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  • Draymond Green re-signs with Warriors, explains why he thinks LeBron James didn’t come to Golden State

    Green will be back with the Warriors alongside Steph Curry for a 15th season

    By 
    draymond-lebron-getty.png

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    Draymond Green opted out of the final year of his contract earlier this summer in order to give the Golden State Warriors the flexibility to pursue other players — most notably, LeBron James. Now that James has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, Green and the Warriors were able to figure out his situation.

    Ironically, Green is signing the exact same contract he opted out of — a one-year, $27.7 million deal, according to ESPN.

    Green’s deal will keep him in the Bay Area for a 15th season. Among active players, only Stephen Curry, who is entering his 18th season with the Warriors, has been with one team for longer than Green.

    There’s a real chance this could be the last season the four-time champions play together, however. As it stands, both Curry (extension eligible in August) and Green will be unrestricted free agents next season, as will Jimmy Butler. And all of them are in their late 30s. Curry is 38; both Green and Butler are 36. While coach Steve Kerr was persuaded to sign a multi-year extension in May, he nearly retired at the end of last season, and there’s no guarantee he will fulfill his contract.

    As we wait to see what happens with Curry’s contract situation and whether this will be the Warriors’ “Last Dance” season, Green spoke about the Warriors’ pursuit of James on the latest episode of his podcast. Ultimately, Green believes James did not want to wear a Golden State uniform after the battles he had earlier in his career.

    “You look at Golden State, and I ultimately don’t think Bron was ever able to get over the history, and I understand it, I get it,” Green said. “What we all ultimately always knew was like, that’s the hurdle to get over. I don’t think it’s the team, the organization, anything else. I think it’s the history.

    “We live in a day and age where everybody who doesn’t have anything to say has something to say. And so, he’s gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, ‘Ahh man, you went to team up with Steph, you had to go to them.’ I think ultimately that weighed in on the decision a lot. That played a big role in the Warriors not landing LeBron.”

    Winners and losers of LeBron James choosing the 76ers: Cavs, Celtics and Steph Curry all suffer massive blows
    Brad Botkin
    Winners and losers of LeBron James choosing the 76ers: Cavs, Celtics and Steph Curry all suffer massive blows

    When James returned to Cleveland in 2014, he led the Cavaliers to four consecutive Finals appearances — all against the Warriors — and became a fierce rival of Curry and Green. In 2016, James led the Cavaliers on a historic 3-1 comeback to win the first title in franchise history, in large part because Green was suspended for Game 5 after hitting him below the belt in Game 4.

    Green’s suspension is one of the biggest sliding doors moments in NBA history, and it still has ramifications to this day. If he doesn’t get suspended, James and the Cavaliers likely don’t win the 2016 title, and Kevin Durant likely doesn’t sign with the Warriors in free agency in 2016.

    Ironically, Durant’s experience with the Warriors helps explain why James didn’t sign with the team, according to Green. Durant has always been criticized by some for joining the Warriors in order to win. And even though he won back-to-back Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018, the Warriors remained Curry’s team.

    James has four MVPs, four titles and four Finals MVPs, never mind all his other accolades, so his legacy is far more secure than Durant’s was at the time he joined the Warriors. But Green is right that while many would have loved to see James and Curry play together, signing with the Warriors would have received much more criticism than signing with the 76ers.

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  • AZ Cardinals news and recap

    • Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison: Returning to practice Tuesday

      Harrison (cramps) will practice Tuesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

      Harrison didn’t finish practice Sunday due to what coach Mike LaFleur described as cramping. However, the 2024 first-rounder is fine after Monday’s day off and will return to the mix Tuesday. As the coming campaign approaches, Harrison, who is entering his third year as a pro, is slated to reprise his starting role for the Cardinals alongside fellow WR Michael Wilson. The 23-year-old is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he caught 41 of 73 passes for 608 yards and four TDs in 12 contests, but if he’s able to stay healthy while building a strong rapport with expected starting QB Jacoby Brissett, steady volume in the passing game should be available for Harrison in 2026.

    • Cardinals’ Gardner Minshew: Moving back to No. 2 role

      Minshew, who handled first-team reps at practice Sunday, will move back to the No. 2 quarterback role when the Cardinals return to practice Tuesday, Darren Urban of the team’s official site reports.

      Minshew will bump back to the backup role now that teammate Jacoby Brissett has come to terms with Arizona on a new contract that provides him a raise for the 2026 campaign. Expectations are that Minshew will kick off the regular season as the No. 2 option behind Brissett, though rookie third-rounder Carson Beck also will have the chance to compete for opportunities in training camp. Minshew is fully recovered from the season-ending knee injury he suffered while operating as the backup to Patrick Mahomes (ACL) in Kansas City in 2025.

    • Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison: Doesn’t finish practice Sunday

      Harrison (undisclosed) did not finish Arizona’s training camp practice on Sunday due to an unknown issue, Darren Urban of the Cardinals‘ official site reports.

      Harrison reportedly displayed positive chemistry with quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew on Sunday, hauling in a touchdown from the latter during team reps, but the third-year wideout wasn’t able to finish the session. It remains to be seen whether Harrison is dealing with an undisclosed injury, or something as minor as conditioning. Arizona will not practice Monday, but Harrison’s status will be worth monitoring when the team hosts its first padded session Tuesday.

  • MLB Scores

  • James McCann’s 12th-inning single gives Diamondbacks 8-7 win over Pirates after blowing six-run lead

    AP

    PITTSBURGH (AP) James McCann singled in the winning run in the 12th inning with his fourth hit of the game and the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night despite blowing a six-run lead.

    Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back home runs for the Pirates to spark a three-run rally against closer Paul Sewald in the ninth to tie the game at 6-all and force extra innings. Lowe’s two-run shot was his team-leading 22nd of the season.

    It was Sewald’s third blown save in 27 opportunities.

    The Pirates also had a three-run eighth to make it 6-3 on RBI singles by Ryan O’Hearn, Endy Rodríguez and Marcell Ozuna.

    Both teams scored runs in the 10th on errors.

    Geraldo Carillo (1-0) got his first major league win as the Diamondbacks won for the 11th time in 17 games. McCann’s winning hit came off Wilbur Dotel (1-3).

    The Diamondbacks’ Brandon Pfaadt pitched seven scoreless innings, left with a 6-0 lead, and was in line to win his career-high sixth consecutive start since returning from Triple-A Reno on June 30. However, the bullpen blew the lead.

    Pfaadt gave up six hits, struck out four and walked one. He was a 13-game winner last year but was sent to the minor leagues on June 4 after struggling.

    Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler struggled to get through four innings. Four of the five runs Chandler allowed were earned, and he surrendered eight hits as he put the Pirates in a five-run hole.

