EA Sports announced the six NFL stars who will boast a 99 rating, the highest possible rating for a player, in the upcoming Madden NFL 27 video game on Monday. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Los Angeles Rams QB (and reigning NFL MVP) Matthew Stafford, Rams defensive end Myles Garrett, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride are the members of this seasons 99 Club. Your #Madden27 99 Club is officially here.Check out the full Ratings Hub, updating all week https://t.co/MIzUHCva4Ppic.twitter.com/tgEtNQJouV Madden NFL 27 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 27, 2026Allen, Chase, and Garrett are in the 99 Club for the second consecutive season. (For Garrett, this is his third 99 rating overall.) Stafford, Smith-Njigba and McBride drew a 99 rating in the game for the first time. Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!Smith-Njigba won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award for tallying 116 receptions for a league-leading 1,793 yards with 10 touchdowns for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks last season. Stafford may be the most notable addition to the 99 Club, earning the rating in his 18th NFL season after winning his first MVP award for the 2025-26 campaign. He led the league with 4.707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns for a Rams team that finished 12-5 and advanced to the NFC championship game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks. The choice that raised eyebrows among fans was McBride. However, the fifth-year tight end put up outstanding numbers last season with 126 receptions for 1,239 yards and 11 TDs. He had 38 more catches and 311 more receiving than the next closest tight end (Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons), while tying for the most TDs (with Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert). McBride was the only TE to finish with 1,000 receiving yards last season. All the guys on the team will throw it out there and rub it in my face, McBride told reporters. Its very exciting, very cool. Its a huge honor and something Im very proud of.

Training camp is among us! Analyst Joel Smyth breaks down the 10 WR camp stories to watch for fantasy football this season. Who has important storylines to take note of this week that can shape the fantasy season?Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonMore Training Camp QuestionsQuarterbackRunning BackWide ReceiverTight EndParker Washington in 2-WR SetsParker Washington was the star of late last season and has been the star of this offseason. After his final four games of total domination to end 2025, hes looking to establish himself as the main target in Jacksonville with WR talent galore. Because of that talent, usually there is an odd man out. When Travis Hunter was healthy, that was Washington, and when multiple tight ends were on the field, again, Washington. As the primary slot after Hunters injury, his targets per route were incredible, but the routes were clearly third among wideouts. With the Jaguars reaching on blocking TE Nate Boerkircher in Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, expect more usage of two tight end sets as we have seen in other teams across the league. Washingtons targets can be good in 2025, but if he can play more in heavy personnel and avoid being taken off the field for Hunter on offense, his volume can be one of the best in the later rounds. We should discover a lot this camp.Josh Downs in 2-WR SetsDowns has a similar issue to a far greater extent. No player has a higher percentage of snaps from the slot, targets from the slot or routes coming from three-WR sets than the Colts receiver. When he can stay on the field for the majority of the game (70%+ of snaps in this example), he averages over 13 career PPG in PPR leagues, where he can take advantage of his reception totals. He surprisingly draws a lot of red zone volume as well with Daniel Jones and can put up more scores than your average inside receiver. However, in the past, even without Michael Pittman Jr., he has not played much on the outside, as Indianapolis has favored receivers such as Adonai Mitchell or even D.J. Montgomery over him. We need good news about his potential playing time in this new offense, without the receiving talent on the outside from last season.Alec Pierce in short-area passing attackSpeaking of, Alec Pierce is the winner of the Colts offseason, getting paid nearly $30 million per year and becoming the No. 1 option on the outside. Pierce was incredible as a deep threat last season, although that is where it began and ended. His average depth of target reached over 21, with 55% of his fantasy points coming on vertical routes as he led the NFL in yards per reception. It made him a fun fantasy option, but not multifaceted enough to be a consistent starter. He now comes into camp with three major questions. 1. Can the Colts utilize him in the short passing game, expanding his route tree and usage? 