Minnesota Vikings star WR Justin Jefferson was injured on Sunday in their 23-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He left the game early with an ankle injury and did not return to the game. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said in his press conference that the injury would be reevaluated upon Jefferson’s return to Minnesota. Hardly any speculation has come from the coach’s comments, with very little being given to the media on the severity of the injury or a timetable for how long the receiver could be out, if at all.

The comments O’Connell did give were positive, if anything, saying he was “close to coming back in.” This is good news for Vikings fans, but similar words were mentioned about New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart last week, who has since been ruled out for the season.

Despite their 3-0 start, the Vikings statistically have struggled on offense, with one of their wins coming with just nine points.

Receiver Jordan Addison stepped up for the Vikings after Jefferson departed, but there is doubt that the team can consistently produce without their best player, meaning any time that Jefferson misses could be costly.

Kyler Murray played his first full game with the team after recovering from a concussion he suffered in Week 1. Murray had 168 yards and a touchdown to go along with one interception as well in the win.

If Jefferson does miss time, the Vikings will need multiple receivers to up their level. Jauan Jennings is another receiver that could get more targets in the coming weeks if Jefferson is out, as he usually is the third option but could get split targets with Addison if they cover him more heavily than normal.

The Vikings play the NFL’s worst team, the Miami Dolphins, next week, so if Jefferson is to miss time or the team wants to err on the side of caution, the scheduling makes it much more doable.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs remains on the commissioner’s exempt list for a third game as his court case plays out. Jacobs reached a plea deal earlier this month for two misdemeanor charges, one for battery and one for criminal property damage.  However, the NFL’s investigation is still ongoing.

Jacob’s two charges came from an incident in the summer involving his ex-girlfriend that led to his arrest. The NFL placed Jacobs on the commissioner’s exempt list, a form of administrative leave, on Aug. 30. Players who are placed on the list are prohibited from practicing and attending games. Time spent on the list can count toward a suspension if the league hands down a punishment after its investigation.

>SLIDESHOW: 50 MOST-INFAMOUS ATHLETE MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

The league has held off on issuing disciplinary action against Jacobs due to the league wanting to see a video of the incident that led to his arrest. The victim, Jacobs’ ex-girlfriend, has petitioned the court to permanently seal evidence from the case. Her attorneys argue the sealing of evidence is within her rights under Marsy’s Law, a newly added amendment to Wisconsin’s state constitution that gives additional rights to victims of a crime.

The NFL would not stop there, as it would file a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain video of the alleged assault, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. A judge denied the victim’s request to permanently seal the video, which would open the door for the NFL to request the footage.

Not being able to play, Jacobs was able to resolve his legal situation quicker than expected, on Sept.10, Jacobs pleaded no contest to battery and criminal property damage. As a result of the plea, Jacobs was fined $1,000 and was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and undergo counseling.

Following this, the NFL was now able to hand down an official punishment. This is how the league has operated with its investigations in the past, waiting until the full legal process plays out before issuing its own punishment.

The league wants to view the incident before handing out any punishments. When Jacobs was arrested, reports suggested that surveillance footage exists of him throwing his girlfriend to the ground, then taking her phone.

The process of the league handing out a punishment could take longer than expected, but if suspension is on the table, the three games missed by the running back would be counted.

John Harbaugh’s first game as New York Giants coach couldn’t have gone better for the veteran. His team played physical football in a 28-20 win over the rival Dallas Cowboys in their season opener.

Harbaugh spent the last 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, already coaching big games and winning a Super Bowl; this win was special.

 “This was really special because these guys, these players, these guys who have believed from the beginning, they don’t bat an eye,” Harbaugh said after watching his team outplay the opposition. “They just try to do the right thing every single day. They try to be on point. And even when they’re not on point, they’re going to bounce back and make it right. Maybe there is a mistake. Maybe there is a false start. They find a way to make a play and erase the mistake and make it right and make it better. 

“Buying into that kind of mindset, just when you see it in practice and see it happen in a game, that is what, as a coach, you feel so good about.” 