    The Pirates had 14 hits, including two each from Jake Mangum, Lowe, O’Hearn, Nick Gonzales and Ozuna.

    Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-3, 2.64 ERA) starts the rubber game of the three-game series Wednesday against RHP Jared Jones (2-1, 3.72).

    —

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

    Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

    Expert Picks

    View all 4 picks

    Betting Picks for Every Game
    • Picks from Vegas experts and insiders
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    Larry Hartstein
    Larry HartsteinThe Maestro
    +200 (57%)
    Last 35 MLB ML
    Pittsburgh-110
    Money Line
    Picked Jul 28 @ 5:58 pm, 1 unit on BetMGM
    LOSS
    Bubba Chandler was brilliant last time out, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings vs. the Yankees. I like his matchup with the visiting Diamondbacks. While Brandon Pfaadt has been a revelation since returning from the minors, this is a difficult matchup. He pitches to a ton of contact and the Pirates’ offense should take advantage.

    Larry’s Pick

    Bob Konarski
    Bob KonarskiBurghBets
    +691 (71%)
    Last 17 MLB ML
    Arizona-102
    Money Line
    Picked Jul 28 @ 5:20 pm, 1 unit on FanDuel
    WIN
    Brandon Pfaadt has been excellent since returning from injury, winning all five of his starts. The Pirates have won five of the last six meetings against Arizona and have also taken the last three matchups in Pittsburgh. Bubba Chandler has been one of the weaker starters for the Pirates this season, posting a 4.62 ERA at home. While Pittsburgh has been one of the stronger home offenses against right-handed pitching, Arizona has been swinging the bats well, averaging just over six runs per game against right-handers over its last 10 games.

    Bob’s Pick

    4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E

    56-52

    		 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 16 1

    55-53

    		 0 0 0 0 3 3 1 0 0 7 14 3
    • PNC ParkPittsburgh, PA
    • W: G. Carrillo (1-0)L: W. Dotel (1-3)S: (0)
    • HR: PIT – B. Reynolds (14), B. Lowe (21)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    HITTERS AB R H RBI AVG
    C. Carroll RF 5 0 2 1 .251
    G. Perdomo SS 7 1 1 0 .231
    G. Moreno DH 6 1 1 2 .307
    K. Marte 2B 6 0 1 0 .253
    M. Kepler LF 4 1 1 0 .236
    N. Arenado 3B 5 0 3 1 .247
    T. Locklear PR-1B 1 2 0 0 .261
    T. Tawa 1B 4 1 0 1 .224
    J. Barrosa CF 0 0 0 0 .192
    J. McCann C 6 1 4 1 .289
    R. Waldschmidt CF 4 1 2 0 .276
    I. Vargas 1B-3B 2 0 1 1 .273
    HITTERS AB R H RBI AVG
    J. Mangum CF 6 1 2 0 .302
    B. Lowe 2B 5 1 2 2 .253
    B. Reynolds LF 4 2 1 1 .269
    E. Valdez RF 6 0 1 0 .285
    R. O’Hearn 1B 6 1 2 1 .277
    B. Cook PR 0 0 0 0 .200
    N. Gonzales 3B 6 1 2 0 .315
    E. Rodriguez C 6 1 1 1 .259
    M. Ozuna DH 4 0 2 1 .205
    T. Callihan PR-DH 1 0 0 0 .211
    J. Gonzalez SS 3 0 1 0 .239
    a- J. Triolo PH-SS 2 0 0 0 .240
    • a-struck out for Gonzalez in the 8th
    BATTING
    • 2B – K. Marte (21), M. Kepler (6), N. Arenado (20), R. Waldschmidt (13)
    • 3B – G. Perdomo (4)
    • SH – J. Barrosa 2 (7)
    • RBI – C. Carroll (50), G. Moreno 2 (43), N. Arenado (50), T. Tawa (21), J. McCann (16), I. Vargas (50)
    • 2-Out RBI – C. Carroll
    • Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – G. Perdomo 3 (3), G. Moreno 3 (3), K. Marte, T. Tawa, J. McCann
    BATTING
    • 2B – J. Mangum (11), B. Lowe (24), E. Valdez (8), R. O’Hearn 2 (15)
    • HR – B. Lowe (22), B. Reynolds (15)
    • SH – T. Callihan
    • RBI – B. Lowe 2 (69), B. Reynolds (61), R. O’Hearn (69), E. Rodriguez (17), M. Ozuna (29)
    • 2-Out RBI – R. O’Hearn, E. Rodriguez, M. Ozuna
    • Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – B. Reynolds, E. Valdez, E. Rodriguez 2 (2), T. Callihan, J. Triolo
    BASERUNNING
    • SB – C. Carroll (14)
    BASERUNNING
    • SB – E. Rodriguez (3)
    FIELDING
    • DP – (Marte-Perdomo-Locklear)
    • E – T. Locklear
    FIELDING
    • DP – 3 (Triolo-Lowe-O’Hearn; Gonzalez-Lowe-O’Hearn; Chandler-Lowe-O’Hearn)
    • E – B. Lowe (8), J. Triolo (8), B. Chandler (2)
    PITCHERS IP H ER BB SO ERA
    B. Pfaadt 7.0 6 0 1 4 4.00
    R. Thompson 0.2 4 3 1 1 4.38
    B. Garcia(H, 13) 0.1 0 0 0 1 2.25
    P. Sewald(BS, 3) 0.1 3 3 0 0 5.26
    J. Morillo 0.2 1 0 0 1 2.68
    K. Ginkel(BS, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 3.18
    G. Carrillo(W, 1-0) 2.0 0 0 1 3 1.50
    PITCHERS IP H ER BB SO ERA
    B. Chandler 4.0 8 4 1 3 4.64
    I. Mattson 1.2 3 1 1 3 4.93
    B. Eisert 2.1 3 0 0 2 6.29
    R. Marinaccio 1.0 0 0 0 1 4.93
    G. Soto 1.0 0 0 0 2 3.63
    W. Dotel(L, 1-3) 2.0 2 0 1 0 4.44
    PITCHING
    • Pitches-Strikes – B. Pfaadt 101-70, R. Thompson 28-16, B. Garcia 8-5, P. Sewald 13-10, J. Morillo 7-5, K. Ginkel 13-9, G. Carrillo 17-13
    • Ground Balls-Fly Balls – B. Pfaadt 6-7, R. Thompson 3-0, P. Sewald 0-2, K. Ginkel 2-0, G. Carrillo 2-0
    • Batters Faced – B. Pfaadt 28, R. Thompson 7, B. Garcia, P. Sewald 4, J. Morillo 3, K. Ginkel 4, G. Carrillo 6
    PITCHING
    • Pitches-Strikes – B. Chandler 91-58, I. Mattson 39-24, B. Eisert 41-27, R. Marinaccio 11-6, G. Soto 22-14, W. Dotel 20-12
    • Ground Balls-Fly Balls – B. Chandler 11-3, I. Mattson 3-1, B. Eisert 5-1, R. Marinaccio 0-2, G. Soto 2-0, W. Dotel 5-0
    • Batters Faced – B. Chandler 21, I. Mattson 9, B. Eisert 9, R. Marinaccio 3, G. Soto 6, W. Dotel 8

  • AZ Cardinals recap and news

    • Cardinals’ Gardner Minshew: Moving back to No. 2 role

      Minshew, who handled first-team reps at practice Sunday, will move back to the No. 2 quarterback role when the Cardinals return to practice Tuesday, Darren Urban of the team’s official site reports.