2. Can he recover from ankle surgery this March, as he is expected to be limited in training camp? And 3. Will Jones be able to push the ball downfield the same as he did in 2025 off the Achilles tear?Rome Odunze 13-personnel possibility?There are rumors in Chicago that third-round selection Sam Roush was not drafted to sit and wait, but, similar to Rams rookie Terrance Ferguson in 2025, to make an immediate impact in three tight end sets. Chicago ran the most two tight end sets in 2025 and could look to copy the Rams formula that worked so well. The biggest benefactor here would be Rome Odunze, as Id project him as the one receiver before camp news rolls out. His downfield and red-zone role is extremely similar to Rams WR Davante Adams in 2025, actually the closest in terms of total targets of that kind. In 13-personnel last season, Adams averaged over two full fantasy points per route, with a target on nearly 60% of the dropbacks. It would make Odunzes red-zone potential incredible.Who is the Patriots slot WR?In percentage of routes coming from the outside in 2025, Kayshon Boutte ranked second, A.J. Brown fifth, Romeo Doubs 11th and even Kyle Williams would be top-10 if he qualified. Playing on the outside isnt a bad thing, but versatility is a positive and can make a player more trustworthy week to week, especially when used well in the offense. Stefon Diggs was the primary inside receiver in 2025, and although his routes were limited, he was a top-20 WR on average with a sub-20% target share. In Browns later days, it can be beneficial if his 88% of routes from the outside dipped down to 70%, his rate the last time Mike Vrabel was his head coach. He can get some easy targets in space while still benefiting from Mayes ability to push the ball down field on the outside. Watch to see who is splitting up Diggs role this week in New England.Jets depth receivers behind Garrett WilsonAs part of the Jets offense, Garrett Wilson needs an extreme target share to keep up with the other top receivers in the NFL. In 2024, his target share ranked seventh, and he finished as the WR21. Now, New York has completely revamped its passing game, not only with Geno Smith, but with three new receivers in AD Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq. Itll be another hit to Wilsons stock if camp reports about their rookie first-round picks are sky high, or, more importantly, if Mitchells reports continue to be raving after his very strong showing and connection with Geno Smith at OTAs. Mitchell surprisingly has a 25% targets per route rate in his last two seasons when he can get on the field, the 17th-best among WRs.Jameson Williams with a new OC on the LionsWill Jameson Williams stock be more like Michael Wilson with OC Drew Petzing or Marvin Harrison Jr.? The former Cardinals playcaller drew polarizing opinions over the last few seasons before leading a top fantasy offense last season and drawing the attention of Detroit. The halfway mark of the season was a breaking point for Williams in 2025. One could say he turned it around when Dan Campbell took over playcalling, nearly doubling his fantasy points and increasing his target share by 5%, although his air yard share decreased, showing a much different utilization after the firing of their last offensive coordinator. You could also argue his fantasy PPG skyrocketed because, around that same time, TE Sam LaPorta got put on injured reserve, a position Petzing has obviously made a focus in Arizona. Williams' targets are more important than anyones, ranking first in yards per target with a very low target share of 17% in each of the last two years with Detroit. The Jacoby Brissett-led Cardinals were second in receiving fantasy points, a major win if that sticks with Jared Goff, but keep an eye out for news for a prediction of an increase or course reversal in Williams volume.Matthew Goldens role is?The 2025 first-round rookie struggled in his first season when the Packers receivers were healthy. If Christian Watson was out, he had a small role as a deep threat. If Jayden Reed was out, he became the primary slot receiver. It was always in replacement, though. With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks out of town, how will Golden be utilized in his second year? If it is similar to Doubs, his red-zone target share would certainly increase from 3%. Even so, Doubs team-high in red zone targets once Watson returned only led to one touchdown, almost all without Tucker Kraft available. It may be tough to become a fantasy starter if the other three options stay healthy.Will Malik Nabers be healthy to start the season?Nabers is not going on the PUP list before training camp, which is great news already. After undergoing surgery on Oct. 28, with a second surgery in April, the Giants WR was able to have his first major positive news in rehab. It being an ACL and meniscus injury makes it more difficult, and the buildup of scar tissue in the knee didnt help. A limited Nabers early in the season is okay for fantasy as long as hes out there. Camp reports will be huge for his fantasy stock before August drafts, with the worst-case scenario being they are very negative, and he misses or is heavily limited for the first half of the season. If it becomes all systems go in camp, he should enter back into Round 2 of fantasy drafts.How healthy is rookie Jordyn Tyson for NOLA?The departure of Rashid Shaheed wasnt nothing in New Orleans. Chris Olave was getting good volume, but his air yard share jumped from 35% to over 50% in the second half of the season. He led the NFL in air yards and was second in percent of end zone targets to Davante Adams. The addition of top-10 pick Jordyn Tyson can make a dent. Even the small hits in valuable targets become considerable. Tysons long history of injuries, currently hamstring issues, will be the primary news to note in training camp. If he comes on slow and cant get established early, Olaves volume should stay at an elite range in the fast-paced New Orleans offense.