Harbaugh’s vision for the team was to build a big, physical team. The Giants outrushed Dallas 165 yards to 69. He focused on playing disciplined situational football. New York ran out the final 5:16 of the game clock to secure their victory.

After the game, team owner John Mara presented Harbaugh with a game ball.

“We have one more game ball. It’s his first victory as New York Giants head coach,” Mara said before handing it to Harbaugh. 

In his postgame news conference, Harbaugh was asked to rank this game among his 205 career victories.

“It’s No. 1,” he said. “Because it’s the one right now.” 

He learned this from his dad, Jack, who was a former longtime coach at Western Kentucky. Jack always told his son the most recent win was the best win.

“‘John, you never had a better win than that,'” he recalled hearing from his dad on every car ride home. “He says it every time. I think this time it might be true.” 

The Giants players took pride in getting Harbaugh his first Giants win. Harbaugh laid out the blueprint when he first arrived, and the team executed it perfectly.

“From day one, he told us he wants to punish the other team and run the ball and throw play-action passes. That’s what we did,” said running back Cam Skattebo, who led the Giants with 81 yards rushing. “The stuff we did worked. They trusted the plan, and we came out here and executed.” 

Before this game, the Cowboys have beaten the Giants in 16 of the last 18 games; this victory could warn the NFC East that the Giants could be a threat with a Super Bowl-winning coach in charge.

“It was huge,” New York quarterback Jaxson Dart said. “I just think that we have so much respect for Coach, and this team will do whatever he says because we have all the faith that he’s going to put us in the best situation. A team’s identity starts at the top. It starts with how he’s conducted himself, with how he’s created a tough team.

“We want to take that on our shoulders, and we bought into what his plan is week in and week out. We’re definitely happy to get it for him. We’re just really happy we did it, not only for the players but for the organization.”

While it might be too early to tell, the Giants under Harbaugh could be the beginning of a new era for Giants football.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was taken to the hospital after being struck by a foul ball while standing in front of the on-deck circle during their game against the Cincinnati Reds.

“He got hit in the left cheekbone, essentially under the eye,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I don’t know anything more than that right now. He was bleeding from his nose a little. There’s some swelling. It’s a terrible, terrible accident. We hope he’s OK.” 

Bregman would later go to social media, where he posted an Instagram story that showed his eye swollen shut and bruised, along with blood on his cheek. The caption on the story was: “Thanks for all the messages, y’all. I’ll be back.”

The team later announced that he suffered from facial fractures.

Bregman has been struggling for most of the season so far.

In the fourth inning, Cubs first baseman Michael Busch stepped up to the plate, checked his swing and fouled off a pitch from Reds pitcher Luis Mey. The ball struck Bregman, who immediately jogged towards the Cubs’ dugout, covering the left side of his face.

An athletic trainer escorted Bregman down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse, with blood visible on his face. Matt Shaw replaced Bregman and drew a walk. He stayed in the game at second base, with Pedro Ramirez shifting to third.

“It just happens so fast,” Busch said. “Mey’s throwing the ball hard, and it comes off hard. Any time it enters the head area, it’s always scary. We try to focus on the game, but it’s tough. Hopefully he’s OK, first and foremost.”

Before leaving the game, Bregman went 1-for1- with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. This season he is batting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs after signing a $175 million, five-year free-agent deal in January.

“I mean, at the end of the day, you just hope your friend is OK; that’s the news that I’m hoping for. But scary stuff. Such a rarity.” Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said.

The Cubs could have clinched a playoff berth that day with a Diamondbacks loss to the Yankees, but Arizona would go on to win 8-4.

Counsell said he hasn’t thought about how a potential long-term absence for Bregman might impact his postseason roster plans.

“You know, we’ve got to get good results from the hospital. He got hit in the face, so you’re worried just about his general well-being first. I want to get a good report first.” Counsell said.

Steve Belichick, son of University of North Carolina coach Bill Belichick, is resigning from his spot on his father’s staff after a series of incidents the team is investigating.

Steve is being investigated for using drugs at work and possibly giving them to players as well.

The team has also looked into possible sexual relations between staffers and players, but Steve has not been directly linked to these claims.