      Minshew will bump back to the backup role now that teammate Jacoby Brissett has come to terms with Arizona on a new contract that provides him a raise for the 2026 campaign. Expectations are that Minshew will kick off the regular season as the No. 2 option behind Brissett, though rookie third-rounder Carson Beck also will have the chance to compete for opportunities in training camp. Minshew is fully recovered from the season-ending knee injury he suffered while operating as the backup to Patrick Mahomes (ACL) in Kansas City in 2025.

    • Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison: Doesn’t finish practice Sunday

      Harrison (undisclosed) did not finish Arizona’s training camp practice on Sunday due to an unknown issue, Darren Urban of the Cardinals‘ official site reports.

      Harrison reportedly displayed positive chemistry with quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew on Sunday, hauling in a touchdown from the latter during team reps, but the third-year wideout wasn’t able to finish the session. It remains to be seen whether Harrison is dealing with an undisclosed injury, or something as minor as conditioning. Arizona will not practice Monday, but Harrison’s status will be worth monitoring when the team hosts its first padded session Tuesday.

    • Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett: Signs new deal with Arizona

      Brissett and the Cardinals agreed to a reworked contract Sunday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

      Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Brissett’s new deal will increase his 2026 compensation to $15.5 million guaranteed and up to $21 million with incentives, meaning he’ll still become an unrestricted free agent after this season. It ends a stalemate in contract negotiations between the veteran quarterback and the Cardinals that started in mid-April right before the 2026 NFL Draft, which led to Brissett sitting out of OTAs before reporting to mandatory minicamp and training camp. Now that talks have resolved with a restructured contract, Brissett can focus his efforts toward training camp and strengthening his hold on the starting quarterback job, with Gardner Minshew and rookie third-round pick Carson Beck battling for the backup role. Brissett is coming off a career year in 2025, when he completed 64.9 percent of passes for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions across 14 regular-season games (12 starts).

    • Cardinals’ Paris Johnson: Activated off PUP list

      The Cardinals activated Johnson (undisclosed) off the active/PUP list Saturday.

      Johnson is healthy again after having spent just two days on the PUP list due to an undisclosed issue. The 25-year-old will once again serve as Arizona’s starting left tackle during the upcoming campaign.

  • Dbacks recap and news

    • Diamondbacks’ Max Kepler: Drives in two runs Monday

      Kepler went 3-for-5 with a two-run double during Arizona’s 3-2 extra-inning loss to Pittsburgh on Monday.

      Merrill Kelly and Mitch Keller were locked in a pitcher’s duel, but Kepler was responsible for the first runs of the game with a bases-loaded double in the sixth inning that plated two runs for the Diamondbacks. Kepler is slashing .235/.280/.397 with two home runs and 14 RBI across 75 plate appearances this season.

    • Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly: Fans six in no-decision

      Kelly did not factor into Monday’s decision against the Pirates, allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out six across 5.2 innings.

      The only run Kelly allowed Monday was unearned, though it was his doing on a pickoff error to first, leading to Jake Mangum scoring on a Brandon Lowe single. It was the first time in 19 starts this season that Kelly did not yield an earned run, and his six punchouts tied a season high that he set three times prior to Monday’s game. He’ll take a 4.86 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 109.1 innings into his next start, which is slated for this weekend on the road against the Guardians.

      Brandon Lowe’s 10th-inning hit rallies the Pirates over the Diamondbacks 3-2
      Stats  

    • Diamondbacks’ Adrian Del Castillo: Gaining traction versus righties

      Del Castillo will start at designated hitter and bat seventh in Monday’s game against the Pirates.

      Del Castillo will be included in the lineup for a fourth straight matchup with a right-handed starter or primary pitcher, after going 4-for-11 with a double, a stolen base, three runs and an RBI over his prior three starts. The 26-year-old will need to produce well at the plate in order to continue receiving steady at-bats versus righties, but he’ll have a path to playing time while Arizona has three key hitters (Lourdes Gurriel, Jordan Lawlar and Tommy Troy) on the shelf.

    • Diamondbacks’ Tim Tawa: Receiving evening off

      Tawa is out of the lineup for Monday’s game against the Pirates.

      Tawa will hit the bench for the series opener after he had been included in the lineup in each of Arizona’s previous seven games. During that stretch, Tawa made starts at first base, third base and in center field while going 8-for-28 (.286 average) with two doubles, one walk, four RBI and three runs. Tawa should have a fairly clear path to an everyday role while the Diamondbacks contend with the absences of Lourdes Gurriel (adductor), Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) and Tommy Troy (shoulder).

    Show More 

    Team Statistical Rankings

    AVG R HR ERA
    Team .241
    (17th)    		 481
    (13th)    		 103
    (28th)    		 4.23
    (18th)

    Injuries

    PLAYER INJURY
    Mike Soroka SP Lower Body
    Corbin Burnes SP Elbow
    Jordan Lawlar LF Hamstring
    Zac Gallen SP Elbow
    Ryne Nelson SP Elbow
    Full Injuries

  • NFL training camp storylines: Aaron Donald watch, QB battles, rookie breakouts among NFC questions

    With all 32 NFL teams reporting to camp, the NFC enters 2026 with major questions involving injuries, rookie roles, revamped defenses and high-stakes position battles

    By of cbssports.com contributing 
    jalen-hurts-philadelphia-eagles-imagn-images-1.jpg

    Imagn Images

    All 32 teams will have reported to NFL training camp by the end of the week, and this marks step one of the six-month odyssey toward the Vince Lombardi trophy. That means the immediate return of position battles, off-field drama and injuries across the next 44 days between now and the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks kicking off the new season on Sept. 9.

    What are the biggest storylines to follow with training camp season upon us? Here’s a look at one for each of the NFC’s 16 teams.

