Murphy could be on the table.
There’s a shortage of quality catchers in this league, so even though Murphy is coming off a disappointing season with the stick, there would still be a demand for him. He’s elite behind the plate, has shown an ability to get as hot as Hades with the stick, and is under team control through 2028 with a club option for 2029.
There would be a market for Murphy if Anthopoulos sees fit. But this entire hypothetical hinges on how the Braves view Drake Baldwin. He’s the club’s top prospect and is banging on the door of the majors. The Braves could use him as trade bait, but if they view him as the next star to come up through the system, somebody has to go, and Murphy makes the most sense. Of course, the stick isn’t the concern for Drake Baldwin. It’s calling a game, which is incredibly difficult.
The nuances of calling a game cannot be learned in a single offseason in North Port. The Braves place a high emphasis on defense behind the plate, which is why they traded for Sean Murphy in the first place. That’s why putting all of their eggs in the basket of Drake Baldwin might be premature, but eventually, this is a situation that will have to be addressed.
The Los Angeles Clippers inked Kawhi Leonard to a three-year $149.5 million contract extension in January. The two-time NBA champion will be 35 years old by the time he hits free agency again. Los Angeles ensured there was no player option on the final year of his new deal.
The Clippers may already regret giving him such a hefty paycheck. Leonard was limited to two games in the 2024 playoffs due to swelling in his right knee, the same knee he suffered an ACL tear on in 2021 and a meniscus injury in 2022. During the summer, Leonard underwent surgery to help resolve the issue. However, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Leonard is still sidelined, with no set time for his return to the court. “L.A.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined indefinitely to begin the NBA season as he rehabilitates from inflammation in his right knee, sources told ESPN on Thursday,” Charania reported. “The Clippers and Leonard are in the midst of a rehab process for the two-time NBA Finals MVP.” The Clippers lost Paul George at the start of the summer. As such, their need for Leonard to resolve his longstanding knee issues has significantly grown.
When healthy, he is still among the best forwards in the NBA, but his knee issues have sapped some of his speed and explosiveness. Further damage could drastically reduce his effectiveness as a primary offensive and defensive option. Given his worsening knee problems, it won’t be surprising if the front office regrets its decision to commit almost $150 million to Leonard. Nevertheless, the Clippers are committed and must show patience in Leonard’s recovery.
If Leonard can continue sitting out of basketball activities until his body begins to respond and his knee has been strengthened, there’s still a chance his tenure with the franchise could be a successful one. But, with each passing injury, that chance decreases. Sooner or later, the Clippers may need to face the fact that they made a mistake and start exploring ways to move on from Leonard. If that means a re-tooling or a full rebuild, so be it.
Urban Meyer voices concerns about one ‘mess’ of an SEC team
Urban Meyer knows more than most about SEC football, and the former Florida coach believes one of the conference’s teams could be in trouble.
During the latest episode of “The Triple Option” podcast, which Meyers hosts with Mark Ingram II and Mark Stone, Meyer called Tennessee “a mess.” The three-time national champion pointed to how the Volunteers have looked offensively in their three games against SEC opponents. “They are in reverse right now,” Meyer said, via On3’s Griffin McVeigh. “Twenty points per game the last three games. Twenty points per game, that’s usually in the first half. They just don’t look right, they look a mess.”
Meyer was extremely high on Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava at the start of the season. After Iamaleava threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in a 69-3 win over Chattanooga to begin the year, Meyer called the freshman quarterback a “monster.” “He was a 5-star product coming out of high school. I asked this question, is he a Top 10 pick in the NFL Draft, to Brady (Quinn) and Matt (Leinart),” Meyer said in early September, via Ric Butler of RockyTopInsider.com. “Obviously, he has another year left. This guy is unbelievable, Mark. I know they had Joe Milton last year but this guy is a monster.” Meyer seems far less excited now.
Tennessee scored 51 or more points in all three of their non-conference games to start the season. They have scored 25 or fewer in the last three, all of which have come against SEC opponents. Iamaleava has not eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark in four consecutive games and has just two touchdowns during that span, though he has thrown just one interception. There have also been moments where Iamaleava has shown his inexperience, too.
He made a huge mistake at the end of Tennessee’s loss to Arkansas two weeks ago. Tennessee is ranked No. 11 in the country and still in position to reach the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, but Meyer’s concerns are warranted. The Vols are not going to be able to hang with elite SEC opponents unless they straighten out their offensive issues.
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