20m Gulf Between City and Madrid Holds Up Rodri TransferReal Madrid want Rodri Hernndez and Manchester City have made clear what it will cost those two facts are now in plain view, but the 20m gulf between them means this saga has some distance left to run. According to Es Radios Sergio Valentn, City are demanding a minimum of 80m while Madrid have drawn their line at 60m, with the two clubs now needing to find common ground before the start of next season.Where Negotiations StandManaging Madrid report, citing Valentns account on Es Radio, that Real Madrid have moved beyond passive interest and are actively pursuing the Spanish midfielder. The player himself is described as determined to leave City, with personal and sporting reasons cited, though no further detail is given on either front.Rodris contract expires in the summer of 2027, meaning he will enter its final year this coming season. That timeline gives Madrid a degree of structural leverage but it does not translate automatically into a below-market fee. City have their own position to defend, and 80m is how they are defending it.The parties have weeks, not months, to resolve this if Rodri is to be at the Bernabu for the start of the 2026-27 campaign. The window is not infinite, and both clubs know it.Why the Gap ExistsCitys valuation is not arbitrary. Rodri is a World Cup winner and is widely regarded as the most complete holding midfielder in world football. Losing him would not simply require a replacement signing The exterior of the Santiago Bernabu Stadium in the heart of Madrid.Madrids 60m ceiling is based on the idea that with Rodri entering his final contracted year, Real Madrid are accounting for the reduced control they have compared to if he had longer on his deal. that comes with diminishing contractual control. From a Los Blancos perspective, paying full market rate for a player who is a hard sell internally, regardless of his quality.Neither position is irrational. That is precisely what makes the gap difficult to close quickly.What Real Madrids Denial Changes or DoesntThis is not the first time the Rodri-to-Madrid story has surfaced in recent weeks. , a denial that sits somewhat awkwardly alongside the specificity of Valentns sourcing on fee positions. Clubs routinely deny contact at the exploratory stage; the emergence of named figures on both sides suggests the conversation has progressed beyond a denial being the full picture.It is worth noting that the primary source here is a single reporter on Es Radio. Valentn is a credible voice on Spanish football matters, but this account That does not make it wrong, but it does counsel against treating the 80m and 60m figures as anything more than the current stated positions subject to revision as the negotiation develops.The Contract Leverage QuestionMadrids leverage argument that a 2027 expiry weakens Citys hand simply because Rodris deal has a finite end. They could opt to , a process that, if successful, would If City persuade Rodri to sign a new deal, Madrids window closes That possibility alone gives City an incentive to hold their price rather than compromise they are not only negotiating with Madrid, they are also negotiating with their own player over whether to make this move necessary at all.The primary source notes explicitly that Rodri is determined to leave for both personal and football reasons. If that is accurate and genuinely fixed, then extension talks become a non-starter, and Citys leverage shifts decisively toward the asking price rather than the renewal option. The credibility of Rodris stated desire to move, and whether City accept it as final, may be the most consequential unknown in this entire story.How This Gets ResolvedA 20m gap in transfer negotiations of this scale is not insurmountable it is roughly the distance between an opener and a counter-offer. The more relevant question is which side blinks first, and why.Madrids most plausible path to closing the gap is time. As the summer progresses and the 2026-27 season approaches, Citys options narrow: sell now at a number closer to Madrids valuation, secure an extension, or begin a campaign with a player who has publicly committed to leaving. None of those outcomes is comfortable, and the last is the most corrosive.The exterior facade of the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City FC.Citys most plausible path to their number is competition. With Madrids transfer priorities already stretched across multiple fronts this window, any credible signal that a second top-level club is prepared to meet or approach the 80m figure would sharpen Los Blancos incentive to move before the price moves further out of reach. Whether that competition materialises in any concrete form remains to be seen from the reporting available, but it is the structural variable City would most benefit from.For now, Sergio Valentns figures define the parameters: 80m is Citys floor, 60m is Madrids ceiling, and the space between them is where the next few weeks of this saga will be decided.