    Arizona Cardinals: Will 2026 third overall draft pick Jeremiyah Love be Arizona’s RB1 right away?

    It seems obvious that the Arizona Cardinals need to hand all their first-team running back snaps to Jeremiyah Love, right? The Cardinals made him the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley. The reason it’s been that long is that taking Love third meant locking him into a rookie deal with $53 million guaranteed.

    That makes Love the owner of the most guaranteed money for a running back in the entire league before he even takes a snap in a game. He’s a dynamic playmaker, leading college football in both rushing touchdowns (35) and touchdowns from scrimmage (40) across the last two seasons. Arizona’s investment in Love should lead to immediate starting running back reps, but that won’t necessarily be the case at the start of training camp, according to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

    “It’s a great [running back] room. I’m really excited about it,” Hackett told reporters on Saturday when asked if there’s a starter at running back at the moment. “… I’m excited for James [Conner] to get out there and show what he’s got. I mean, all the guys.”

    As for Love, Hackett said, “I mean, he’s definitely a rookie, as we’ve talked about, and he’ll keep growing every single day.”

    Conner, a two-time Pro Bowler who is 31-years-old and fresh off a gruesome ankle injury that limited his 2025 season to three games, appears to be in early pole position at the start of Cardinals camp. Free agency acquisition Tyler Allgeier, who signed a two-year, $12.25 million contract with $8 million guaranteed, will also be in the mix. How coach Mike LaFleur and Hackett dole out those reps will be a storyline that Cardinals fans and fantasy football diehards will be on the edge of their seats to follow.

    Atlanta Falcons: Who will emerge as Kevin Stefanski’s starting QB?

    The Atlanta Falcons‘ 2026 quarterback competition between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa features two passers with plenty of similarities. Both are former top 10 picks, left-handed passers with long injury histories.

    Penix expects to be fully cleared for training camp and is angling to be 100% good to go for Week 1 after undergoing surgery in November for the third torn ACL he’s suffered between his collegiate and professional football career. He hasn’t exactly sparkled since being selected eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, in his small sample size of 12 career starts.

    MICHAEL PENIX JR. NFL CAREER NFL RANKS SINCE 2024*
    Completion percentage 59.6% 39th
    Pass yards per attempt 7.2 17th
    TD-INT ratio 2.0 (12-6) 25th
    Passer rating 85.8 32nd

    * Among 41 QBs with 10-plus starts

    Tagovailoa, purely from a health perspective, could be the favorite for the Week 1 starting spot at the start of camp. He’s fresh off a Miami Dolphins benching after throwing a career-high 15 interceptions, and the Dolphins were so sick of him they ate an NFL record $99 million in dead money to release him just two seasons into a four-year, $212 million contract. He led the NFL with 60 completions of 20-plus air yards from 2022 to 2023, but once the NFL adjusted to Mike McDaniel’s offense and All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered some injuries, Tagovailoa’s play declined in a hurry.

    TUA TAGOVAILOA UNDER MIKE MCDANIEL 2022-2023 2024-2025
    W-L 19-11 12-3
    Yards per pass attempt 8.5 7.0
    TD-INT 54-22 39-22
    Passer rating 102.9 95.0

    The pressure is real for both of these lefties because they have enough playmakers — Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts — to end Atlanta’s eight-year playoff drought.

    Carolina Panthers: How quickly will Monroe Freeling acclimate to right tackle?

    The Carolina Panthers are already the NFL’s most injury-plagued team in 2026, and their training camp has been underway for under a week. Edge rusher Nic Scourton, a promising 2025 second-round pick, went down with a torn ACL injury that will sideline him for the entire 2026 season, and that’s excluding the team’s two starting offensive tackles who entered camp with injuries.

    Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after tearing his patellar tendon in Carolina’s wild-card round loss against the Los Angeles Rams in January. Right tackle Taylor Moton is on the non-football injury list because of a blood clot in his lung. Fortunately for the Panthers, they signed former Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker to fill the void left by Ekwonu.

    However, 19th overall pick offensive tackle Monroe Freeling will be making a notable adjustment because of the injuries to Moton and Ekwonu. Despite all 18 of his starts at Georgia coming at left tackle, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan told reporters Freeling will be moved to right tackle in place of Moton to start the 2026 season. How quickly Freeling can acclimate to the opposite side of the offensive line will be something worth keeping tabs on in Charlotte.

    Chicago Bears: How well does the revamped secondary gel?

    All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, a 2025 first-team All-Pro after leading the NFL with seven interceptions and Pro Bowl outside cornerback Nahshon Wright, who led the NFL with eight takeaways (five interceptions and three fumble recoveries), are both on other NFL teams in 2026. The Bears lost the two players who accounted for 15 of Chicago’s NFL-most 33 takeaways (45.4%). Safety Jaquan Brisker and nickel C.J. Gardner-Johnson also departed in free agency.

    The Bears offset the loss of Byard by swiping Coby Bryant away from the Seahawks on a three-year, $40 million deal. Chicago will rely on two players in outside cornerback Jaylon Johnson (missed 10 games with a groin injury) and nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon (missed 14 games with groin, hamstring and calf injuries). Plus, the new starting strong safety will be the 25th overall pick, rookie Dillon Thieneman.

    How well the secondary comes together will go a long way in determining how the Bears’ 2026 season unfolds.

    Dallas Cowboys: How well does the revamped defense come together?

    The Dallas Cowboys have continuity on the offensive side of the ball after ranking seventh in points per game at 27.7. On defense, the Cowboys are undergoing a complete makeover after allowing an NFL-worst 30.1 points per game. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is out, and 34-year-old Christian Parker takes his place.

    Parker renovated: the Cowboys’ entire defensive play-call process. Plus, the on-field pieces he has to work with look a little different. Dallas’ key defensive additions include Rashan Gary, 23rd overall pick edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, former San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Dee Winters, 11th overall pick safety Caleb Downs, former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson and former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant.

    That’s a lot of change all at once from coaching to scheme to on-field personnel. Dallas won seven games in 2025 with the NFL’s worst defense. If that side of the ball can just be mediocre or close to average, the Cowboys could certainly return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

    Detroit Lions: Can their defense stay healthy?

    Yes, it’s training camp. The Detroit Lions aren’t playing real games just yet just like the rest of the league. However, the biggest issue for this team is the health of their defense, especially after cutting former first-round pick cornerback Terrion Arnold this offseason. A knee injury cut short 2024 first team All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph’s 2025 season to just six games. Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch’s 2025 campaign ended with an Achilles rupture after 12 games, and a hamstring injury stole six games from cornerback D.J. Reed’s 2025 season. Both Joseph and Branch will start camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

    Health and cohesion in Detroit’s defensive backfield will be crucial and worth keeping an eye on out at Lions’ training camp.