>SLIDESHOW: 50 MOST-INFAMOUS ATHLETE MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

Steve has worked under his father, Bill, for years and has had a longstanding spot on his staff dating back to his Patriots days.

Many people suggested that part of the turmoil between Bill and Patriots owner Robert Kraft stemmed from the succession plan not including Steve, as he who was with the team for 12 seasons until Bill and the team decided to part ways.

The allegations came from an investigation the team called into “culture and climate” within the organization.

The investigation has concluded, and the team has made it clear that it was isolated and not a problem within the organization.

This comes two weeks after the resignation of the team’s previous general manager, Mike Lombardi, who was part of an employee complaint that has not been publicly released.

Lombardi said in his resignation that he wanted to let the team focus on the football season, but neither Steve nor Bill has released a statement about the resignation.

The position has yet to be filled, but Steve was on medical leave before the season began, so North Carolina already has an acting defensive coordinator in place: Brian Belichick, another of Bill’s sons. He will continue until a replacement is named or he is made the official acting coordinator.

Brian has been part of the team for both of their wins to start the year, and it will be interesting to see whether Bill decides to keep that position within the family or whether UNC pressures him to make a change.

Tommy Pham‘s return to the Chicago White Sox active roster began with a chance elevator encounter and ended with a go-ahead home run just hours later.

The 38-year-old outfielder was activated off the 10-day injured list Wednesday and immediately made his presence felt, hitting a three-run homer in the fifth inning of Chicago’s 6-3 series-finale loss to the Guardians — his first hit of the season with the club.

The move happened faster than planned. Manager Will Venable had intended to keep Pham on the injured list until this weekend’s series against the Tigers. But late Tuesday night, shortly after the White Sox suffered a gut-wrenching 7-6 walk-off loss on Brayan Rocchio‘s two-run double off closer Grant Taylor, Pham found himself sharing an elevator with general manager Chris Getz. Pham told Getz directly that he was ready to play.

“If I didn’t see him on the elevator, I probably would have had to wait until this weekend,” Pham said. “But every game matters right now when you’re in a playoff race. [Cleveland] is neck and neck with us, so it’s important for us to win today.”

Pham described the exchange succinctly after his homer during an in-game interview: “I told [Getz] I could play today. I said I’m ready. I went right to the source.”

A Turbulent Season

Pham’s activation caps off an unusually chaotic year. He opened the 2026 season with the Mets but went hitless in 13 at-bats before being designated for assignment. He then signed minor league deals with both the Orioles and the Phillies without ever appearing in a game for either big league club, hitting .238 across 69 total games in the Mets’, Orioles’ and Phillies’ farm systems.

The White Sox acquired Pham from Philadelphia on Aug. 31 in exchange for cash considerations. He went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter in his White Sox debut on Sept. 2, then landed on the injured list Sept. 6 with a left calf strain before being activated Wednesday.

“If anything, these experiences this year have prepared me for this,” Pham said. “I’ve gone way longer between at-bats than ever before, so I’ve been preparing in the cage.”

Wednesday marked Pham’s second stint with Chicago. He batted .266 with five home runs and 19 RBIs over 70 games with the White Sox in 2024 before the Cardinals, along with current teammate Erick Fedde, were dealt to Chicago in a three-team trade that brought Miguel Vargas to Chicago from the Dodgers.

To make room for Pham on the active roster, the team optioned catcher Edgar Quero to Triple-A Charlotte.

Venable credited Pham’s competitive drive for the quick turnaround. “Tommy is maybe not at 100 percent, but you appreciate the edge and the passion that he has,” Venable said. “It helps a team a lot.”

Pham, now in his 13th major league season, is a career .256 hitter with 149 home runs and 522 RBIs across stints with 10 different organizations. The White Sox remain locked in a tight playoff race with the Guardians as the season winds down.

 The Cleveland Cavaliers have re-signed free agent James Harden to a three-year, $97 million contract with a 2028-29 player option and a trade kicker.

Harden joined the Cavs last season near the trade deadline, when the Cavs sent Darrius Garland and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Last season, the Cavs reached the Eastern Conference Finals with Harden and Donovan Mitchell running the backcourt. The duo fought their way past the Raptors and Pistons in 7 games, respectively, before getting swept by eventual champions New York Knicks.