Two rugby sevens matches were played at Sandbach Rugby Club, both aiming to set new world records [LooseHeadz]Provisional world records have been set simultaneously for the longest ever men and women's rugby sevens matches.The two games were played at Sandbach Rugby Club in Cheshire over Friday and Saturday, with both contests lasting 28 hours.For the men's match, the duration was longer than the current Guinness World Record of 24 hours and 30 minutes set in 2017, while there was not an existing record for a women's match.Both achievements are subject to final verification from Guinness and the event, called 24/7s, has so far raised more than 68,000 for rugby mental health charity LooseHeadz."It was incredible, hard, tough, emotional, crazy, just a phenomenal event. It's still taking some processing," said Sandbach Rugby Club player Rob Smith-Owen.The attempt began at about midday on Friday, with players doing multi-hour shifts until both matches finished at 16:00 BST on Saturday.Both matches set provisional world records of 28 hours [LooseHeadz]Smith-Owen told BBC Radio Stoke they started off doing three-and-a-half-hour shifts but this later became four-and-a-half hours when several players suffered injuries."You're just physically and mentally exhausted," he added. "One of the lads had a tracker and worked out we did around 83 miles each as a player in 28 hours."It was crazy but the support staff we had - all the volunteers, the physios, catering nothing was too much trouble."Among those taking part were former England and British & Irish Lions forward George Kruis, who said it was "one of the toughest but most rewarding rugby experiences" he ever had.Former England rugby player George Kruis took part in the attempt [LooseHeadz]"You could feel the purpose behind every minute and while we were chasing a world record, more importantly, we were raising awareness for mental health in our sport," Kruis said."The atmosphere at Sandbach, on and off the pitch was unbelievable and it showed the power of community rugby."LoozeHeadz co-founder Rob Shotton said it was an "incredible achievement" and praised the "collective effort" of those involved."From the players grinding through the early hours to the officials, physios, volunteers and supporters who never stopped cheering, 24/7s has shown exactly what the rugby community can do when it comes together," he added"Every pass, tackle and step taken over those many hours helps us raise vital funds and keep pushing our mission to place a mental health champion in every rugby club in the world."Read more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More stories like this Rugby players raise money for injured team matesCharity scheme helps local children gain confidenceRugby world's support for boy with cancer Related internet links LooseHeadz

The Buffalo Bills kick off training camp on July 29 at St. John Fisher. This moves the team into the next major phase of the offseason ahead of the 2026 NFL season.Ahead of then, Bills Wire will examine every position group ahead of this pivotal time on the football calendar.This edition will focus on the Bills' quarterback room:At the top of the chartIf it's been written once, it's been written a thousand times: Buffalo starts and ends with Josh Allen. Allen had another stellar season, further cementing his legacy in Bills football lore. Allen didn't replicate his 2024 MVP season, but he is far and away the most important player on this roster. Allen contributed 39 touchdowns (25 passing and 14 rushing) last season. The signal-caller threw for 3.668 yards at a career-best 69.3-percent completion rate. Allen added 579 rushing yards on 112 carries. Allen enters the season 17 touchdowns away from Jim Kelly's passing touchdowns record. Allen holds the team record in passer rating with a mark of 94.4. Allen also holds the Bills record for rushing touchdowns with 79. His 88 wins are second to Kelly's (101).With all of these accolades, a trip to the Super Bowl has eluded Allen. Buffalo, with their change at the head coach spot, is now firmly entrenched in Super Bowl-or-bust territory. Depth ChartIn reality, the Bills do not have a firm contingency plan if something were to happen to Allen. The Bills have Kyle and Shand Buechele behind Allen. Realistically, both quarterbacks are needed to hold their own for spot duty when called upon. Kyle Allen returns to the Bills after operating as Buffalo's backup quarterback in 2023. The journeyman has not exceeded two pass attempts in each of the past three years. Battle to watchKyle Allen and Shane Buechele are the closest thing to a quarterback battle that fans will see in training camp. Allen, with his experience and relationship with Josh Allen, has the inside track. However, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that Buechele could put some pressure on Kyle Allen. Who needs a great camp? Shane Buechele is a dark horse to make the 53-man roster. A strong camp could push the Bills to consider rostering a third quarterback. Buechele played in one game last year with the Chiefs, going 7-of-14 for 88 yards.This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 Buffalo Bills training camp preview: Quarterbacks