    Green Bay Packers: Is 2026 the year wide receiver Matthew Golden breaks out?

    The Green Bay Packers had a logjam at wide receiver in 2025 with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden all fighting for targets. That doesn’t factor in tight end Tucker Kraft, a player who appeared well on his way to a monster receiving season before he suffered a torn ACL in November.

    Green Bay spent the 2026 offseason decluttering its wide receiver room to pave the way for more regular roles for its top pass catcher. They let Doubs walk in free agency, and he signed with the New England Patriots on top of trading Wicks to the Eagles. Both Watson (four years, $92 million) and Reed (three years, $50.25 million) were extended, so there is now a clear foursome for quarterback Jordan Love to throw to in Green Bay. It’s Watson, Kraft, Reed and Golden.

    Golden’s 23-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the playoffs against the Chicago Bears illustrated the explosiveness he possesses. Now, it’s time to get him a regular target share. It will be intriguing to see how Golden is utilized in the Packers’ pared-down wide receiver room. The Green Bay coaching staff seems to think 2026 is Golden’s year as well.

    “I’m excited about him [Golden]. He’s looked great so far. It’s going to be a big year for him, and I’m excited to watch it,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said of Golden on May 4, via The Athletic.

    Los Angeles Rams: Will Aaron Donald unretire to rejoin the Super Bowl favorites?

    After the trade acquisition of 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Myles Garrett fresh off setting the league’s single-season sacks record, the Los Angeles Rams have the best odds to win the next Super Bowl at +550. That marks the fifth time just one NFL team had preseason odds under +1000 to win the Super Bowl since the league expanded to 32 teams in 2022, per my CBS Sports colleague John Breech.

    With the Rams losing the NFC title game by one possession to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in 2025 and then adding Garrett, that had three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year defensive tackle Aaron Donald wondering if he should unretire and rejoin his old team.

    Donald’s official comment when asked about that possibility was “It for sure got me thinking.” Yes, he’s been retired since 2024 after playing 10 seasons and already winning a Super Bowl in the 2021 season with Los Angeles, but if he returned to the Rams, he wouldn’t have to worry about double teams anymore with Garrett on board in tandem with Pro Bowl edge rusher Byron Young. The Rams are the most complete team in the NFL entering 2026, so it’s safe to say Los Angeles’ training camp will have a major “Aaron Donald watch’ storyline to monitor.

    Minnesota Vikings: Will Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy be the starting quarterback?

    Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, couldn’t have failed harder. He had 2024 NFL Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell calling his plays with his on-field supporting cast, including  Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, T.J. Hockenson, and Jordan Addison. Yet, McCarthy ranked dead last in completion percentage (57.6%), touchdown-to-interception ratio (11-12) and passer rating (72.6). That made him the only first-round pick since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to finish last in the NFL in competition percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio in his debut season, per CBS Sports Research.

    That’s why he now has to compete with former two-time Pro Bowl Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray for the starting job in training camp. Murray has been injury-plagued across the last four seasons, missing 30 of a possible 68 games, but the ceiling he showed he possesses back in 2021 is tantalizing. If Minnesota can get quality quarterback play, it could upend the Bears-Packers duopoly at the top of the NFC North in 2026.

    New Orleans Saints: How good can the offense be with QB Tyler Shough?

    The New Orleans Saints missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, the second-longest active drought in the NFC, behind only the Atlanta Falcons. However, they have hope. New Orleans won four of its final five games in 2025 following a 2-10 start, thanks to second-round rookie quarterback Tyler Shough finding his groove. Shough profiled as a top 10 quarterback in terms of production when he took over as the Saints’ starter in Week 9, ranking inside the top 10 in the NFL in completion percentage, passing yards, yards per pass attempt and passer rating. In Weeks 16 and 17, Shough became the only rookie quarterback since 1950 with 300-plus pass yards, at least one passing touchdown and no turnovers in back-to-back games, per CBS Sports Research.

    TYLER SHOUGH AS STARTER, 2025 SEASON WEEKS 9-18 NFL RANKS FROM WEEK 9-18
    Completion percentage 69.2% 4th
    Pass yards 2,256 9th
    Pass yards per attempt 7.6 9th
    Passer rating 95.8 9th

    Wide receiver Chris Olave, Shough’s clear-cut, go-to guy, earned 2025 second-team All-Pro honors with career-highs in catches (100), receiving yards (1,163) and receiving touchdowns (9). Following free agency and the draft, Shough has two more exciting weapons in his arsenal. New Orleans selected Arizona State two-time first-team All-Big 12 wide receiver Jordyn Tyson eighth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $48 million contract in free agency, fresh off scoring a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2025.

    Giving Shough more juice around him in addition to Olave and fading franchise rushing leader Alvin Kamara could be the lift the Saints need to return to the playoff mix.

    New York Giants: How good does Malik Nabers look coming off a torn ACL?

    The New York Giants need Pro Bowl wide receiver Malik Nabers healthy in order to maximize 2025 first-round pick quarterback Jaxson Dart’s development. Nabers is far and away the most important developing story at Giants training camp. Nabers’ torn ACL injury wasn’t cut and dry. It also included a full meniscus repair and an extra procedure to remove inflamed scar tissue.

    However, New York did not place Nabers on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to begin training camp, which provided some hope that he might be ready to roll for Week 1. When he’s on the field, he’s dangerous: Nabers’ 127 career receptions through 19 career games rank as the second-most in NFL history behind only his Giants teammate Odell Beckham Jr.’s 133. New York needs Nabers to be back at full strength, and how he looks in training camp will be far and away the most important development for the Giants.

    Philadelphia Eagles: How do Jalen Hurts and new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion fit together?

    The 2025 Philadelphia Eagles produced the worst scoring offense (22.3 points per game), total offense (311.2 total yards per game) and rushing offense (116.9 rushing yards per game) in coach Nick Sirianni’s five seasons in charge since 2021. A big factor in that drop off was the performance of quarterback Jalen Hurts, who averaged a career-low 7.1 yards per pass attempt in 2025 and his lowest completion percentage (64.8%) since 2021. Frustration with the offense’s performance in 2025 led to the trade of Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Eagles to the New England Patriots.

    That’s also why Philadelphia hired Sean Mannion as its new offensive coordinator for the 2026 season. It will be Mannion’s first time calling plays after developing his offensive philosophy under Matt LaFleur, while also playing for Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell as a backup quarterback with the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings. Mannion will bring the Shanahan-style offense, with a foundation in under-center formations and zone blocking, plus plenty of motion and play-action passing.