Harden turned 37 on Aug. 26, and when the 11-time NBA All-Star signs, he will become the second player in league history to sign for over $90 million in guaranteed salary at age 37 or older. The new contract will take Harden, who is entering Year 18, into a 20th NBA season. 

In June, Harden declined his $42.3 million player option. But at the outset of free agency, he and his agents worked with the Cavaliers on two- and three-year structures for a new deal. Harden ultimately allowed Cleveland to use as much time as needed this offseason to add to its roster. 

The Cavaliers needed Harden to lower his annual salary in a three-year deal instead of a more costly two-year deal to get under the first and second aprons. This also gave the Cavs time to trade for Peyton Watson. The Cavs sent Max Strus, plus their 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick via the Sacramento Kings, to the Denver Nuggets in a five-team deal.

Harden played a key recruiting role with Watson during his restricted free agency, staying in communication to push him to Cleveland, according to sources. The Cavaliers boast a starting lineup of Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

After missing out on LeBron James in free agency in July, Cavaliers president Koby Altman made a series of roster moves to add Watson and EuroLeague star Mario Hezonja and take the team out of both aprons. Mitchell also committed to a maximum contract extension with the Cavaliers through the 2030-31 season.

After new acquisitions and the re-signing of key players, the Cavaliers hope to make another playoff push and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2018.

The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with star cornerback Christian Gonzalez on a record-breaking four-year, $135 million contract extension. This makes Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

The contract includes $102 million guaranteed along with $33 million in bonuses, sources told  NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Gonzalez broke the record that was set last month when the Seattle Seahawks extended DeVon Witherspoon to a four-year $132 million deal with $101 million in guaranteed money. 

“THANK YOU, LORD! PATS NATION LETS GO,” Gonzalez posted on his Instagram story. 

Gonzalez was drafted 17th overall in the 2023 draft by the Patriots. He has become an elite cornerback in his first three seasons, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He found himself eligible for an extension this offseason.

During the offseason, Gonzalez expressed frustration as his contract talks dragged on for months, and as close to August 25, he was unhappy that a deal wasn’t done. 

At the start of training camp, owner Robert Kraft said the team had offered Gonzalez a deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback; later, Gonzalez stated that there are different ways to measure that.

Gonzalez didn’t attend most of the Patriots’ voluntary offseason program, and at mandatory minicamp, he participated only in walk-through/low-tempo drills.

Gonzalez had over two years left on his contract before the extension. During the summer, he stated that he hoped to be “rewarded as a Patriot.” The Patriots would have had the option to let his deal run down and place him under the franchise tag during the 2028 offseason if negotiations didn’t work out.

Patriots head Coach Mike Vrabel and vice president of player personnel Eliott Wolf have expressed several times that they hoped to retain Gonzalez. Vrabel and Gonzalez discussed working together to expand Gonzalez’s leadership role.

After starting off his career with injuries, Gonzalez has bounced back and earned himself a pivotal role in this era of the Patriots.

The New Orleans Pelicans have traded Jordan Hawkins and Micah Peavy to the Memphis Grizzlies in a four-player deal.

Hawkins and Peavy will go to Memphis with AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson going to New Orleans, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Grizzlies will also receive a future second-round pick and a second-round pick swap in the trade.

The Pelicans made this trade to clear money to complete their signing of Bennedict Mathurin. The deal saves $5.7 million for the Pelicans, who agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with Mathurin, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Spotrac’s Keith Smith stated that the Pelicans are around $7.9 million under the tax after the trade, before factoring in Mathurin’s contract, which will hard cap them at the first apron.

Hawkins and Johnson were both first-round draft picks in 2023 and 2024, and neither has panned out thus far.

Hawkins was drafted 14th overall by the Pelicans in 2023. He has played in 174 games over the past three seasons, averaging a career-high 10.8 points in 2024-25.

Johnson was selected with the 23rd pick in the 2024 draft; he is now on his fourth different team. Starting his career with the Milwaukee Bucks before he was traded in the Khris Middleton deal to the Washington Wizards midway through his rookie season. 