NFL training camp season has arrived. Prepare for the onslaught of information, rumors and hype pieces. But fantasy football managers shouldn't be wary of the influx of info Scott Pianowski has you covered with one key nugget to know for every team in each division. First up is the AFC South.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonTennessee TitansOpportunity is a big chunk of any running backs fantasy value, and its possible Tony Pollards role might make him an underrated pick this summer. Hes proven to be more durable and effective than Tyjae Spears, and although rookie Nicholas Singleton has his supporters, he was merely a fifth-round pick. Brian Daboll built top-five rushing offenses in two of his four years with the Giants, and hell look to work that magic again here. It would be a stretch to call Pollard a likely bell-cow, but he has a reasonable chance at 300 touches, which would provide a nifty fantasy backboard.Indianapolis ColtsBears TE Colston Loveland is getting a ton of fantasy buzz this summer and its justified. But if you cant get Loveland at his expectant price, maybe you can pivot to Tyler Warren. Indys rookie ranked third in targets, sixth in receptions and fifth in yards among tight ends last year, and that was despite QB Daniel Jones missing the final four games. Warrens case isnt that different from Lovelands, but hes going a full round later in early Yahoo drafts.Jacksonville JaguarsIts common to see receivers struggle with a new team after a midseason trade. But Jakobi Meyers didnt read that memo, posting a solid 42-483-3 line after joining the Jaguars in early November. If you prorate Meyerss stats to a full season, were looking at 79-912-6, which would make him a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 in most leagues. Hes priced for profit in early Yahoo drafts, slotted as the WR42.Houston TexansNico Collins at his best is an awesome sight, a dominant receiver who can win on the entire route tree. But hes had trouble staying healthy as a pro (19 missed games in five seasons) and hes tied to a limited quarterback in C.J. Stroud. The Texans have an unmistakable identity they aim to win with dominant defense and controlled offense. Collins still commands a top-20 pick in Yahoo leagues, which means you have to draft him at his ceiling. Ill enjoy the show, but eschew that draft cost.

The Philadelphia Eagles have earned a reputation for planning. General manager Howie Roseman has rarely allowed roster turnover to catch the organization by surprise. When Jason Kelce retired, Cam Jurgens was ready to step into one of football's most demanding positions. When Isaac Seumalo departed in free agency, the Eagles already had a plan.even Mekhi Becton's departure after Super Bowl LIX was met with confidence. Tyler Steen was indeed prepared for a larger role.History suggests Philadelphia almost always has an answer. Jurgens and Steen were both on the roster to learn from Kelce and Becton. Lane Johnson, however, presents a different challenge.No one knows if Johnson's successor is on the active roster yet. The Eagles hope Markel Bell is that guy, but no one knows for sure. Philadelphia previously invested draft capital in Cameron Williams, and though the coaching staff loves Fred Johnson, he isn't a long-term answer.As Johnson, the future Hall of Famer, enters his 13th NFL season, the Eagles continue to benefit from one of the league's premier right tackles. At the same time, every outstanding season Johnson produces only reinforces a difficult reality. Replacing him won't be nearly as simple as replacing previous stars.Lane Johnson is more than an elite right tackle.Johnson's accolades tell only part of the story. Multiple First-Team All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl championships have solidified his place among the greatest offensive linemen of his generation. Yet his value extends well beyond awards and statistics. For more than a decade, the Eagles have entered nearly every game knowing Johnson could live on an island and neutralize some of the NFL's most dangerous edge rushers. His consistency has allowed offensive coordinators to attack defenses without constantly worrying about extra protection on the right side. That level of reliability changes how an entire offense operates. His leadership carries equal weight. Younger linemen have spent years learning from one of the game's best technicians, while his professionalism has helped define the standard inside one of the NFL's premier offensive line rooms.The Eagles have mastered succession planning.gFew organizations prepare for the future better than the Eagles. Jordan Mailata developed from a rugby player with virtually no football experience into one of the NFL's premier left tackles, and he wound up taking a job most thought would eventually be Andre Dillard's.The aforementioned Cam Jurgens successfully navigated the impossible task of replacing Jason Kelce. Tyler Steen now enters training camp with an opportunity to become Philadelphia's next long-term starter at right guard.The Eagles have repeatedly demonstrated patience, trusting their developmental system instead of making reactionary moves. Replacing Johnson, however, isn't simply about identifying another starter. It's about replacing one of the league's most