    How Hurts adjusts to playing in the NFL’s most en vogue offensive system while building chemistry with new receivers like 20th overall pick rookie Makai Lemon and ex-Packers wideout Dontayvion Wicks, in addition to mainstay DeVonta Smith, will be the biggest storyline at Eagles camp.

    San Francisco 49ers: Can everyone stay healthy?

    The San Francisco 49ers six highest-paid players combined to miss 64 games, including the postseason, in 2025. That statistic doesn’t include wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, missing 10 games with knee and ankle injuries, or defensive lineman Mykel Williams, missing the last 10 games of the season with a torn ACL. Christian McCaffrey also turned 30 in June, and he’s fresh off a 2025 season with 413 touches, the most since DeMarco Murray’s 449 in 2014. Murray notably wore down over the next three seasons that followed.

    Pair all that with San Francisco’s big-ticket free agent acquisition being wide receiver Mike Evans, who turns 33 in a few weeks, fresh off the worst season of his 12-year career because of multiple injuries that caused him to miss nine games.

    SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS HIGHEST-PAID PLAYERS GAMES MISSED, 2025 SEASON GAMES MISSED
    QB Brock Purdy (turf toe) 8
    DE Nick Bosa (torn ACL) 16
    WR Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL suffered in 2024 plus issues with team) 19
    LT Trent Williams (hamstring) 1
    LB Fred Warner (broken ankle) 13
    TE George Kittle (Achilles/hamstring) 7

    The injury bug also reached coach Kyle Shanahan after he was injured in a car crash. Shanahan reportedly suffered a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken hand and a concussion. All that led to him needing over 40 stitches on his face. General manager John Lynch told reporters Saturday that he doesn’t expect Shanahan to miss Week 1 of the regular season despite limitations. The 49ers just need to put the entire franchise in bubble wrap and survive the preseason as healthy as possible, especially with their investigation into the electrical substation near their facility still ongoing.

    Seattle Seahawks: What is the running back situation?

    The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks face question marks at the running back spot after Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III departed to join the Kansas City Chiefs. Zach Charbonnet will begin camp on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) after tearing his ACL in the divisional round of the playoffs in January.

    That’s why Seattle drafted Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the last pick of the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed former Green Bay Packers backup Emanuel Wilson in free agency. Mainstay George Holani will also factor into the mix. Who will emerge as the Seahawks’ lead back in the interim with Charbonnet sidelined? That will be worth watching in camp, especially for those who enjoy fantasy football.

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Can Rueben Bain Jr. be dominant right away?

    Rueben Bain Jr. enters the NFL as the most decorated collegiate pass rusher in the 2026 rookie class. He took home the 2025 Ted Hendricks Award as the best edge rusher in college football while also racking up ACC Defensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American honors. Bain’s 83 quarterback pressures were the most by a college football player since Sutton Smith’s 95 in 2017.

    He also enters the league with some questions with the second-shortest arm length among edge rushers drafted in the first round since 2003. Will that prevent him from dominating right away, or will the 2026 NFL Draft’s 15th overall pick hit the ground running? That will be the most tantalizing on-field thing to keep tabs on at Buccaneers training camp. Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s contract negotiations entering the final year of his deal in 2026 is also an intriguing angle.

    Washington Commanders: How much juice does their new look defense have?

    The Washington Commanders entered the 2025 season with the oldest Week 1 roster on record, and that came back to bite them hard. They ranked dead last in total defense (384.3 yards allowed per game), with inside linebacker Bobby Wagner, at age 35, also ranking dead last in average speed last season at 9.1 miles per hour, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.

    Washington’s front seven received a much-needed makeover. The Commanders drafted Ohio State inside linebacker Sonny Styles, whose NFL Scouting Combine performance compared similarlywas comparable to that of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson, and they signed 25-year-old, two-time Super Bowl champion linebacker Leo Chenal away from the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. That’s a major upgrade from the corpse of Wagner, a future Hall of Famer on his last legs, lining up in the middle of their defense. Washington also upgraded their edge rusher position, swiping away Odafe Oweh from the Los Angeles Chargers and K’Lavon Chaisson from the New England Patriots. Both were key contributors to AFC playoff teams last season, and both are still in their respective primes at 27 years old.

    Seeing how that defense operates under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, a Brian Flores disciple who spent the last three seasons as the Vikings’ defensive backs coach/defensive passing game coordinator, will be intriguing.

  • MLB Scores

    FINAL
    R H E
    Mariners52-55
    		 3 7 0
    Rangers54-52
    		 7 11 0
    Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
    Highlights: Mariners at Rangers (7/27)
    0:46
    • W: K. Rocker  (4-8)
    • L: G. Kirby  (8-9)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Diamondbacks55-52
    		 2 8 1
    Pirates55-52
    		 3 9 1
    PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
    Highlights: Diamondbacks at Pirates (7/27)
    0:25
    • W: M. Montgomery  (4-3)
    • L: T. Clarke  (2-2)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Orioles52-55
    		 8 12 0
    Tigers50-57
    		 5 11 1
    Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
    THIS IS NUTS! Squirrel leads entire grounds crew on wild chase in Orioles’ win over Tigers
    1:03
    • W: G. Wolfram  (3-2)
    • L: K. Montero  (7-6)
    • S: R. Garcia  (5)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Phillies57-50
    		 7 10 2
    Marlins53-54
    		 8 14 1
    loanDepot park, Miami, FL
    Highlights: Marlins walk off Phillies to snap 12-game skid
    1:42
    • W: C. Faucher  (5-5)
    • L: J. Duran  (1-4)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Blue Jays49-58
    		 3 7 1
    Nationals54-53
    		 2 8 0
    Nationals Park, Washington, DC
    Highlights: Blue Jays at Nationals (7/27)
    0:56
    • W: M. Fluharty  (5-1)
    • L: E. Yean  (0-1)
    • S: L. Varland  (22)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Braves62-44
    		 3 6 0
    Mets45-62
    		 14 19 0
    Citi Field, Flushing, NY
    Highlights: Braves at Mets (7/27)
    1:21
    • W: Z. Thornton  (2-1)
    • L: C. Thomas  (0-1)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Yankees60-46
    		 9 10 2
    White Sox55-50
    		 5 10 3
    Rate Field, Chicago, IL
    Highlights: Yankees at White Sox (7/27)
    3:19
    • W: B. Headrick  (6-1)
    • L: B. Hudson  (3-4)
    • S: D. Bednar  (21)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Cubs60-46
    		 7 14 0
    Cardinals53-53
    		 3 7 1
    Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
    Highlights: Cubs at Cardinals (7/27)
    0:53
    • W: D. Peterson  (6-7)
    • L: M. Liberatore  (5-8)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Astros53-55
    		 6 5 1
    Angels42-65
    		 4 6 2
    Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
    Highlights: Astros at Angels (7/27)
    0:54
    • W: C. Javier  (1-1)
    • L: J. Fermin  (3-2)
    • S: J. Hader  (13)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Red Sox55-50
    		 4 5 2
    Athletics44-62
    		 2 6 0
    Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California
    Highlights: Red Sox at Athletics (7/27)
    1:06
    • W: P. Tolle  (6-6)
    • L: J. Perkins  (2-6)
    • S: A. Chapman  (25)
    FINAL
    R H E
    Brewers66-40
    		 0 3 1
    Giants45-61
    		 3 6 0
    Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
    Highlights: Brewers at Giants (7/27)
    0:34
    • W: T. Mahle  (3-9)
    • L: B. Sproat  (3-6)
    • S: E. Miller  (3)
    POSTPONED
    Guardians54-53
    Reds49-55
    Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