Washington sent Johnson to the Dallas Mavericks last season before the trade deadline in February; he was later traded to Memphis in July as part of a six-team deal involving 11 players.

Johnson has averaged 4.9 points in 77 games with three different teams over the past two years.

Peavy was drafted 40th in the 2025 draft and played in 61 games in his rookie season with the Wizards. Gibson is now the second-oldest active player after LeBron James,  after he turned 41 on June 24.

Ben Shelton won the biggest match of his life, finally beating Carlos Alcaraz, whom he had never beaten before, as a huge underdog.

Shelton defeated Alcaraz at 3:33 a.m. in New York on Tuesday in what was the latest US Open finish in the tournament’s history.

Many people ask why the US Open has finishes this late, but those watching were enthralled by the instant classic on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The match had high expectations, but many experts thought Alcaraz would win easily, and after the first set it felt that way, as Shelton played well and still lost in a tiebreak. Alcaraz played poorly in the next two sets, and Shelton led two sets to one.

Alcaraz found his gear eventually and won the fourth set in blowout fashion, which had many people believing yet again the match was Alcaraz’.

Alcaraz had an outstanding 15-1 record in fifth sets in his career, but Shelton upped his level and, from a mini-breakdown in the tiebreak, stunned the Spaniard and defending champion with a signature ace to close the match.

It was a massive upset, and the best match of the young Shelton’s life.

It also gives Shelton a huge chance to claim his maiden US Open and Grand Slam title. Now the second favorite, his path is much more alive than it looked before the Alcaraz match.

With world number one Jannik Sinner out with an injury, one-seed Alexander Zverev is the toughest test that stands in the way if Shelton gets to the final. Zverev is playing great tennis, but is a much more likely option than Alcaraz was to get through.

Ben will take on fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday.

The Dallas Cowboys have waived quarterback Joe Milton III, as the team announced Sam Howell as the backup quarterback to Dak Prescott.

Milton spent the past season as the backup to Prescott, where he impressed many in the preseason, completing 29 out of 43 passes for 378 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Milton was cut to make a roster spot for recently acquired Emari Demercado.

The Cowboys looked to trade Milton before the 53-man roster cuts, but couldn’t find the right deal. If Milton clears waivers, the Cowboys could bring him back to the practice squad.

The Cowboys signed Demercado before waiving Milton, leaving some to believe the competition was still ongoing. Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer said the competition between Milton and Howell would continue. 

“We’re still piecing the puzzle together, and that’s where this thing is very fluid,” Schottenheimer said. 

Howell signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million guaranteed as a free agent. He showcased his skills in the preseason, completing 27 of 40 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He also recorded a rushing touchdown as well. 

Compared to Milton, Howell has spent time as a starter, with 18 career starts during his tenure with the Washington Commanders in 2022 and 2023. Milton has appeared in five games, but none as the starter.

The Cowboys chose experience for this QB2 battle. Milton has not yet signed with a new team but may find a new home in the coming weeks.

After one of the most decorated careers in sports, Lionel Messi has called it quits for the Argentine National team after over 20 years. His 207 international appearances and 125 international goals will have him widely regarded as one of the best international players of all time.

This decision was expected and comes after the 2026 World Cup campaign, which saw Argentina lose in the final.

His two Copa América trophies and one World Cup all came after the first time he called it quits. In 2016, following a Copa América Centenario loss to Chile in a penalty shootout, he said that the national team was over for him. He was devastated by the loss and stated that he did all he could. He was hurt that he could not bring a major trophy to Argentina while being one of the best players in the world.

The decision was quickly reversed, and he came back stronger. Finally, in 2021, Messi got his trophy for the country, winning the Copa America. This preceded his big win and career-defining moment as he led them to victory at the 2022 World Cup in a historic penalty shootout win over France. Messi had two goals in the game and came second in the tournament in goals to Kylian Mbappe of the French squad.

This completed a legendary career, and there was really no reason for him to come back in 2026 for the most recent World Cup. He did, and even though he now plays in the MLS, which is a smaller league, he proved that he was still one of the best players in the world with some staggering performances for a man his age including a hat trick against Algeria.