complete players at one of football's premium positions, but it's also about being realistic.Future Hall of Fame right tackles are difficult to findFinding quality offensive linemen has become increasingly difficult across the NFL. Finding elite tackles is even harder. Finding one capable of performing at Lane Johnson's level is exceptionally rare. It's slightly unrealistic to state Philadelphia is going to replace one Hall of Famer with another. That's why Johnson's importance stretches beyond every snap he plays. His presence gives the Eagles tremendous flexibility in pass protection. It allows the offense to trust its blocking against elite edge rushers while providing stability for Jalen Hurts and one of the league's most explosive rushing attacks.Those aren't qualities that can be replaced through a single draft pick or free-agent signing. Every season he plays buys Philadelphia valuable time.The bad news is Johnson won't play forever. This could actually be his swan song. The good news for the Eagles is they don't have to solve this problem today. Johnson continues playing at an elite level despite entering his 13th season, giving Philadelphia something every successful franchise covets when preparing for the future.This gives the Eagles time, even if they don't have a ton of it. The Eagles have a little time to evaluate young tackles already in the building. They have some time to develop prospects under Chris Kuper. There's time to identify whether the eventual successor will come through the draft, internal development, or another avenue entirely.Johnson continues to perform at an All-Pro level, but there's building pressure for the Eagles to find answers. Some players can't be replicated. Johnson is one of them. If Philadelphia can find reliability, that alone is a win. Philadelphia has built one of the NFL's model organizations by consistently preparing for tomorrow while competing for championships today. Replacing everything Johnson represents, however, is another matter entirely.Future Hall of Fame players don't come along often, and organizations rarely transition seamlessly from one elite right tackle to another. Philadelphia has repeatedly proven it can replace great players. Lane Johnson may ultimately prove to be the exception, though there's nothing wrong with hoping, from a fan's perspective, that he won't be. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Why Lane Johnson remains irreplaceable for the Philadelphia Eagles

ThePhiladelphia Eaglesare gearing up for Super Bowl defense, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. Several players, coaches, and front-office members are crucial to the teams success this season.Every day from now until the start of training camp, were counting down our30 Most Important Eaglesfor the 2025 season. Well recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025, and tackle the most significant question facing them this year.Next up is fourth-year offensive guard Tyler Steen. 30 Most Important Eagles of 2026: No. 17 Tyler SteenThe Philadelphia Eagles entered last summer with one unsettled position along an otherwise established offensive line. Tyler Steen responded by removing nearly all doubt about his ability to handle the starting right guard job.Steen started every regular-season game in 2025 and delivered the most productive season of his young career. He became a dependable presence between center Cam Jurgens and right tackle Lane Johnson, helping Philadelphia maintain one of the NFLs most talented offensive fronts.Repeating that performance will be important for both Steen and the Eagles. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract, creating an opportunity to establish himself as Philadelphias long-term answer at right guard.BackgroundPosition: GuardAge: 26Experience: Fourth seasonHeight: 6-foot-6Weight: 321 poundsCollege: AlabamaDraft: 2023, third round, No. 65 overall2026 cap hit: $3,969,534Steen spent four seasons at Vanderbilt before transferring to Alabama for his final college campaign. He primarily played offensive tackle in college, but the Eagles believed his size, power and movement skills would translate to guard.Philadelphia selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft. Steen appeared in 28 games with three starts during his first two seasons while developing behind the Eagles established starters.His opportunity arrived in 2025. Steen won the right guard job and started all 17 regular-season games along with Philadelphias playoff appearance. He has now appeared in 45 career games with 20 starts, according to the Eagles official roster.Steen established himself during the 2025 seasonAvailability may have been Steens most important contribution. He played 1,008 offensive snaps and provided stability at a position that had entered training camp with uncertainty.The production was encouraging, too. Steen earned a 71.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 17th among 81 qualified guards. His 74.0 pass-blocking grade ranked 11th, while his 71.8 run-blocking grade placed him 17th.Steen allowed 36 pressures, including two sacks and one quarterback hit. He was also penalized nine times, leaving room for improvement despite his otherwise promising performance. Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the leagues better starters at his position.Those numbers represented a meaningful step forward for a player who entered the season with only three career starts. Steen did more than survive his first full year in the lineup. He demonstrated that the Eagles could depend on him against some of the leagues better defensive fronts.Steens 2026 outlookSteen enters training camp as Philadelphias established right guard. The uncertainty that surrounded the position last summer has been replaced by expectations.Continuity should help. Steen will again line up next to Jurgens and Johnson, giving the right side of the offensive line experience and familiarity. However, Philadelphias transition to offensive line coach Chris Kuper introduces another variable. Steen and the rest of the unit must adapt to any adjustments Kuper makes to the running game, pass protection and weekly preparation.The Eagles will also want Steen to reduce the pressure and penalty totals from last season. He proved he can handle the physical requirements of the position. Becoming more consistent with his technique and assignments would allow him to move from a dependable starter to one of the stronger guards in the NFC.Steens contract adds another layer to his season. His rookie deal expires after 2026, and he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. He carries a cap charge of approximately $3.97 million this season, according to Over the Cap.Biggest question: Is Steen the long-term answer at right guard?The Eagles no longer need Steen to prove he can start. They need him to show that his 2025 performance can become his standard.Another productive season would position Steen for a significant second contract. Philadelphia has consistently prioritized retaining offensive linemen it believes can remain part of the teams core, but the organization must also account for existing investments throughout the unit.Steen can make that decision easier by improving his consistency, limiting penalties and continuing to protect Jalen Hurts. His importance extends beyond his individual performance. The Eagles offensive identity remains closely connected to the strength of their line, and any decline at right guard could affect both the running game and Hurts protection.Steen earned the starting job in 2025. His next challenge is proving that he should keep it for years to come.30 Most Important Eagles of 2026Were counting down our 30 Most Important Eagles of 2026. Check back every day leading up to the start of training camp.No. 30Andy Dalton, No. 29Markel Bell, No. 28Eli Stowers, No. 27Marcus Epps, No. 26Braden Mann, No. 25Jake Elliott, No. 24Tank Bigsby, No. 23 Moro Ojomo, No. 22 Dontayvion Wicks, No. 21 Jihaad Campbell, No. 20 Makai Lemon, No. 19 Jordan Davis, No. 18 Jalyx HuntThis article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 30 Most Important Eagles of 2026: No. 17 Tyler Steen

Abi Pawlett competed in heptathlon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships [Getty Images]Welsh athlete Abi Pawlett has pulled out of the heptathlon event at the Commonwealth Games. The 22-year-old follows Katarina Johnson-Thompson in withdrawing from the competition.Pawlett has been recovering from an Achilles injury that forced her out of the World Indoor Championships in March just weeks after claiming the British 60m hurdles indoor title and a personal pentathlon best in February.She will still compete in the 200m in Glasgow, but the workload of seven events in the heptathlon is too much.Pawlett is Wales' only female 200m sprinter after national record holder Hannah Brier was controversially not selected after missing the cut off date to run the qualification time.Brier later complained Team Wales' deadline was too early compared to other nations.Wales at the Commonwealth Games

Rutgers Football is hoping for a bounce back season after a five-win campaign in 2025.Well, according to an annual preseason poll by a well-known publication, that might not be the case.On Monday, Cleveland.com released its 16th annual edition of the Big Ten preseason poll. The unofficial list predicted a poor finish for Rutgers, as it had it slated 17th in the conference out of 18 teams. The release of the poll came before Big Ten Media Days kick off from Tuesday to Thursday in Chicago.This projection is not out of the ordinary. Previously, both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele predicted Rutgers to finish 16th in the Big Ten.The biggest question for Rutgers remains can the defense improve?The Scarlet Knights featured a group that was the worst in the Big Ten last season. Despite returning KJ Duff and Antwan Raymond at skill positions, there are many questions around Rutgers as a whole, led by the defensive unit.Rutgers schedule this season features four teams ranked in the top six by the website. The Scarlet Knights will take on Indiana, USC, Michigan, and Penn State. Rutgers also has five teams on the schedule ranked in the back half of the conference.Here is the full projection put together by Cleveland.com for 2026:Ohio State (15)Oregon (11)Indiana (5)USCMichiganPenn StateWashingtonIowaIllinoisMinnesotaNebraskaWisconsinUCLANorthwesternMarylandMichigan StateRutgersPurdue