  • Brandon Lowe’s 10th-inning hit rallies the Pirates over the Diamondbacks 3-2 AP

    AP

    PITTSBURGH (AP) Brandon Lowe singled home Billy Cook in the bottom of the 10th inning to rally the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

    Lowe finished a three-hit night by lacing a line drive off Diamondbacks reliever Taylor Clarke (2-2) that smacked off the glove of Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas and rolled away, allowing Cook to race home as the Pirates pulled even with the Diamondbacks for the National League’s third wild-card spot.

    Mason Montgomery (4-3) worked around an error by third baseman Nick Gonzales and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 10th to earn the victory. The Pirates’ bullpen, which has been a sore spot much of the season, tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

    Bryan Reynolds delivered a game-tying RBI double in the eighth for Pittsburgh, which lost promising rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez to a left-hand injury in the fourth inning after getting hit with a fastball by Arizona starter Merrill Kelly.

    Kelly allowed one unearned run in 5 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out six while lowering his ERA to 4.86, the lowest it has been since early April.

    Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller had his second straight solid start coming out of the All-Star break, giving up two runs in 5 1/3 innings, his only real mistake coming in the sixth when three singles loaded the bases, and Max Kepler followed with a rope to the corner in right that gave the Diamondbacks the lead.

    Kepler finished with three hits for the Diamondbacks, who lost for just the fifth time in 15 games. Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno went hitless in four at-bats, but extended his on-base streak to 24 games with a first-inning walk.

    The series continues on Tuesday when Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt (5-1, 4.43 ERA) gets the start against Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.47).

    —

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

    Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

    2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E

    55-52

    		 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 8 1

    55-52

    		 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 3 9 1
    • PNC ParkPittsburgh, PA
    • W: M. Montgomery (4-3)L: T. Clarke (2-2)S: (0)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    HITTERS AB R H RBI AVG
    C. Carroll RF 5 1 1 0 .249
    G. Perdomo SS 5 1 1 0 .233
    G. Moreno C 4 0 0 0 .310
    K. Marte 2B 4 0 1 0 .254
    M. Kepler LF 5 0 3 2 .235
    T. Locklear 1B 3 0 0 0 .273
    N. Arenado 3B 1 0 0 0 .242
    A. Del Castillo DH 3 0 0 0 .202
    a- T. Tawa PH-DH 1 0 0 0 .231
    I. Vargas 3B-1B 4 0 1 0 .272
    R. Waldschmidt CF 3 0 1 0 .270
    J. Barrosa CF 1 0 0 0 .192
    • a-struck out for Del Castillo in the 9th
    HITTERS AB R H RBI AVG
    J. Mangum CF 5 1 1 0 .301
    B. Lowe 2B 5 1 3 2 .251
    B. Reynolds LF 4 0 1 1 .269
    E. Valdez RF 1 0 0 0 .290
    J. Triolo PR-SS 1 0 0 0 .242
    R. O’Hearn DH 4 0 0 0 .276
    N. Gonzales 3B 4 0 2 0 .315
    J. Gonzalez SS-1B 4 0 1 0 .237
    T. Callihan 1B-RF 4 0 0 0 .213
    B. Cook PR 0 1 0 0 .200
    H. Davis C 2 0 0 0 .174
    a- E. Rodriguez PH-C 2 0 1 0 .265
    • a-grounded out for Davis in the 8th
    BATTING
    • 2B – M. Kepler (5), R. Waldschmidt (12)
    • RBI – M. Kepler 2 (14)
    • Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – G. Perdomo, M. Kepler 2 (2), A. Del Castillo, I. Vargas, J. Barrosa
    BATTING
    • 2B – B. Lowe (23), B. Reynolds (26)
    • RBI – B. Lowe 2 (67), B. Reynolds (60)
    • 2-Out RBI – B. Reynolds
    • Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – J. Triolo, R. O’Hearn, T. Callihan 2 (2)
    BASERUNNING
    • SB – J. Gonzalez
    FIELDING
    • E – M. Kelly
    FIELDING
    • E – N. Gonzales (9)
    PITCHERS IP H ER BB SO ERA
    M. Kelly 5.2 4 0 1 6 4.86
    J. Morillo(H, 13) 1.1 0 0 0 2 2.72
    J. Loaisiga(BS, 4) 1.0 2 1 0 1 2.57
    T. Clarke(L, 2-2) 1.1 3 0 0 0 2.23
    PITCHERS IP H ER BB SO ERA
    M. Keller 5.1 6 2 1 4 4.83
    Y. Ramirez 1.2 1 0 0 1 3.21
    R. Marinaccio 1.0 0 0 0 0 4.93
    G. Soto 1.0 1 0 0 2 3.71
    M. Montgomery(W, 4-3) 1.0 0 0 1 1 3.95
    PITCHING
    • Pitches-Strikes – M. Kelly 93-61, J. Morillo 22-18, J. Loaisiga 18-12, T. Clarke 19-15
    • Ground Balls-Fly Balls – M. Kelly 6-3, J. Morillo 0-1, J. Loaisiga 1-0, T. Clarke 6-0
    • Batters Faced – M. Kelly 22, J. Morillo 4, J. Loaisiga 5, T. Clarke 7
    PITCHING
    • Pitches-Strikes – M. Keller 83-53, Y. Ramirez 26-18, R. Marinaccio 13-10, G. Soto 23-15, M. Montgomery 20-14
    • Ground Balls-Fly Balls – M. Keller 9-4, Y. Ramirez 3-0, R. Marinaccio 1-1, M. Montgomery 1-0
    • Batters Faced – M. Keller 23, Y. Ramirez 6, R. Marinaccio 3, G. Soto 4, M. Montgomery 5

  • Beginner’s luck? Jackson Koivun bests Scottie Scheffler to win 3M Open in third PGA Tour start as pro

    Koivun decided to forego his final season at Auburn, turning professional and joining the PGA Tour in June

    By 

    In his third career start as a professional on the PGA Tour, Jackson Koivun, 21, captured the first of what could be many titles in a long, successful career. Blitzing the field at TPC Twin Cities, Koivun bested world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by three strokes to claim the 2026 3M Open at 25 under just one month after deciding to forego his final collegiate season at Auburn and focus on golf full-time.