The 2026 World Cup was expected to be his farewell to the national team, and they were one goal away in regulation time from sending him into the sunset in storybook fashion. Unfortunately, it ended with a heartbreaking loss to a strong Spain team.

The expected announcement has now come for Messi, leaving behind a history of memories and leaving his mark on the sport forever.

Novak Djokovic’s first US Open round 1 loss leaves his body to blame, and yet again proves that Father Time is undefeated. The 24-time major champion was up two sets to one and a break at one point in the match before he began to vomit and cramp.

The loss comes to gritty Argentine Mariano Navone. Navone specializes on clay but has built a solid first-week resume at the major tournaments over the last two years.

This was by no means a match that you could have expected Navone to win; however, he lacks a big serve and any weapons other than speed that could harm Djokovic even in the latter stages of his career. The match seemed over when Djokovic got the early break in the fourth set, but Navone quickly broke back, and from there Djokovic’s body left him unable to compete with Navone’s high level.

Take nothing away from Navone, who played one of the best matches of his life and needed to even with Djokovic’s failing body. The story won’t be that Navone won, rather that Djokovic lost, but it was still an incredible effort from the clay-court specialist.

The moment that broke tennis fans’ hearts came in the 5th set as the match was slipping away from Djokovic. He was left in tears mid-match on the court, a sight nobody has seen from him. The realization began to set in for him, and it makes you realize this could be the last time we see this great talent in New York at the US Open.

Nobody knows whether this is it for Djokovic, who has said he’d like to play until the 2028 Olympic Games, but if this is it for the game’s greatest talent, it is a mellow ending to one of the most polished and complete careers in sports.

Betting markets are predicting a blockbuster trade that would potentially make the Miami Heat a super team and reunite Jrue Holiday with Giannis Antetokounmpo

The proposed trade would be a three-team move between the Miami Heat, the Houston Rockets, and the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Heat would receive Holiday and a 2027 second-round pick. Portland would receive Nikola Jovic and two second-round picks. Houston would receive Davion Mitchell.

It makes a lot of sense for the Rockets and the Heat, as the Heat would add a great player in Holiday. The Rockets would obviously get a great defender and guard.

While it makes sense for those teams, it only makes sense for the Trail Blazers if they feel they need to get rid of one of their star guards. They are currently splitting duties between four right now. After acquiring Ja Morant, the team now rosters him, Damian Lillard, Holiday and Scoot Henderson.

Another reason the Blazers would look to get rid of Holiday is his contract. With Holiday now 36 and owed over $30 million a year, it is a risky contract to have. The Blazers have shown no signs they want to get rid of him or think he is slowing down.

The Blazers return is still fairly low for a player of Holiday’s level, and they are the likeliest of the teams to shut this down.

Miami having to give up two players for Holiday would also mean a depth issue that they are already dealing with after using some of that and prospects to get Antetokounmpo.

However unlikely this trade is due to that, it is a frightening idea for the NBA to picture Holiday in Miami with all their recent acquisitions. Klay Thompson, Antetokounmpo, Holiday and Bam Adebayo all on the court would be a tough task for any group in the league.

With many doubles specialists upset that the mixed doubles event at the US Open has shifted to a singles-style format, they didn’t back themselves on day one.

Of the 32 doubles players in the draw, only nine of them were doubles specialists. Four doubles specialist teams entered, and world No. 5 player Taylor Townsend teamed up with Roland Garros Champion Sascha Zverev. Every single one of those nine players was eliminated on day one by singles players.

Doubles and singles are two completely different styles of the sport, and two doubles specialist teams had to qualify to get into the event, including Henry Patten and Katerina Siniakova, the number 1 doubles players in the world on the men’s and women’s side, respectively.

There was a lot of discourse about how it was unfair that they had to qualify while the singles players got in automatically. The argument was that singles players bring the eyeballs, while also giving the best doubles players in the world a chance to compete. During qualifying, Siniakova expressed her displeasure at having to qualify for a doubles tournament while being number one in the world.

Unfortunately, like everyone else, they did not back up their argument that they are the better doubles players. Patten and Siniakova were one of four doubles specialist teams eliminated on day one, losing to Elina Svitolina and her husband, the retiring Gael Monfils. This was a massive upset, as Monfils and Svitolina were up to four-to-one on some odds boards. Many people considered them a charity wild card team as part of Monfils’ farewell tour. They were the longest shot pre-tournament to win the event.

They were not the only team to lose in such fashion, as the headlining team of Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams came back from a break down and bulldozed their way through the doubles specialist team of Lloyd Glasspool and Erin Routliffe in another huge upset. Alcaraz and Williams would go on to lose in round two, but it was one more round than they were expected to make it to.

The other doubles specialists also lost to teams made up of singles players, in what seemed like a rattling experience for many of them. The team of Routliffe and Glasspool looked stunned, making mistakes they never make on the doubles court. Perhaps the pressure of being the favorite on such a big stage against such big names got to them, and they were not all able to handle that pressure.

The lone doubles specialist team in last year’s draw to win the title, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, began their defense with a first-set win over singles stars Andrey Rublev and Mirra Andreeva, but in a final-set tiebreak, the defending champions exited in the first round.

Errani and Vavassori winning the title as the lone doubles team last year upset many people who felt singles players should have had all the spots, and it helped explain why there were more doubles specialists in the draw this year.

It is common for doubles specialists to beat singles teams in main draws on both the men’s and women’s doubles sides. With added pressure now on the doubles specialists on a huge stage this year at the US Open, they folded and were outclassed throughout the day by the singles players.

This mixed doubles format at the US Open is only two years old, so it will be interesting to see what changes they make next year after this shocking performance from the doubles players. No matter what happens today, the US Open mixed doubles champion will be a team of two singles players.

As the Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up training camp on August 20, the team’s longest-tenured player is setting the tone for the young players.

Travis Kelce, who has played for the team for 13 seasons and holds the longest-tenured title by quite some margin, isn’t embracing a farewell-tour mindset as his career winds down and this may be his last season. After training camp ended, coach Andy Reid shared his biggest takeaways while praising Kelce’s leadership and effort as he enters his 14th season.

Kelce’s mindset in training camp had coaches needing to slow him down, Reid said. “We have examples like Kelce who came out every day and worked to where we had to yank him out of there.”

Veteran linebacker Nick Bolton also praised Kelce’s leadership in practice, saying that Kelce’s ability to always give 100% really “resonates with the team.”

Even when Kelce is not feeling 100%, players and coaches say he shows up with a no-excuses mindset.

The Chiefs are now the second-youngest roster in the NFL, and Reid mentioned that there is a huge expectation being put on the young guys, saying “we have a lot of them” and that he was very proud of how they handled their business. Leadership plays a huge role in that, as he also mentioned other leaders on the team, like Patrick Mahomes, who “didn’t miss a day.”

After last season’s disappointing letdown, mainly due to injuries, the Chiefs will look to get back to the winning ways that got them to the Super Bowl just two years ago. Still with plenty of star power, the Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce connection is still one of the core pieces of their success.

James Harden is staying in Cleveland. The veteran guard has agreed to a three-year, $97 million contract with the Cavaliers that will keep him with the team through the 2029-30 season.

Inside the Contract

The deal includes a player option for the 2028-29 season and a trade kicker. Once completed, the contract will push Harden’s career NBA earnings past $500 million, making him just the eighth player in league history to reach that mark, joining LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Paul George, Donovan Mitchell and Joel Embiid.

How the Deal Came Together

The agreement followed nearly two months of negotiations. Harden declined his previous player option to pursue a longer-term deal at a lower annual cost, giving Cleveland added financial flexibility. The real catalyst was the Cavaliers’ acquisition of wing Peyton Watson from Denver in a five-team sign-and-trade worth four years and $88 million, which cleared the roster and cap space needed to finalize Harden’s new contract.

Harden’s Impact in Cleveland

Harden, 37, joined the Cavaliers midseason last year and helped drive the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. He averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds across 26 regular-season games, with his playoff numbers dipping slightly to 19.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds as Cleveland was ultimately swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks.