    Koivun’s total, which included a bogey-free weekend, set a new tournament scoring record at the 3M Open, surpassing Lee Hodges’ 24-under mark from 2023.

    With the win, Koivun became the 10th youngest winner on the PGA Tour since 2000 behind only Jordan Spieth, Nick Dunlap, Tom Kim (twice), Matthew Wolff, Aldrich Potgieter, Joaquin Niemann, Rory McIlroy and Si Woo Kim. Koivun did so in his first attempt as a 54-hole leader as he took a three-stroke lead late Saturday thanks to a record back-nine 28 and third-round 61 that separated his name from those in the chasing pack.

    Scheffler, meanwhile, finished runner-up for a record fifth time this season, tied for the most by any PGA Tour player since 2000 (Cameron Young in 2022, Ernie Els in 2000).

    “I played a great round of golf today,” Koivun told CBS after the round. “Definitely had some nerves coming down on 18. All throughout the crowd, I kept hearing, ‘Scottie’s coming! Scottie’s coming!’ I just tried to tone that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could. I was able to find some good putts coming down the stretch.”

    Along with the victory comes riches for the can’t-miss kid out of Auburn. As a decorated amateur and one of three players alongside Jon Rahm and Ludvig Åberg to win the Ben Hogan Award twice at the collegiate level, Koivun now cashes his first winner’s check at $1.584 million.

    In addition to a hefty balance in the bank account, Koivun will also receive an invitation to next year’s Masters, where he will make his tournament debut. He played the U.S. Open earlier this year, finishing T23, which played into his decision to turn pro. The 3M Open marked his 13th career PGA Tour start with 10 coming when he was still an amateur.

    Koivun now finds himself in the postseason hunt with only three qualifying tournaments under his belt so far this season. Jumping from No. 194 to No. 70 in the FedEx Cup standings, he is officially inside the bubble for the FedEx Cup Playoffs with two tournaments remaining in the regular season. In control of his destiny the rest of the way, he is in the driver’s seat and playing with house money amid a year that was always going to be icing on the cake as he transitioned from the amateur to professional ranks.

    On Sunday at TPC Twin Cities, Koivun let little doubt that the high expectations placed upon his shoulders were more than warranted. Throwing a dart into the par-4 1st, he played off his front foot from the start and continued to push the pace as runs were materialized by the likes of Scheffler, Brian Harman and Chandler Phillips.

    They would all be playing for second place as Koivun’s advantage ranged between three and five strokes for the majority of the afternoon. Only a few times did it dip to two strokes, with one of those instances coming when he was not yet even on the golf course.

    Another occurrence nearly transpired by the time he made the turn as he faced his first spot of bother in the final round. Rolling through the front nine, Koivun faced a 15-foot par putt just as Scheffler started to find his footing. Converting his par save, he maintained his three-stroke margin heading into the back nine and kept the top player in the game at bay the rest of the way.

    Scheffler signed for a final-round 63 to post the clubhouse lead at 22 under, but it was not enough to threaten Koivun in the end. Still two ahead with birdie opportunities out in front, the newly minted pro slammed the door shut on the world No. 1. He added one last birdie down the home stretch for good measure and in doing so announced his arrival on the professional stage to his peers and the greater golf world. Grade: A+

    Here are the grades for the rest of the notable names on the leaderboard at the 2026 3M Open.

    2. Scottie Scheffler (-22): One season after claiming six 54-hole leads, Scheffler will end the 2026 regular season without holding a single advantage with 18 holes to play. It’s hard to imagine for the world No. 1, who found his putter at TPC Twin Cities but lacked the sharpness and quality in his scoring clubs that sent him into contention at Royal Birkdale the week prior. Still performing at a level that is unmatched, Scheffler leads the PGA Tour in just about every stat imaginable (including the FedEx Cup), including runner-up results where he stands at five — the most by any golfer since 2000. Grade: A

    T9. Ben Kohles (-17): Started the week at No. 100 in the FedEx Cup standings and started Sunday as one of Koivun’s closest pursuers. A birdie out of the blocks got him within two strokes of the leader, but that is as close as Kohles would climb, as scoring conversions were often met with ill-timed mistakes. Committed to trying to make the postseason (and falling back on the Korn Ferry Tour if he does not earn his PGA Tour card this way), Kohles is inching closer to that top 70 thanks to this result. He still requires a couple more, but the trend is up and to the right as it has been the last couple of months. Grade: A-

    T13. Jake Knapp (-16): One day after Koivun shot the back-nine record at TPC Twin Cities, Knapp matched him, albeit with fewer eagles. Knapp started his back nine with seven straight birdies, parred the tough par-3 17th and polished off his final round 62 with one last circle on the par-5 18th. After getting his season off to a blistering start, Knapp faced a couple of speed bumps due to an injury, but this performance should provide confidence as his health slowly but surely returns to 100%.

    “I’ve still got some tape and like a little splint to help [my wrist],” Knapp said. “It’s not great, but I’ve been able to find a way around it and just understand that it’s just more about pain management at this point. Trying to keep myself on somewhat of a ball count or something, but at the same time, don’t have that many events left until the end of the season, so just kind of foot on the gas right now.” Grade: B

    T20. Tom Kim (-14): Never seemed to shift into the proper gear required for a sprint like TPC Twin Cities. Strolled along nicely, but did not have that round required in this tournament, where a player takes it into the low 60s and shoots up the leaderboard. The culprit, as it was last week at The Open, was the putter, as he missed chance after chance on the greens. Good news for Kim is that his iron play remains super sharp as it was overseas, and a result like that at the Scottish Open is only a cooperative blade away, it seems. Grade: C+

    MC. Max Homa: What momentum was gathered the last few weeks was put to a halt for Homa as a two-round total of 4-over par put him on the wrong side of the cutline. He is firmly inside the top 70 with two weeks to play, but he would like a little more breathing room on another bubble as he drops to No. 50 in the FedEx Cup standings — the cut-off for the BMW Championship and qualification for next year’s signature events. The early exit marks the end of five straight made cuts in a row dating back to the PGA Championship. Grade: F

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