The Roster Around Him

Cleveland also locked in its core by re-signing Donovan Mitchell to a max extension alongside the Harden deal, though the team lost depth with the departures of Dean Wade, Max Strus and Dennis Schröder. The projected starting five now features Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Why It Matters

Retaining Harden on a team-friendly, multi-year deal gives Cleveland continuity around its core after an Eastern Conference Finals run, while positioning the future Hall of Famer to chase a title with a roster that’s kept its key pieces largely intact heading into next season.

Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from professional tennis after testing positive for cocaine, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed.

In 2021, Kyrgios was accused of assaulting his girlfriend.

Timeline of the Case

The positive sample was collected on June 22, 2026, during a lower-tier grass court event in Mallorca, Spain, where Kyrgios was competing while ranked 919th in the world. The result was confirmed positive on July 17, and the ITIA applied a provisional suspension on August 4. The case became public on Tuesday.

A Career Already in Decline

Kyrgios, 31, has struggled significantly since his standout 2022 season, when he reached the Wimbledon final. He has won just 2 of his last 10 ATP singles matches, a steep fall from his peak form. The positive test adds another setback to a career already defined by injuries and inconsistent results in recent years.

What Comes Next

Kyrgios faces a potential suspension of up to four years under anti-doping rules, though a lighter sanction is expected because the ITIA determined the cocaine use occurred outside of competition. A comparable case offers some precedent: British player Dan Evans received a one-year ban in a similar 2017 case involving cocaine.

Kyrgios Responds

Kyrgios did not dispute the finding and publicly took ownership of the situation. “I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for it,” he said. He connected the episode to a difficult personal stretch, describing feelings of being “helpless and alone” amid ongoing injury struggles, and announced he would step away from social media for 28 days to focus on his recovery.

Why It Matters

The suspension marks one of the most significant off-court controversies of Kyrgios’s career, arriving at a moment when he was already fighting to regain his footing on tour. How the ITIA ultimately rules on sanctions will determine whether Kyrgios has a realistic path back to competitive tennis or faces an extended period on the sidelines.

Future Hall of Fame pass rusher Von Miller is heading home. The Dallas Cowboys announced Sunday night they agreed to terms with Miller on a one-year contract worth $5.5 million, with a maximum value of $7.5 million.

The move reunites the 37-year-old edge rusher with the region where his career began. Miller attended DeSoto High School just south of Dallas before starring at Texas A&M, and the Denver Broncos selected him second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He confirmed the signing on social media with a simple post reading “Hereee Weee Gooo,” accompanied by an image of himself in a Cowboys uniform, capping weeks of speculation that began when he teased the move with a photoshopped Instagram post in July.

Miller is expected to join the Cowboys at their training camp in Oxnard, California, on Monday, with Dallas set to wrap up its West Coast camp before a preseason matchup at Arizona.

Miller arrives in Dallas as the active NFL leader in career sacks with 138.5, a total built over 14 professional seasons. He was named the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2011 after recording 11.5 sacks in his debut campaign, earned three All-Pro selections in his first six seasons, and won Super Bowl MVP honors as part of Denver’s dominant defense in Super Bowl 50. He added a second championship with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 after being acquired from Denver in a midseason trade.

His tenure with the Buffalo Bills that followed was hampered by injuries and a domestic violence case in Dallas that resulted in a four-game suspension.

After being released by Buffalo in a salary-cap move, Miller signed with the Washington Commanders last year and turned in his most productive season since 2018, recording nine sacks, six tackles for loss and 19 quarterback pressures despite playing just 37% of Washington’s defensive snaps. It marked the first time since 2018 that he played every game in a regular season.

The signing addresses an obvious need for Dallas, which has lacked a defined identity at edge rusher since trading All-Pro Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers before the 2025 season. The Cowboys ranked 26th in the league in sack rate last season while surrendering more passing yards than any other team. Miller is expected to join a rotation that includes Rashan Gary, 2026 first-round pick Malachi Lawrence and second-year pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, likely occupying a role similar to the one Jadeveon Clowney filled for Dallas in 2025 as a veteran situational piece in the pass rush.